EXPERTS NEEDED: CPU Problem

[GDRG]

Dear readers,

These are desperate times and I'm not talking about the world's biggest financial crisis the people have ever known. I'm talking about my computer. After days of expert help on a Dutch forum I've decided looking for help in a somewhat bigger country.

Below I will briefly describe the problem and everything that has been done trying to solve it. I'm an experienced computer user so in case you do reply, don't worry about notifying me I have to press CTRL, ALT, DEL _together_ to run Task Manager

PROBLEM
My CPU % in task manager is very, very jumpy. It's never on 0% even when it's idle. There's no particular file or program causing the high numbers cause even task manager itself sometimes takes up 60%. Same goes for Firefox, Winamp. Basically every program. Obviously my computer runs incredibly slow while it's a rather new notebook (specs below)

Together with said problem comes something else. My sounds cracks the higher the CPU gets. It doesn't skip, it just has this annoying crackling sound.

Keep in mind this problem happened overnight.



SOLUTIONS
- A tremendous amount of virus, trojan, malware scans. All logs have been analyzed by Hijackthis Experts (ComboFix, McAfee, Panda, KAV, AdAware, S&D, etc. etc. etc.)
- All drivers are updated. Older drivers did not fix the problem.
- The register is clean and free of errors.
- The CPU temperatures are between 20-25 degrees Celcius, which is perfectly fine.
- I run Vista in the ugliest mode possible to try and speed things up.
- Defragged all hard drives several times.
- Removed ALL unnecessary software, services and start up programs.


I think that pretty much sums it up. I've probably overlooked a couple of things but these are the most important details.




Computer specs:
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate
OS Service Pack Service Pack 1
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)

Motherboard
CPU Type Intel Pentium III Xeon, 2533 MHz
Acer Aspire 8930
3068 MB


GFX Card NVIDIA GeForce 9700M GT

Sound
Realtek Digital Output


C: (NTFS) 147500 MB (33910 MB avail)
D: (NTFS) 305242 MB (202654 MB avail)
E: (NTFS) 142847 MB (106280 MB avail)
581.6 GB (334.8 GB avail)


ANY tips, tricks, remarks are very much appreciated. Thank you in advance.

-Guy

[macdad-]

This could be explained:

Together with said problem comes something else. My sounds cracks the higher the CPU gets. It doesn't skip, it just has this annoying crackling sound.

Possibly Electronic Noise, since the CPU is working so much that the bus becomes very noisy(Electronically) which could spread through the board to your Sound Chip through the Power bus. This can't be fixed unless you want to do really hard mods on your motherboard(Soldering, Wires, etc.)

But please post a list of all your proccesses from Task Manager.

[Aegis]

CPU Type Intel Pentium III Xeon, 2533 MHz

What is the age of this processor, please?

Is it older, new?  I'm thinking the Pentium III series is an older series, and I wonder how well it does with Vista?

[Aegis]

The crackling sound is probably a result of the system not being quite efficient enough at processing overall workload.

[macdad-]

That might be the cause, yet think about it, if the CPU is taking more proccessing then it needs more power, and has Electronic noise throughout the Power Bus from the signal of the CPU's clock which would lead through the Power Bus to the Sound Chip.

This is called "Cross-Talk" from signals overlapping and interfering one another, since its a laptop, all of the chips are closer together which makes it more vulnerable to this phenomenon.


See more here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crosstalk_(electronics)

[Aegis]

Oh, yes...I get it, macdad...makes sense! 

[macdad-]

Sorry if im kinda correcting...

Or are you serious?

[GDRG]

The crackling sound is probably a result of the system not being quite efficient enough at processing overall workload.

No doubt about it. I just figured I mention all the problems I experience.

The motherboard is brand new, as is the laptop. About 3/4 months. It's the Acer Aspire 8930. 18,4 inch screen, full HD screen, bluray player, etc.

Running processes:
C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
C:\Windows\system32\taskeng.exe
C:\Program Files\Acer\Acer Bio Protection\PdtWzd.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Windows\System32\ServoApp.exe
C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\IAAnotif.exe
C:\Program Files\Acer\Empowering Technology\ePower\ePower_DMC.exe
C:\Program Files\Acer\Empowering Technology\eDataSecurity\x86\eDSLoader.exe
C:\Program Files\NewTech Infosystems\NTI Backup Now 5\BkupTray.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmpnscfg.exe
C:\Windows\ehome\ehtray.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe
C:\Program Files\Acer\Acer VCM\AcerVCM.exe
C:\Windows\ehome\ehmsas.exe
C:\Program Files\Acer\Acer Bio Protection\PwdBank.exe
C:\Windows\system32\wbem\unsecapp.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mcagent.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPHelper.exe
C:\Program Files\Acer\Acer VCM\acp2HID.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee\msc\mcuimgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Windows\system32\conime.exe

[Calum]

Just to add something - it's not a Pentium III Xeon.
Intel Core 2 chips are often identified as such by programs which aren't up to date enough to recognize them properly.
Dxdiag, which I think this information has been gathered from, is one such program.

[GDRG]

Just to add something - it's not a Pentium III Xeon.
Intel Core 2 chips are often identified as such by programs which aren't up to date enough to recognize them properly.
Dxdiag, which I think this information has been gathered from, is one such program.

You're right. I thought it made no sense but didn't really bother to check what I had pasted. I got it from the most up-to-date version of Everest. Weird.

[Aegis]

OK -- that makes a lot more sense! 

I was thinking, He's not really trying to run Vista on a Pentium III -- though I did notice the Ghz (speed) seemed fast enough

[macdad-]

Well atleast its not Cross-Talk. 

That would be alot more work.

But atleast we've found the problem.

[GDRG]

Now all I can do is pray someone knows the solution.

[macdad-]

Found the problem

This file:"mcagent.exe"

Is known for using CPU time up to 100%

See Here:

http://www.runscanner.net/fileinfo/mcagent.exe.html

I suggest removing whatever McAfee Software you have or another Security program you have since this problem occurs from Conflict between a McAffe Program and another Security Prog.

Or reinstall your McAffe Prog(whatever it may be).

Hope this Helps
,Nick(macdad-)

[GDRG]

I have to admit the "Found the problem" statement made my heart skip a beat or two but I'm afraid it didn't work. I uninstalled McAfee completely but the CPU still doesn't drop below 10%

It's really annoying I can't pinpoint the exact software causing it in Task Manager because almost everthing takes up 3-4-5-6% of the CPU. Add everything together and it's a huge load.

Also my physical memory never goes over 45-50% Even if I run the complete Adobe CS4 Suite together it'll go up to maybe 55% while my CPU is using up everything.