cpu usage tool? 100% usage with no apparent reason

[Truebrit]

Is there a tool that shows how much cpu power a certain app is using in real time, like the task manager does for memory usage? The reason i ask is i've started to get the dreaded 100% usage with no apparent reason. I havn't seen that problem for years.

I have tried the latest beta drivers, defragged and checked my HD for errors, any idea what could be causing it?

Intel® Core™2 Quad Extreme QX9650 Processor (3.0GHz, 12MB Cache, 1333MHz)

Vista Ultimate Edition 64 bit main O/S

Coolermaster Cosmos S Ultra Performance Aluminium Chassis with 1250W PSU

PCI-Express Mainboard - SLi nForce 780i SLi - Intel Core2Duo/Quad Core - ATX

8GB DDR2 800MHz Memory (4 x 2GB)

Nvidia GTX260

Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer Sound Card

 

[Ripshod]

Task manager shows which software is using the cpu and how much. Open the processes tab and left click the 'CPU' column header (to list programs in order of cpu usage). The only thing is with some programs the process name could be completely different from the program name. Just right click the process, select properties and you'll see the location of the process.

 

[Truebrit]

In the cpu column, is that a percentage value? I looked at those numbers earlier when my cpu read 100% and my game lagged, but they were mostly 00 or 01. Right now my cpu usage is 2% and they're all at 00 apart from system idle which is at 99.

Task manager shows which software is using the cpu and how much. Open the processes tab and left click the 'CPU' column header (to list programs in order of cpu usage).

 

[Ripshod]

Yep, the percentage value. If you click the CPU tab things will be in order. To keep it simple it'll either be at the top or at the bottom of the list (it reverses every time you click on the tab). Make sure you're scrolled to the very top (or bottom lol) of the list

 

[atpbx]

I had a very high CPU usage problem, basically 40+ all the time, turned out to be Avira.

 

[trickynickyuk]

i would look at wmpnetwk.exe in task manager processes i found that keeps using 100% cpu usage on a lot of systems that i have worked on if it is just go to services and disable windows mediaplayer network sharing service and that should sort it out

 

[j.col]

iirc there is a program called process explorer, basically the same as task manager, but with a lot more extras, etc....

check task manager when there is nothing running, so dont run a game or IE or firefox.
when you open task manager, click on the process tab, at the bottom of this, make sure "show processes form all users" is ticked.
now just look down the cpu column, you should be able to find the problem now.