Audio / CPU problems

[Guest gaikokujinkyofusho@gmail.com]

I have had trouble playing audio on my computer, specifically mp3.

When i try to play audio (wmplayer, vlc, winamp, so far) the player

ramps up to 50+% of my CPU usage and trying to use any other

applications makes the audio skip (it actually seems to get worse the

longer i run it to the point that it seems to make itself skip). I had

thought at first that it was the player but after trying 3 very

different players i think it is the system itself. I am not quite sure

where to start here so any suggestions would really be appreciated.

 

Cheers

 

-Gaiko

[Guest John Williamson]

Re: Audio / CPU problems

 

gaikokujinkyofusho@gmail.com wrote:

> I have had trouble playing audio on my computer, specifically mp3.

> When i try to play audio (wmplayer, vlc, winamp, so far) the player

> ramps up to 50+% of my CPU usage and trying to use any other

> applications makes the audio skip (it actually seems to get worse the

> longer i run it to the point that it seems to make itself skip). I had

> thought at first that it was the player but after trying 3 very

> different players i think it is the system itself. I am not quite sure

> where to start here so any suggestions would really be appreciated.

>

> Cheers

>

> -Gaiko

What:-

Processor?

Memory?

Hard drive?

Operating system & version?

Sound card?

 

Have you got installed?

 

Have you checked your system for viruses & the like?

 

Have you run a system diagnostic, especially checking hard drives & memory?

 

--

Tciao for Now!

 

John.

[Guest gaikokujinkyofusho@gmail.com]

Re: Audio / CPU problems

 

On Mar 3, 10:20 pm, John Williamson <johnwilliam...@btinternet.com>

wrote:

> gaikokujinkyofu...@gmail.com wrote:

> > I have had trouble playing audio on my computer, specifically mp3.

> > When i try to play audio (wmplayer, vlc, winamp, so far) the player

> > ramps up to 50+% of my CPU usage and trying to use any other

> > applications makes the audio skip (it actually seems to get worse the

> > longer i run it to the point that it seems to make itself skip). I had

> > thought at first that it was the player but after trying 3 very

> > different players i think it is the system itself. I am not quite sure

> > where to start here so any suggestions would really be appreciated.

>

> > Cheers

>

> > -Gaiko

>

> What:-

> Processor?

> Memory?

> Hard drive?

> Operating system & version?

> Sound card?

>

> Have you got installed?

>

> Have you checked your system for viruses & the like?

>

> Have you run a system diagnostic, especially checking hard drives & memory?

>

> --

> Tciao for Now!

>

> John.

 

Doh, fair enough. Specs are as follows:

 

Mobile P4 2.6Mhz

1gb mem

60gb drive (15gb free)

Win XP Pro SP2

Integrated sound (simtel chipset)

 

PRograms:

7-Zip 4_57

Adobe Flash Player Plugin

Ant Movie Catalog

Ant Renamer

AppSnap 1_3_2

Ashampoo Uninstaller

Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic

BitDefender Free Edition v10

COMODO Firewall Pro

Ditto 3_15_4_0

DupDetector 3_201

Exact Audio Copy 0_99pb3

ffdshow [rev 1821] [2008-01-27]

Flickr Uploadr 3_0_5

Folder Size for Windows

Foxit Reader

GSpot Codec Information Appliance

HP LaserJet 1020

IDimager V4 Professional SQLite Edition

Juice 2_2

KillWinamp 1_61

MediaInfo 0_7_5_7

Microsoft Network Monitor 3_1

Miranda IM 0_7_3

Nero

NetMeter 1_1_3

Opera 9_25

Orbit Downloader

Process Tamer 2_09_01

PTGui Pro 7_2

QLiner Quotes

QT Lite 2_3_0

Real Alternative 1_7_5

Screenshot Captor 2_37_03

Skype 3_6

Spyware Terminator

SUPER c Version 2008_bld_24 (Jan 18, 2008)

Tag&Rename 3_4

TrueCrypt

Tweak UI

Unlocker 1_8_5

Utorrent

VideoLAN VLC media player 0_8_6d

Vim 7_1 (self-installing)

Winamp v5.52

Winamp Enhancer (plugin)

Winamp Pacemaker (plugin)

Winamp Playlist Remover (plugin)

Winamp Playlist Undo (plugin)

Windows Media Format Runtime

WinHTTrack Website Copier 3_42

XnView 1_91_6

MS Office 2003

Photoshop CS2

 

I've checked my system using comodo & spyware terminator for spyware,

used bitdefender and antivir to check for antiviruses, and have run

chkdsk to check the hard drive but haven't checked the memory (not

sure about how to go about doing that, suggestions are welcome though)

 

For what it is worth a month ago everything worked fine, I can't think

of anything i have done to the system since then that would make it

change.

[Guest John Williamson]

Re: Audio / CPU problems

 

gaikokujinkyofusho@gmail.com wrote:

> On Mar 3, 10:20 pm, John Williamson <johnwilliam...@btinternet.com>

> wrote:

>> gaikokujinkyofu...@gmail.com wrote:

>>> I have had trouble playing audio on my computer, specifically mp3.

>>> When i try to play audio (wmplayer, vlc, winamp, so far) the player

>>> ramps up to 50+% of my CPU usage and trying to use any other

>>> applications makes the audio skip (it actually seems to get worse the

>>> longer i run it to the point that it seems to make itself skip). I had

>>> thought at first that it was the player but after trying 3 very

>>> different players i think it is the system itself. I am not quite sure

>>> where to start here so any suggestions would really be appreciated.

>>> Cheers

>>> -Gaiko

>> What:-

>> Processor?

>> Memory?

>> Hard drive?

>> Operating system & version?

>> Sound card?

>>

>> Have you got installed?

>>

>> Have you checked your system for viruses & the like?

>>

>> Have you run a system diagnostic, especially checking hard drives & memory?

>>

>> --

>> Tciao for Now!

>>

>> John.

>

> Doh, fair enough. Specs are as follows:

>

> Mobile P4 2.6Mhz

> 1gb mem

> 60gb drive (15gb free)

> Win XP Pro SP2

> Integrated sound (simtel chipset)

>

> PRograms:

> 7-Zip 4_57

> Adobe Flash Player Plugin

> Ant Movie Catalog

> Ant Renamer

> AppSnap 1_3_2

> Ashampoo Uninstaller

> Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic

> BitDefender Free Edition v10

> COMODO Firewall Pro

> Ditto 3_15_4_0

> DupDetector 3_201

> Exact Audio Copy 0_99pb3

> ffdshow [rev 1821] [2008-01-27]

> Flickr Uploadr 3_0_5

> Folder Size for Windows

> Foxit Reader

> GSpot Codec Information Appliance

> HP LaserJet 1020

> IDimager V4 Professional SQLite Edition

> Juice 2_2

> KillWinamp 1_61

> MediaInfo 0_7_5_7

> Microsoft Network Monitor 3_1

> Miranda IM 0_7_3

> Nero

> NetMeter 1_1_3

> Opera 9_25

> Orbit Downloader

> Process Tamer 2_09_01

> PTGui Pro 7_2

> QLiner Quotes

> QT Lite 2_3_0

> Real Alternative 1_7_5

> Screenshot Captor 2_37_03

> Skype 3_6

> Spyware Terminator

> SUPER c Version 2008_bld_24 (Jan 18, 2008)

> Tag&Rename 3_4

> TrueCrypt

> Tweak UI

> Unlocker 1_8_5

> Utorrent

> VideoLAN VLC media player 0_8_6d

> Vim 7_1 (self-installing)

> Winamp v5.52

> Winamp Enhancer (plugin)

> Winamp Pacemaker (plugin)

> Winamp Playlist Remover (plugin)

> Winamp Playlist Undo (plugin)

> Windows Media Format Runtime

> WinHTTrack Website Copier 3_42

> XnView 1_91_6

> MS Office 2003

> Photoshop CS2

>

> I've checked my system using comodo & spyware terminator for spyware,

> used bitdefender and antivir to check for antiviruses, and have run

> chkdsk to check the hard drive but haven't checked the memory (not

> sure about how to go about doing that, suggestions are welcome though)

>

> For what it is worth a month ago everything worked fine, I can't think

> of anything i have done to the system since then that would make it

> change.

 

It's possible your processor or system is overheating due to a failing

fan or heatsink choked with dust. When it gets hot, the system throttles

the CPU back to stop it burning out.

 

It may also be that Process Tamer is doing something unfriendly to your

system.

 

Download Sisoft SANDRA lite from here:-

 

http://www.sisoftware.net/index.html?dir=&location=downandbuy&langx=en&a=

 

That will check your hardware. If it was working fine a while ago &

stopped, then I'd guess either you have a heat problem as above, your HD

is failing, or you have a memory problem. If you are using a torrent

client to download stuff, be aware of a possibility of rootkit attacks,

which most AV & anti-spyware programs won't pick up.

 

AVG among others do a rootkit eliminator which is free to try out.

 

Remove & reseat your memory, & use the diagnostics in SANDRA to check

your HD & memory afterwards.

 

If you install & run Hijack This, posting a report somewhere accessible,

others wiser than me may well be able to tell you if something odd is

running & using all your processor cycles.

 

--

Tciao for Now!

 

John.

[Guest gaikokujinkyofusho@gmail.com]

Re: Audio / CPU problems

 

On Mar 4, 11:05 am, John Williamson <johnwilliam...@btinternet.com>

wrote:

> gaikokujinkyofu...@gmail.com wrote:

> > On Mar 3, 10:20 pm, John Williamson <johnwilliam...@btinternet.com>

> > wrote:

> >> gaikokujinkyofu...@gmail.com wrote:

> >>> I have had trouble playing audio on my computer, specifically mp3.

> >>> When i try to play audio (wmplayer, vlc, winamp, so far) the player

> >>> ramps up to 50+% of my CPU usage and trying to use any other

> >>> applications makes the audio skip (it actually seems to get worse the

> >>> longer i run it to the point that it seems to make itself skip). I had

> >>> thought at first that it was the player but after trying 3 very

> >>> different players i think it is the system itself. I am not quite sure

> >>> where to start here so any suggestions would really be appreciated.

> >>> Cheers

> >>> -Gaiko

> >> What:-

> >> Processor?

> >> Memory?

> >> Hard drive?

> >> Operating system & version?

> >> Sound card?

>

> >> Have you got installed?

>

> >> Have you checked your system for viruses & the like?

>

> >> Have you run a system diagnostic, especially checking hard drives & memory?

>

> >> --

> >> Tciao for Now!

>

> >> John.

>

> > Doh, fair enough. Specs are as follows:

>

> > Mobile P4 2.6Mhz

> > 1gb mem

> > 60gb drive (15gb free)

> > Win XP Pro SP2

> > Integrated sound (simtel chipset)

>

> > PRograms:

> > 7-Zip 4_57

> > Adobe Flash Player Plugin

> > Ant Movie Catalog

> > Ant Renamer

> > AppSnap 1_3_2

> > Ashampoo Uninstaller

> > Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic

> > BitDefender Free Edition v10

> > COMODO Firewall Pro

> > Ditto 3_15_4_0

> > DupDetector 3_201

> > Exact Audio Copy 0_99pb3

> > ffdshow [rev 1821] [2008-01-27]

> > Flickr Uploadr 3_0_5

> > Folder Size for Windows

> > Foxit Reader

> > GSpot Codec Information Appliance

> > HP LaserJet 1020

> > IDimager V4 Professional SQLite Edition

> > Juice 2_2

> > KillWinamp 1_61

> > MediaInfo 0_7_5_7

> > Microsoft Network Monitor 3_1

> > Miranda IM 0_7_3

> > Nero

> > NetMeter 1_1_3

> > Opera 9_25

> > Orbit Downloader

> > Process Tamer 2_09_01

> > PTGui Pro 7_2

> > QLiner Quotes

> > QT Lite 2_3_0

> > Real Alternative 1_7_5

> > Screenshot Captor 2_37_03

> > Skype 3_6

> > Spyware Terminator

> > SUPER c Version 2008_bld_24 (Jan 18, 2008)

> > Tag&Rename 3_4

> > TrueCrypt

> > Tweak UI

> > Unlocker 1_8_5

> > Utorrent

> > VideoLAN VLC media player 0_8_6d

> > Vim 7_1 (self-installing)

> > Winamp v5.52

> > Winamp Enhancer (plugin)

> > Winamp Pacemaker (plugin)

> > Winamp Playlist Remover (plugin)

> > Winamp Playlist Undo (plugin)

> > Windows Media Format Runtime

> > WinHTTrack Website Copier 3_42

> > XnView 1_91_6

> > MS Office 2003

> > Photoshop CS2

>

> > I've checked my system using comodo & spyware terminator for spyware,

> > used bitdefender and antivir to check for antiviruses, and have run

> > chkdsk to check the hard drive but haven't checked the memory (not

> > sure about how to go about doing that, suggestions are welcome though)

>

> > For what it is worth a month ago everything worked fine, I can't think

> > of anything i have done to the system since then that would make it

> > change.

 

First, thanks for your help!

> It's possible your processor or system is overheating due to a failing

> fan or heatsink choked with dust. When it gets hot, the system throttles

> the CPU back to stop it burning out.

 

That is possible (my notebook model has a history of overheating but

Dell fixed that awhile ago and since then it hasn't been much of a

problem) however i am able to run other processor intensive tasks

(photoshop, panoramic stitching, vidoe processing) and i don't have

the same problems, yes my system slows down but it isn't brought to

its knees

> It may also be that Process Tamer is doing something unfriendly to your

> system.

 

Nope, i downloaded it to try and resolve the problem (and unforuantely

it hasn't helped)

> Download Sisoft SANDRA lite from here:-

>

> http://www.sisoftware.net/index.html?dir=&location=downandbuy&langx=e...

>

> That will check your hardware.

 

Thanks, i will give it a try.

> If it was working fine a while ago &

> stopped, then I'd guess either you have a heat problem as above, your HD

> is failing, or you have a memory problem.

 

possible, i will try SANDRA and see.

> If you are using a torrent

> client to download stuff, be aware of a possibility of rootkit attacks,

> which most AV & anti-spyware programs won't pick up.

 

Yeah, the rootkit thing is possible but i only download non-zipped

video no programs or zipped/rar'd stuff.

> AVG among others do a rootkit eliminator which is free to try out.

>

> Remove & reseat your memory, & use the diagnostics in SANDRA to check

> your HD & memory afterwards.

 

got it.

> If you install & run Hijack This, posting a report somewhere accessible,

> others wiser than me may well be able to tell you if something odd is

> running & using all your processor cycles.

 

I can try, i check TaskManager regularly now and what i can't figure

out is that everything seems to run fine until i start up some audio

application (video doesn't seem to be affected). I look at the CPU

usage of separate applications and everything runs (more or less) fine

but then i start up audio (any audio application [though i haven't

tried formats other than MP3, i might give that a try]) and the

application i start up shoots up to 30% CPU usages and keeps climbing

until my computer is more or less frozen; all this time other

applications are acting normally... go figure.

 

Cheers

 

-Gaiko

[Guest John Williamson]

Re: Audio / CPU problems

 

gaikokujinkyofusho@gmail.com wrote:

> I can try, i check TaskManager regularly now and what i can't figure

> out is that everything seems to run fine until i start up some audio

> application (video doesn't seem to be affected). I look at the CPU

> usage of separate applications and everything runs (more or less) fine

> but then i start up audio (any audio application [though i haven't

> tried formats other than MP3, i might give that a try]) and the

> application i start up shoots up to 30% CPU usages and keeps climbing

> until my computer is more or less frozen; all this time other

> applications are acting normally... go figure.

>

If other sound formats play OK, it's likely the mp3 codec on your

machine is corrupted.

 

Try playing an audio CD & see what happens, then rip it to wma using

Windows Media Player. Windows Media Audio has about the same processor &

memory usage on replay as mp3. If that works, then I'd be fairly certain

the mp3 codec is faulty in some way. If not, then it's more likely to be

a hardware or OS problem.

 

Good luck!

 

--

Tciao for Now!

 

John.

[Guest Laurence Payne]

Re: Audio / CPU problems

 

On Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:13:45 +0000, John Williamson

<johnwilliamson@btinternet.com> wrote:

>If other sound formats play OK, it's likely the mp3 codec on your

>machine is corrupted.

>

>Try playing an audio CD & see what happens, then rip it to wma using

>Windows Media Player. Windows Media Audio has about the same processor &

>memory usage on replay as mp3. If that works, then I'd be fairly certain

>the mp3 codec is faulty in some way. If not, then it's more likely to be

>a hardware or OS problem.

 

So you reckon it's some hardware or software problem? :-)

[Guest John Williamson]

Re: Audio / CPU problems

 

Laurence Payne wrote:

> On Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:13:45 +0000, John Williamson

> <johnwilliamson@btinternet.com> wrote:

>

>> If other sound formats play OK, it's likely the mp3 codec on your

>> machine is corrupted.

>>

>> Try playing an audio CD & see what happens, then rip it to wma using

>> Windows Media Player. Windows Media Audio has about the same processor &

>> memory usage on replay as mp3. If that works, then I'd be fairly certain

>> the mp3 codec is faulty in some way. If not, then it's more likely to be

>> a hardware or OS problem.

>

> So you reckon it's some hardware or software problem? :-)

 

That about sums it up. ;-)

 

--

Tciao for Now!

 

John.