CPU pegs 100% when temp goes high

[Tom Felts]

and then stays at 100% for quite a while. During this time, the SYSTEM
process appears to be using a lot of cpu, but using Process Explorer does
not really show what is happening in this process. It is almost like the
high temp kicks in some kernal mode code that then does not exit gracefully.
I suspect power management. but that is only a shot in the dark....this is
XP SP 2.

Any ideas?

 

[Guest]

Remove the fan & heat sink and clean both,or replace with larger cooling
capacity.

 

[Tom Felts]

Hmmm..it is a laptop. I have a stand that lets air in underneath, and has
extra fan capacity, so it dissa[ates heat OK. I am wondering why the CPU
remains high for 5 minutes or more once it spikes like this.

 

[MikeR]

Hmmm..it is a laptop. I have a stand that lets air in underneath, and has
extra fan capacity, so it dissa[ates heat OK. I am wondering why the CPU
remains high for 5 minutes or more once it spikes like this.

My laptop would just completely shut off. The solution was to blow all the dust
out (not easily done from outside) and reapply the heat sink grease, which had
hardened to the consistency of window putty. If the cooling channel is clogged
with dust, raising the computer and having an extra fan aren't going to help.
Mike