DVD shrink using 100% of cpu power, how is that possible?

[aslan]

Every now and then I have to reformat my computer. Maybe that is what you have to do using faboulus microsoft xp.
Anyway, when I usually use dvd shrink, which I know uses a lot of cpu power, about 60-70% of cpu'n is used.

But now 100% is used, which means after a couple of minutes the computer just shuts off by itself, probably to prevent overheating.

I have wind.xp service pack3
a fujitsu siemens computer with p4 cpu 3.4ghz
2 gb ram

so it should be able to encode a movie on shrink at least.

so any ideas where I should start to dig

I would rather not format the computer again

[Baldrick]

It sounds like you have a hardware problem like overheating. It shouldn't matter if dvd shrink use 100% cpu. So I would check the computer fans and monitor the cpu temperature while running dvd shrink for example.

[FulciLives]

You have a P4 CPU at 3.4Ghz which probably means you have a Prescott CPU and these are notorious for overheating problems. Trust me I know as I have a 3.2Ghz Prescott and it will sometimes reboot when doing CPU intensive stuff if the ambient temperature is a bit high (like on hot summer days) and even on otherwise cold days it will sometimes decide to just "take off" meaning the fan will spin up really high because the CPU just decided (for whatever reason) to run full hog like an idiot and boom it reboots.

Best thing is to buy a good after market heatsink and have a case with plenty of air flow (the side of my computer case is open with a big box fan blowing into it). Also try to keep the room as cold as you can on hot days.

Perhaps your heatsink/fan has "had it" and you need a new one. Mine didn't start overheating until year 3 I think and it was due to the aging of the heatsink/fan.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
It is not uncommon for CPU intensive tasks (like video encoding/transcoding) to more-or-less take up 100% of the CPU and this should NOT cause overheating to the extent that the CPU causes a reboot IF you have proper ventilation of the CPU and the inside of the computer case etc.

[grossjamesh]

I am a little concerned by you having to reformat your system. Why do you do this?

[redwudz]

I would also suggest you pull the side cover off and see how much dust is in there. Maybe a good cleaning, especally of the CPU heatsnk, might help.

This program is handy for monitorng temperatures: http://www.cpuid.com/hwmonitor.php

[aslan]

It sounds like you have a hardware problem like overheating. It shouldn't matter if dvd shrink use 100% cpu. So I would check the computer fans and monitor the cpu temperature while running dvd shrink for example.

I don't know how to monitor the cpu, can't check it since this one has a huge plastic tube over it

[aslan]

You have a P4 CPU at 3.4Ghz which probably means you have a Prescott CPU and these are notorious for overheating problems. Trust me I know as I have a 3.2Ghz Prescott and it will sometimes reboot when doing CPU intensive stuff if the ambient temperature is a bit high (like on hot summer days) and even on otherwise cold days it will sometimes decide to just "take off" meaning the fan will spin up really high because the CPU just decided (for whatever reason) to run full hog like an idiot and boom it reboots.

Best thing is to buy a good after market heatsink and have a case with plenty of air flow (the side of my computer case is open with a big box fan blowing into it). Also try to keep the room as cold as you can on hot days.

Perhaps your heatsink/fan has "had it" and you need a new one. Mine didn't start overheating until year 3 I think and it was due to the aging of the heatsink/fan.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
It is not uncommon for CPU intensive tasks (like video encoding/transcoding) to more-or-less take up 100% of the CPU and this should NOT cause overheating to the extent that the CPU causes a reboot IF you have proper ventilation of the CPU and the inside of the computer case etc.

true, hate this computer sooo much, if it didn't have cost me so much, probably have thrown it out of the window for a long time ago

[aslan]

I am a little concerned by you having to reformat your system. Why do you do this?

the main reason is 'cause the computer starts to work slower and slower
can't perform normal tasks, it takes to long time
and when the computer starts to shut down all by itself (se the post above), then its time to format it again

[Supreme2k]

It sounds like you have a hardware problem like overheating. It shouldn't matter if dvd shrink use 100% cpu. So I would check the computer fans and monitor the cpu temperature while running dvd shrink for example.

I don't know how to monitor the cpu, can't check it since this one has a huge plastic tube over it

Go with redwudz' suggestion (2nd time I wrote that today ). You don't actually have to physically put a rectal thermometer to your CPU, as software can monitor the temp for you.



As for having to reformat, it seems as though you have some shitty software installed somewhere. Try to take a minimalist approach and only install what is needed, or at least the most reputable of what you're going to use. If you reformat and simply re-install the offending software, you will have the same problems (which it seems is the case). I have a machine that is specifically for A/V processing (no other software but critical A/V tools), and I haven't formatted it since I put it together six years ago (even with upgrades).

Make sure that you have reliable virus and spyware scanner. There's just so much shit out there that can hose your system.

[aslan]

It sounds like you have a hardware problem like overheating. It shouldn't matter if dvd shrink use 100% cpu. So I would check the computer fans and monitor the cpu temperature while running dvd shrink for example.

I don't know how to monitor the cpu, can't check it since this one has a huge plastic tube over it

Go with redwudz' suggestion (2nd time I wrote that today ). You don't actually have to physically put a rectal thermometer to your CPU, as software can monitor the temp for you.



As for having to reformat, it seems as though you have some shitty software installed somewhere. Try to take a minimalist approach and only install what is needed, or at least the most reputable of what you're going to use. If you reformat and simply re-install the offending software, you will have the same problems (which it seems is the case). I have a machine that is specifically for A/V processing (no other software but critical A/V tools), and I haven't formatted it since I put it together six years ago (even with upgrades).

Make sure that you have reliable virus and spyware scanner. There's just so much shit out there that can hose your system.

Hehe your right you don't need a rectal termometer.
Hard not to install certain programs for encoding for instance. Try to keep to programs down, and it is har to know which of them is causing the problem.
I don't know what you mean with A/V tools, probably tools only important for the machine to go around, and yes if you keep the programs to a minimal and only the ones absolutely needed everything will be fine. But then why do I have the computer if it can't perform other things like encoding, that I want to do?

[Supreme2k]

A/V tools = Audio and Video tools

That was my short way of saying audio editors, encoders, converters (same for video). That's why I said "specifically for A/V processing".

Also, if you don't have too many programs to install, you can do a search to see if certain ones have known issues.