remedy

Hey guys lately I've been getting cpu usage spikes every so often (it happens more frequently when I'm running an intensive game or something of the like). Process Explorer tells me that interrupts spikes to about 40-60% not 100%.

Whenever these spikes happen, my computer either: freezes (happens when im in an intesive application like a game); or everything freezes except the cursor which moves but is at a crawl (whenever i'm not in a full screen application).

I've tried seeing if one of my IDE controllers was in PIO mode, none of them were. Everything is in DMA mode. I'm at wits end with this issue, I'm close to reformatting which is such a pain.

I've ruled out overheating, as nothing on my computer at 100% gpu and cpu load goes over 56C which is perfectly adequate.

The spikes do NOT correspond with I/O port spikes.

I've done my best to rule out Ad-Aware / Spyware / Trojans / Rootkits etc. by running these scans:
Trend Micro Housecall
Nod32 Website scan as well as software scan (it's my AV)
F-Secure Blacklight (rootkit scanner)
Spybot S&D
Lavasoft Ad-Aware 08
Malwarebytes Anti Malware
SUPERAntiSpyware
Kaspersky online scan


All of those at this point come up clean. I think I COULD have a rootkit, since those are very hard to detect, but I'm really stingy on keeping my computer healthy. I defrag every day, run scans of everything above once a week (Nod32 has a daily scan I set up).

Aside from that, I've tried switching network card drivers, tried switching video card drivers, and tried switching sound card drivers. Nothing has helped.

Thanks in advance, if you need more information let me know I'll be glad to give you it.

System Specs:

Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 32-bit
MSI P7N Platinum 750i SLi LGA 775 Motherboard
Intel E4500 @ 3.0Ghz
2x MSI 9600GT @ 750/1800/1000 (Core/Memory/Shader)
2x 1GB Mushkin DDR2 800 @ DDR2 1066 5-5-5-15
D-Link DWA 552
Corsair 620HX 620W PSU (SeaSonic internals)
Auzentech X-Fi Prelude

this n00b again

cpu temps?

if at all comes to worse windows could have it's own problems, may be fresh install on a spare drive and test it out.

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1) A good cpu cooler not too many people know about -> XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 | AKA OCZ Vendetta 2
2) The 8 PIN power connector on the MOBO is 2x 4pin power connectors combined in parallel to draw more power safely. 1x 4pin power plug will work, but you should think of an upgrade.
3) If you're running x64 OS and have more than 3GB ram installed but windows is only reporting around 3GB, Go into your bios and enable Memory remapping.

mtbiker033

are you using nvidia network access manager?

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remedy

cpu temps are at 25c idle, 42c load. im not using nvidia network access manager (although I did install the nforce chipset drivers, could it be bundled with those?)