CPU use while running system idle process.

[Weaselbert]

Hello everyone :wave:

Just wondered if anyone had any idea what sort of CPU activity you would expect while the computer is running the system idle process? I did a complete clean install over the weekend (Win2000) and at some time during reloading all my apps I noticed the CPU use whilst running the system idle process was running at around 40-50%.

I did a bit of research on the net and found plenty of forum sites that all explained that this was fine, the system idle process was just using up some CPU time to keep up synchronisation etc, all completely normal. Then I noticed that after installing my ftp server software the CPU use under the system idle process dropped to under 10%

There is no problem with the machine, it runs very nicely and is fairly quick but I was just curious.... Any ideas?

In case they are needed some machine specs;
AMD Athlon 64 3000+
1 GB DDR 400 RAM
Asus KV8 SE deluxe m/b
Radeon 9800 Pro
2 * 160GB SATA Hdd

[movaado]

system idle process is when the CPU does nothing at all

You need to identify which processes are taking up the CPU time. You can sort by CPU load in task manager

[MrHat001]

system idle process is when the CPU does nothing at all

You need to identify which processes are taking up the CPU time. You can sort by CPU load in task manager
Don't think you're quite right with that.
For example if I look under System Processes in task manager the thing using the most CPU is 'System Idle Process'.

[movaado]

I'm fairly sure I'm correct ;)

'System Idle Process' is telling you the percentage of the time that the CPU isn't running any processes.

Run something demanding and it will go to zero

[belly]

the system idle process is more like a counter than a process, just measures how much processor power is 'idle' for use.

[Crazy Squirrel]

As the 2 guys above said..
System idle should be 99% when you're not doing anyhting, though anything in the 90's may be acceptable. i.e. if you run a game or do a virus scan then those are going to use cpu up. This pc im on now is 99% idle, my main server serving 20 users is 96%.
As Movaado says you need to look at whats using up the CPU, your idle should not be at 50% unless you've got something doing some heavy processing, definatly not 10%.

[Weaselbert]

Sorry guys, don't think I explained myself very well.

I didn't mean the system idle process under the process tab of the task manager, that is sitting at a nice 99% while the computer is idle.

I meant the CPU Usage monitor under the performance tab.

Sorry :nuts:

[MrHat001]

I'm fairly sure I'm correct ;)

'System Idle Process' is telling you the percentage of the time that the CPU isn't running any processes.

Doh, yup makes sense now. :doh:

[movaado]

I meant the CPU Usage monitor under the performance tab.

Sorry :nuts:

Its the same thing, its just a graph of the cpu load over the last few minutes or so.

[S1515]

Is there any way to show CPU and memory usage in the task bar?