CPU and Memory usage is low

sonu1111 on 21/05/2013 - 01:59
Last edited 21/05/2013 - 02:55 by 1 other user

I have a laptop with configuration

• i7 (2nd Generation)

• 8GB RAM

• 2GB graphics card

• 750GB hard drive (5400 rpm)

I have installed few software like bitdefender, oracle 11g, skype, microsoft office professional and essential software

When I start my computer, it takes way more time to start and when I checked task manager, CPU usage is around 15-25% and Memory is 3.46

on reading forums online, some people suggested to repair registry and some people have different method to fix.

Can anyone suggest me free software for registry repair or any method to solve this problem.

Thanks in advance.

• 

  kenchow on 21/05/2013 - 02:27

  +2

  ccleaner

  http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

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  scrimshaw on 21/05/2013 - 02:59

  +4

  Reduce your number of startup programs.
  Soluto can help you analyze which programs or services are causing your computer to boot slowly. Right off the bat I'd probably remove Skype and other instant messaging programs from auto-starting. Uninstall programs and apps you no longer use.

  There is nothing wrong with your registry, only inexperienced computer users will blame it on Windows registry when it's in fact the crap that they install that slows the computer down. Please do not attempt to fix it with registry cleaning software (it makes problems worse). You don't have to clean your registry on a regular basis — it is not a maintainance task.

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  _Bruce_ on 21/05/2013 - 07:32

  +1

  Note that memory using is an indicator of nothing at all. Windows will pre-fetch into memory anything you are like to want. It also won't clear anything from memory unless it really needs to do so to make room. Only if you are working in swap or 'thrashing' is it a problem, and that is not what is happening here.

  Also the registry is (almost) never the problem.

• 

  samfisher5986 on 21/05/2013 - 11:25

  Your CPU Usage should be between 0-1% while idle.

  If its not check your task manager and see what is using it while idle.

• 

  sonu1111 on 21/05/2013 - 13:11

  Thanks for your replies.

  in idle state, laptop is using 1-5%, desktopexplorer uses that part of cpu.

  Well, on startup, I do have some programs like antivirus, hardisk management, graphic card, sound software, bluetooth but no messenger.

  When I bought this laptop, I checked discussion online, and people mentioned that difference between i3, i5, i7 is like lanes on road. More lanes means more cars go simultaneously.

  Speed of programs starting up is not a issue. CPU utilization is an issue.

  I bought windows 8 on the day of launch in Australia but due to some bugs and software compatibility, I had to uninstall it and install windows 7 back.

  Windows 8 was pretty fast in boot up. On the other-hand, windows 7 seems too slow.

  This is the only reason, I was looking for some answer.

  I haven't tried SOLUTO but I will give it a go today and see what will happen.

  Bruce, what seems the problem here. Don't you think so that laptop should be utilizing most of it power and it is just using ~ 20% of it.

  • 

    _Bruce_ on 21/05/2013 - 13:27

    1: Do you use desktopexplorer? Do you need it? I have never used it, do you know that it isn't badly written? Looks like that is your problem anyway.

    2:"people mentioned that difference between i3, i5, i7 is like lanes on road. More lanes means more cars go simultaneously."

    This is a terrible explanation. Also it has nothing to do with your problem.

    3: "Speed of programs starting up is not a issue."

    It is indicative of an issue. Try removing desktopexplorer.

    4: "Don't you think so that laptop should be utilizing most of it power and it is just using ~ 20% of it."

    Power has nothing to do with memory usage. All memory should be 'used' all the time. CPU is another thing entirely.

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  tonyjzx on 21/05/2013 - 13:16

  -1

  format and reinstall

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  addictrkr on 21/05/2013 - 14:48

  Reduce your number of startup programs.

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  addictrkr on 21/05/2013 - 15:45

  -1

  test

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  [Deactivated] on 21/05/2013 - 19:30

  +1

  No offence, but it's your 5400rpm drive that is probably bottlenecking your high powered CPU.
  Most people have a 7200rpm drive but even this is ridiculously slow compared to an SSD.

  With an i7, I would have expected windows to be on an SSD, with an additional hard drive for storage.

  The only reason why windows 8 appears to boot faster is because it uses a hibernation-hybrid boot.

  Windows 7 is as you have described, is inferior in the sense that bootup times will be much slower, wait until windows 8.1 (Blue) comes out. It will look very much like windows 7 but with the start menu improved and I believe compatibility will have improved by then.

  LOW CPU usage is good, it means that you aren't utilising all the power in the CPU. Low memory usage is good as well because it means you have lots of spare memory.

  However, it also implies that you have a purchased a computer that is too powerful for your needs.

  For a work computer, you really only need an i3. if you are just browsing the web, using something like the intel G1610 as the CPU would be more preferred ($100 cheaper than an i3 for similar speeds, several hundreds cheaper than an i7).

  i7 is really only for gamers, encoders, photoshopers and number crunchers, e.g. someone running matlab with some quant algorithms. For basic usage, you won't be be getting anywhere near the high CPU usage. I believe since you are only using an average of 25% of your i7, a dual core would have been preferred.

  However, since you have something so powerful, there is no problem.

  I would look into putting in an SSD as the main drive, otherwise everything else should be fine.

  • 

    _Bruce_ on 22/05/2013 - 07:08

    +1

    No offence, but it's your 5400rpm drive that is probably bottlenecking your high powered CPU.

    If this was the case, why is CPU load high? It should be near 0.

    Windows 7 is as you have described, is inferior in the sense that bootup times will be much slower, wait until windows 8.1 (Blue) comes out. It will look very much like windows 7 but with the start menu improved and I believe compatibility will have improved by then.

    This is pure speculation and isn't the reason the OP isn't running 8 anyway.

    Low memory usage is good as well because it means you have lots of spare memory.

    As I describe above, low memory usage means nothing.

    For a work computer, you really only need an i3.

    Eh? Doesn't it depend entirely on the work? In most cases if you are doing intensive work an i5/i7 will help much more here than it does for games. Additionally unfortunately most better laptops only come with i7s.

    I believe since you are only using an average of 25% of your i7, a dual core would have been preferred.

    Average CPU load is not meaningful. It should sit near 0 when idle, you need the capacity for peak loads. Aside from cost, why is dual core 'preferred'?

    However, since you have something so powerful, there is no problem.

    Obviously there is, the CPU shouldn't have load anything like that unless there is a sustained intensive task.

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  1bug on 22/05/2013 - 20:57

  +1

  "I have installed few software like bitdefender, oracle 11g, skype, microsoft office professional and essential software"

  I'd guess the problems are related to viruses/malware OR Oracle.
  I don't know much about Oracle on Windows, but RDBMSs typically consume a lot of resources…

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_11g#Oracle_processes

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  sonu1111 on 23/05/2013 - 04:00

  Thanks guys. I am database developer and I do need minimum i3 or preferably i5. I bought i7 to keep up with technology.

  I think changing hard drive to SSD might speed up boot time.

  and it is true as well that skype and oracle take lot of resources at start-up.

  I was checking my laptop's task manager and initially it takes time to load bitdefender.

  Now, I am using Bitdefender, I think I cant get rid of it. I find it really good.

  About windows 8, Oracle 11g is not compatible with it and that was the reason I uninstalled windows 8 and got back to windows 7.

  Memory is used to max when I convert songs from one format to other, otherwise it is consumed at 50% of what is installed.

  On my previous laptop, I had 4GB ram and it become slow with all new updates with software and then I decided to buy this Dell XPS.

  I guess everyone is right that there is no connection between full load on memory and cpu until I play games or do some intensive work.

  Thanks everyone.

  • 

    _Bruce_ on 23/05/2013 - 07:41

    I guess everyone is right that there is no connection between full load on memory and cpu until I play games or do some intensive work.

    Let me try once more:

    Pay No Attention To Memory Usage.

    This statement has nothing to do with CPU load.

    If your CPU load is more than 2% when you are not doing anything you have a problem. Remove/stop whatever is causing this problem.

  • 

    scrimshaw on 23/05/2013 - 12:58

    A quick look at the resource monitor should tell you what is taxing the CPU and which are the most resource intensive.

    http://www.pcworld.com/article/241677/how_to_use_resource_mo…

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  uccoffee on 23/05/2013 - 13:48

  what is using the CPU ? can check it with task manager or other process manager.
  usually something frozen unless your computer is doing some background task, like indexing, server stuff or virus scan.

  another reason maybe you got a trojan horse or some worm.