Hey, thanks for reading. I have a problem where my CPU usage spikes horribly, causing windows, world of warcraft, and basicaly just about every other program i use to lock up for several seconds at a time or just run very slow. I have had this problem going on for about 4 months now, and it is continuing to get worse. I first tried to format, latest drivers, updates, everything. didnt work, 20 processes in the backround. Spyware isnt the problem. Then i swaped out the motherboard and CPU, Still nothing, same exact problems, all the time. High CPU usage, no clear reason. Im about to swap out my Videocard, but wouldnt think this has anything to do with the CPU, possibly its a powersuppy issue? Any input on the matter is greatly apreciated. Im totaly at a loss here. AMD 64 3000+ 939 ECS KV8 (old mobo)MSI k8n Neo 2GB PC3200 Geforce 6800 128mb AGP WD 180gb SATA Antec Truepower 430w

Formatting & reinstalling the OS, drivers, programs, etc is NOT an acceptable troubleshooting method, it basically shows a lack of troubleshooting know-how. Changed the board & CPU? I fail to see what you expected to accomplish. The problem is most likely software related. If you're 100% sure your system is free of infection (spyware, viruses, trojans, etc), you probably reinstalled the "offending" software after the reformat. All you need to do is bring up the Task Manager, click the Processes tab & find which program is sucking up the CPU useage.

dont know what you are trying to accomplish Jam. It is an acceptable form of troubleshooting. Maybe for that situation it isn't, but it is a method. How many programs/applications are you running at the time you are checking the CPU usage? Is it just spiking when you open the task manager? Is most of the slowness happening when you are using graphic intensive things? WOW for example...if your video card is junk, then it will push everything onto the processor. Try turning down the settings. Try doing a dxdiag making sure your hardware is all working properly. Try turning down any hardware accelerations. Get a boot cd and run a hard drive test - find out if there are any errors on that. Uhmmmm run a memory test, see if its your memory. Without knowing more details I couldnt really tell you. Its kind of like saying my car is making noises ;) Good luck

Bad day jam? I had not formated the computer in ages, i had the same windows for about 3 years, i acumulated tons of stuff on the computer, went through numerous hardware changes over the years. Hence why i formated after this problem arose. Its no cost toubleshooting method in my opinion. If you read what i wrote, i have 20 backround processes. No viruses/spyware Anyway, if you know WOW, often times when i select a character in the party or another mob, the computer will lock up for about 2-5 seconds. Durring these 2-5 secs, the CPU usage goes right up to 100%. When you are in a tank in a difficult instance, this could be a problem ;D When running Windows media player 11 and playing any MP3 file and have the battery effect graphics on, the computer automaticaly goes to about 70% CPU usage, and the backround effect looks like its going at about 10 fps. However, the only other game installed, CSS, runs perfectly, Max details. Theres not graphic artifacting in any game or app. which makes me belive its not videocard related. However its a possiblity, the card is about 2-3 years old, and i have a modified artic silver cooler on it. I have had this cooler on it for about 1-2 years, and the temps are about 42c Im very short on cash, and i am totaly stumped. I think im going to try to borrow my friends 6600gt and see if that fixes the problem. thank you again for taking a look at my dilemma

yes it sounds to me like the only time you are having the issues are when you are trying to run visual things. if you are just sitting there at an empty desktop and its not spiking, that will rule out the processes. I do know wow, and maybe you should try and turn down your settings. Counter STrike SOurce is like a 6 year old game, so that is why it runs fine. I got a mid range 512 card for my PC...175 dollars. You could go even lower. I dont think ther eis anything physically wrong with your vidoe card. I am sure it just cant take what you are dishing out. It's job is to take all graphics intensive code and run it for the processor. If it cant gather it all up, most will overflow onto the processor (hence the spikes). Again, good luck! If you are playing WOW, you might as well get a decent card. You will be amazed at the difference it makes. In game lag might be cause by the cartoons you are watching too ;)

CSS is not 6 years old My system is no push over. 3000+ athlon 64 939 2gb pc3200 geforce 6800 I was able to run wow max details before this problem. any more advice?

And also, no matter what the graphic settings on warcraft, i still have the lag problem.