RE: 70% CPU Usage Due to Hardware Interrupt Conflicts

usama,

Here's a link to my latest reply, FYI:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/newsgroups/reader.mspx?dg=microsoft.public.windowsxp.general&mid=2675ee21-0710-4d61-bda7-bb08abbb81ff&sloc=en-us


"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!
> >
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: 70% CPU Usage Due to Hardware Interrupt Conflicts
    ... I had already tried the updated Dazzle Mojave, NIC, and video card drivers ... >> the CPU (also as measured by Windows Task Manager). ... >> IRQ 10: ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: 70% CPU Usage Due to Hardware Interrupt Conflicts
    ... >> the CPU (also as measured by Windows Task Manager). ... >> devices which could be causing the Hardware Interrupt ... >> IRQ 10: ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • RE: 70% CPU Usage Due to Hardware Interrupt Conflicts
    ... It sounds to me that your hardware isn't playing nicely together. ... > the CPU (also as measured by Windows Task Manager). ... > IRQ 10: ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • RE: 70% CPU Usage Due to Hardware Interrupt Conflicts
    ... provided drivers since some of their drivers and hardware seem to have some ... >> the CPU (also as measured by Windows Task Manager). ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • 70% CPU Usage Due to Hardware Interrupt Conflicts
    ... Interrupt issue which constantly keeps the CPU 70% utilized (as measured by ... Windows Task Manager) even with no applications/processes actively utilizing ... apparent hardware conflicts, but a process management tool (Process Manager ... Dell Diagnostics, clearing NVRAM, XP repair install, and eventually a full XP ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)