RE: 70% CPU Usage Due to Hardware Interrupt Conflicts

Thanks, I'll give it a try. I've been somewhat cautious about using non-Dell
provided drivers since some of their drivers and hardware seem to have some
proprietary tweaks. At least 3 of their devices have some proprietary twist.
Since they don't have a newer driver on the Dell site for USB, I'll assume
that the standard drivers will be ok. I've become pretty adept at keeping a
working backup of software (through system restore) and it's associated
hardware (through a backup hardware profile) so I'm more willing to take a
risk.
I noticed on VIA's site that they have a "pro" (the link you sent to me), a
"current" and a "retro" version of the 4 in 1. They imply that the pro and
current are better suited for newer machines, and the retro is tuned to make
an older machine operate faster than with the current versions. Since the
setup is over 2.5 years old, I assume that the retro might be better. Any
thoughts on that? I posed the question on the VIA board just to be sure.
Thanks again for the suggestion and the link.

"usasma" wrote:

> It sounds to me that your hardware isn't playing nicely together. FWIW - I
> had some disturbing problems with a Turtle Beach card not too long ago - and
> stopped using it. The drivers conflicted with something in my system.
>
> While I haven't used a Via chipset in a long, long time - don't they have a
> 4 in 1 driver setup? I would suggest updating to the most current version of
> this software. In particular, I'd investigate their USB update.
>
> Here's a link to the latest 4 in 1 drivers:
> http://www.viaarena.com/Driver/VIA_HyperionPro_V500A.zip
>
> Which I found by going to this page:
> http://www.viaarena.com/default.aspx?PageID=2
>
> Next, I'd try updating the Dazzle thingie's drivers (along with the
> Multimedia stuff), then your Turtle Beach, then your video drivers, then your
> LAN driver, and finally your modem.
>
> Hope that this helps!
>
>
> "TZar" wrote:
>
> > The short version:
> > My Dell Dimension 8250 with an “as shipped” configuration has a Hardware
> > Interrupt issue which constantly keeps the CPU 70% utilized (as measured by
> > Windows Task Manager) even with no applications/processes actively utilizing
> > the CPU (also as measured by Windows Task Manager). Device Manager shows no
> > apparent hardware conflicts, but a process management tool (Process Manager
> > by Sysinternals) shows that the 70% background CPU utilization is caused by
> > Hardware Interrupts. The details on my devices and associated IRQs are
> > listed further down in this post. Can anyone advise as to how to resolve the
> > interrupt issue and free up the CPU?
> >
> > The Long Version:
> > For several weeks, I've been trying to debug an issue with very slow system
> > performance and constant high CPU usage. I have tried everything from
> > multiple anti-virus tools, multiple anti-adware tools, system restore, using
> > alternate hardware profiles to temporarily disable potentially conflicting
> > devices, MSconfig to temporarily turn off non-essential services and
> > applications, XP recovery console, the MS User Profile Hive clean-up tool,
> > Dell Diagnostics, clearing NVRAM, XP repair install, and eventually a full XP
> > re-install. Nothing has corrected the problem. Prior to the re-install, I
> > was on Service Pack 2 and was fully up to date with any XP updates.
> >
> > With this problem, Windows Task Manager shows conflicting results. The
> > overall CPU usage is always over 70% (as reflected in the lower status bar,
> > in the "Performance" tab, and in the system tray icon of Task Manager),
> > however the at the same time Task Manager "Processes" tab shows that the
> > system is 99% idle (System Idle Process for the CPU is 99%, with no other
> > processes showing any CPU usage over 1%).
> >
> > In addition to the CPU utilization issue, before the XP reinstall, I also
> > had a “blue screen” Driver_IRQL_Not_Less_or_Equal stop error.
> >
> > I recently found a tool (Process Manager by Sysinternals) which is similar
> > to Windows Task Manager, which identifies the hidden CPU usage. It
> > identifies that the 70% CPU usage is being consumed by Hardware Interrupts.
> >
> > To simplify the debugging, for the XP re-install, I disconnected any
> > peripherals (e.g. printer, DSL Modem, wireless router) that did not come with
> > the original configuration. I also disconnected the Dazzle Mojave device, but
> > left the associated card in the slot. These were part of a standard Dell
> > “Movie Studio Premium” package.
> >
> > After the re-install, although several devices share the same IRQs, Device
> > Manager shows no apparent hardware conflicts (other than a missing driver for
> > the Multimedia controller resulting from having the Dazzle Mojave device
> > unplugged).
> >
> > I have a Dell Dimension 8250 with the following PCI devices which could be
> > causing the Hardware Interrupt conflict:
> >
> > IRQ 10:
> > - Multimedia Controller (supporting the Mojave Dazzle Device which came with
> > the Dell “Movie Studio Premium” package)
> >
> > IRQ 11:
> > - Intel 82801BA/BAM SMBus Controller 2443
> >
> > IRQ 16:
> > - 64MB DDR NVidia GeForce4 MX 420 w/ TV Out (Dell)
> > - VIA USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller
> >
> > IRQ 17:
> > - Conexant HSF v.92 56 RTAD Speakerphone PCI Modem
> > - VIA Rev5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
> >
> > IRQ 18:
> > - Intel Pro/100M Network Connection
> > - Santa Cruz (Voyetra Turtle Beach sound card)
> > - VIA Rev5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
> > - VIA Rev5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
> >
> > IRQ 19:
> > - Texas Instruments OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller (also
> > supporting the Mojave Dazzle Device which came with the “Movie Studio
> > Premium” package)
> > - VIA Rev5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
> > - VIA USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller
> >
> > The entire configuration that I am working with for the debugging is “as
> > shipped” originally. The only exception is that I unplugged the external
> > Dazzle Mojave device when doing the XP re-install, and tried to add it in
> > later. After the re-install, with the Dazzle Mojave device disconnected, I
> > got rid of the Driver_IRQL_Not_Less_or_Equal stop error, but I still had the
> > CPU utilization issue. When I reconnected the Dazzle Mojave device, I get a
> > Driver_IRQL_Not_Less_or_Equal stop error back. I also used the latest driver
> > for this device from the Dell website for the Movie Studio package.
> >
> > I’ve used alternate hardware profiles to selectively disable potentially
> > offending devices through Device Manager,. The only thing that stops the CPU
> > consumption is systematically disabling the USB Root Hubs first, and then
> > disabling the USB controllers. That stops the CPU consumption; however it
> > renders my USB ports inoperable, and upon re-boot the system hangs.
> >
> > One final note: my BIOS is upgraded to the most recent version. BIOS setup
> > shows different IRQs for the PCI devices than the IRQs shown in Device
> > Manager.
> >
> > My gut tells me that the problem is with the components of the Dell “Movie
> > Studio Premium” package. I’ve systematically disabled, via Device Manager,
> > all the components associated with it but I still have the CPU utilization
> > issue. I will probably try to uninstall them via Device Manager and/or try
> > removing the card from the slot next to see if that resolves it.
> >
> > Before taking this final step, any recommendations or advice would be
> > greatly appreciated. This debugging process has been an excellent learning
> > tool for me to find obscure techniques in an attempt to resolve it, but I’m
> > ready for it to be over!!
> >
> > Any help would be greatly appreciated!
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
.

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