Recently (as in the past few days) my Skype has been playing up. After about 10 minutes of being open it'll start using up to 50% of my CPU constantly with little fluctuation. For the record, I have an Intel Core2Duo E8400 (3.00Ghz)
I looked at the version and it was on 6.3.random assortment of numbers. I've googled the issue and it appears I wasn't alone. The main solutions were to update etc.
I have tried:
-Updating to 6.7 (most recent)
-Downgrading to 6.1 (This was claimed to be stable and did not use much CPU)
-Checked compatibility mode/Administrator privileges
-Rebooting computer/re-installing Skype
-Doing a quick virus scan with MSE
Furthermore, my Google Chrome has started doing the same thing and therefore my CPU gets maxed out and everything starts slowing down and it's frustrating to try and do anything. It's intermittent but the CPU usage is constantly at 90-100%. Firefox has done the same thing.
Whether these 2 issues are linked, I do not know but I am baffled now. Especially because, as i'm typing this...the former issue is not currently screwing me over but Chrome is doing this...I have one tab open.
The only recent programs I have installed are Dxtory and RadeonPro for widescreen and FPS improvement purposes.
Any ideas? It's causing a fair bit of frustration from having to wait hours between doing things. It's not doing it right now but this isn't the first time it's quietened down before pissing me off again. Thank you in advance!
So its 'only' those two programs that do this? Nothing else?
A while ago, I had a problem where one of the programs running 'locked' into 25% CPU. It wouldn't go up, it wouldn't go down. If I closed that program, a seemingly random other program would 'lock' at this percentage.
Not really sure what was going on there.
Does that lock up with another browser, per-say Firefox? Is it universal, or is it 'only' those programs.
If all else fails, I'd hate to admit it, but like above getting a clean install of your OS may be your only sure way of fixing it.
It seems to be that way, yes. Both are currently fluctuating between 40-50% each and causing temperamental severe FPS (if that's the right term to use) drop when doing things as simple as moving the mouse. If I close one, obviously I can play Freelancer or do something else as I have the CPU to deal with it.
Firefox does the same thing. I opened a couple of other programs (Music player for example) and although it briefly spiked it rested well below 10%. So it seems to be specific to these programs. I wondered if it could be Java or something acting up. I've updated that again but it seems to have had little effect.
I really don't know what to tell you, if this has not happened until now there probably isn't much you can do to fix it.
I honestly don't know what would be causing something like in the first place, CPU going up to that level, give the computer a reformat, back-up all the stuff you need, and let us know on the forum if it has worked eh?
If it doesn't, its a hardware problem. Even though I believe that is probably not the case. Good luck on getting that fixed.
Update: Not yet reformatted by I don't think that's the issue. With both programs in question running, CPU is running at 95-100 degrees Celsius. Not good. Without them running? About 80.
(08-04-2013, 02:20 PM)MiniStryke Wrote: Update: Not yet reformatted by I don't think that's the issue. With both programs in question running, CPU is running at 95-100 degrees Celsius. Not good. Without them running? About 80.
So something's failed inside somewhere.
It's your CPU.
It's almost trash now.
Get a new heatsink (or clean your old one) and arctic silver thermal grease, however I doubt it'll help you that much.
BE CAREFUL, make sure to leave the PC off and unplugged, and use an antistatic band to ground yourself do avoid shock.
Also, the heatsink might even be glued to it, be careful and don't tear the heatsink quickly, you'll pull cpu or pins with it.
But, your cpu should be turning off your pc if it's running past 80, did you turn that feature off in the BIOS?
Yeah, I was tempted to try a reformat + thermal paste etc but to be honest i'm considering just getting a new computer. It's about time anyway after 5 years or so.
I haven't touched the BIOS but that'll explain why it's not turned off repeatedly. It's probably melting slowly.
(08-04-2013, 02:20 PM)MiniStryke Wrote: Update: Not yet reformatted by I don't think that's the issue. With both programs in question running, CPU is running at 95-100 degrees Celsius. Not good. Without them running? About 80.
So something's failed inside somewhere.
It's your CPU.
It's almost trash now.
Get a new heatsink (or clean your old one) and arctic silver thermal grease, however I doubt it'll help you that much.
BE CAREFUL, make sure to leave the PC off and unplugged, and use an antistatic band to ground yourself do avoid shock.
Also, the heatsink might even be glued to it, be careful and don't tear the heatsink quickly, you'll pull cpu or pins with it.
But, your cpu should be turning off your pc if it's running past 80, did you turn that feature off in the BIOS?
Don't bother getting a new heatsink, clean the old one, but do it carefully.
Use a soft brush of some sort, an old paintbrush is ideal for the job.
You shouldn't need to remove the heatsink in order to clean it, but it can be a bit fiddly trying to work around the fan.
Don't use a vacuum cleaner to try and clean your PC, those things can generate huge amounts of static electricity.
As for unplugging the PC..... you don't need to, just make sure it is turned off at the wall.
Leaving it plugged in grounds the PC, which will help keep it safe from static.
Just because your PC is old doesn't mean it can't still be useful, computers don't have a "use by date" like food does, as long as you can still get parts for it and it does what you want, it's still good.