is my cpu fried?

I have a newer tower (p4) and it was running slow as a dog, i mean like 10 mins to boot up. I did my usual scanning and whatnot, found nothing, so I just decided to throw a different HD in there and a fresh copy of XP (I took the old HD out compleatly). Same problem happened, it was slow as crap. Even during the bootup and install, it was extreamly slow, took me a few hours to do an xp install. Once into windows, if I open task manager, only thing that shows cpu usage is Taskmgr, and it spikes between 50-100% cpu usage when i just move the mouse, stays around 25% usage when I dont do anything. There is nothing installed other then the OS.

Is it possible that the cpu is fried but still functioning at some very slow rate?
I've never seen anything like this. No errors in the event log, and it did this on a fresh install, and with my bootable linux cd, its just SLOW.

Any advice or has anyone encountered anything like this before?!?

Well, maybe the memory?. Try it with one strip and swap them?

What are the hardware specs?

would bad memory cause the cpu to spike even though the memory usage is next to nothing in taskman?
I will get more specs when I get home, I am not around the computer ATM.
Thanks for the reply.

Try swapping out the harddrive cable. I've seen cabling bring a computer to its knees.

CPUs usually work or they dont. ID try a new hard drive with a fresh load of windows first. Motherboads with bad caps can cause that too so double check the board while you are at it.

Hi oofki,

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CPUs usually work or they dont

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I would agree with that.

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ID try a new hard drive with a fresh load of windows first.

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cross has already done that. Also he says that it is slow booting from the Windows CD and from a Linux CD. That kind of rules out the HDD for me, which leaves the RAM and the MoBo?

cross:

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would bad memory cause the cpu to spike even though the memory usage is next to nothing in taskman?

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Yes it might do. A defective memory stick can produce all sorts of unpredictable results. Please get this diagnostic and run it from a CD:

http://www.memtest86.com/download.html

A quick test is to try eack memory stick one at a time, or better still, try a known working memory stick.

You might also check that your BIOS is correctly recognising your processor, although the worst I have ever encountered was one running at half speed. Your problem sounds worse than that?

:)

As oofki suggests, look at the MoBo. The capacitor tops should be flat with no gunge seeping out of them.

I wonder what a faulty power supply might do to performance if the voltage was unsteady perhaps?

Try the basics, unplug everything but CPU, GPU, RAM, keyboard and mouse.
Heck, unplug the mouse.

I suppose it is worth checking all the fans are spinning properly.

One more thing i would add is to check for adaware and malware because they are quite destructive these days..Would slow your pc down considerably..Like nihil says give us some more info and we will be able to help you i,m sure..

I have found that microworlds antivirus and spyware removal kit downloaded here http://www.mwti.net/products/mwav/mwav.asp takes care of most of todays rubbish..

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Originally Posted by Aardpsymon

I wonder what a faulty power supply might do to performance if the voltage was unsteady perhaps?

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That's what I was thinking. I am under the impression that if one has RAM issues (failed or faulty), they system would alert you. He said that no event logs were generated and I assume that the system starts normally with no error messages.

Having just upgraded a power supply, I experienced a significant difference. 250 --> 300.

Go with power supply.

O

Any BIOS beeps?

When the PSU goes south, it just tends to take stuff with it?

:confused:

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Originally Posted by vanman

One more thing i would add is to check for adaware and malware because they are quite destructive these days..Would slow your pc down considerably..Like nihil says give us some more info and we will be able to help you i,m sure..

I have found that microworlds antivirus and spyware removal kit downloaded here http://www.mwti.net/products/mwav/mwav.asp takes care of most of todays rubbish..

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And they would effect a Linux CD?

Hmmmm,

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And they would effect a Linux CD?

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Technically, "yes"............... realistically, "no"

Your malware could be in the "boot sector" ?

Just theoretically, of course?

:D

After reading through what he's posted im gonna go out on a limb here and suggest a Check of the cpuid limit option in his bios, I had a maddening problem out of a dell 8400 once where no matter what i did it took Ages to do anything.
(mouse cursor would redline the taskmanager)

Biostars its called CpuidMaxval Enable/Disable
Dells its cpu compatiblity mode enable/disable
Asus its Cpuid limit or 03h enable/disable


Look for anything called cpuid limit or 03h enable/disable and make sure it is OFF
or you will be waiting.