Optimize Laptop High CPU usage

Discussion in 'PC' started by DJ PUKKA, Jul 27, 2024.

  1. DJ PUKKA

    DJ PUKKA Producer

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    Hello, recently i've been getting CPU high usage! using certain plugins! which i never had before using the same plugins. I have not installed anything new, nothing running in the background, so is there any software to optimize CPU or stop the high usage.i keep my bios as default settings & ive found a few memory optimizers but need to stop this high usage?.Any advice? [spec i5 16gb ram ]
     
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  3. xorome

    xorome Audiosexual

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    Did you measure CPU usage with some tool or do you assume CPU usage is higher because your system seems slower / hotter / your fans are working harder? Might just be accumulated dust (or the Kazakh bitcoin miner).

    Pretty unlikely for plugins to arbitrarily start eating more CPU, unless you changed something like sample rate or some other setting somewhere.
     
  4. clone

    clone Audiosexual

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    Programs like this almost never actually help. Scan for malware. Try the same plugins in a different DAW. Would checking things with Latencymon help? See if going offline changes anything. Checked firewall settings? Maybe you should list DAW and plugins that are lagging now.
     
  5. DJ PUKKA

    DJ PUKKA Producer

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    i don't seem to get it much when i create a fresh project in my DAW.. but when i've saved my project & reopen later on. weird
     
  6. Sinus Well

    Sinus Well Audiosexual

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    Which DAW?
    Which plugins?
     
  7. DJ PUKKA

    DJ PUKKA Producer

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  8. Auen Fred

    Auen Fred Rock Star

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    del
     
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2024
  9. ArticStorm

    ArticStorm Moderator Staff Member

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    what are the full details on the specs?

    i have mobile i5 7th generation, it struggles with a lot.

    internal GPU or separate? thats important, bcs integrated graphics on older CPU gens are just not enough for modern things like video processing or any GUI effects, it will kill them.

    Could you upgrade to the newest intel GPU driver?
    For example mine is very updated: from Nov. 2016! and its manufeacture locked by lenovo.

    this also plays a big role.
     
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2024
  10. clone

    clone Audiosexual

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    Do you make ambient music? It's just time slowing down before you fall asleep.
     
  11. Lad Impala

    Lad Impala Rock Star

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    maybe you have something outside the daw doing background tasks like an antivirus scan or something
     
  12. FrankPig

    FrankPig Rock Star

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  13. Baxter

    Baxter Audiosexual

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    Optimize your OS for audio production.
    Overclock your CPU.
    Max out the buffer size on your audio interface.
    Remove/disable processes running in the background.
    Freeze/bounce/render/consolidate processes that are the most demanding. This can also open new door creatively as you now hold the key to re-sampling.
     
  14. Garamondo Furbish

    Garamondo Furbish Audiosexual

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    a good way to trouble shoot a problem is not to introduce new "factors" before understanding your situation.
     
  15. PartyShit

    PartyShit Producer

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    My best solution for this is using ThrottleStop
    This screenshot is from v9.3.1
    I used to run these settings on my laptop for years
    (like since 2019 heavy use during covid 2020 running like 12 hours a day ThrottleStop & until 2021 july when I finally bought my powerhouse PC)
    I never ever had any issues/blue screen nothing
    So my laptop base clock is like 1.8 GHz and the Turbo kicks in to run at 3.1GHz
    What these settings done to my laptop is: Keeping my CPU undervolt (never gets hot while running the CPU at full Turbo Speed 3.1GHz)
    Yes the fans are spinning loud when I played like Battlefield 1 or Fortnite but during Ableton Live sessions or editing 1080p videos just normal spinning noise
    You can download ThrottleStop for free
    I hope this helps
    [​IMG]
    It's a huge screenshot so save it & view it on full size
     
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  16. FrankPig

    FrankPig Rock Star

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    A good way to troubleshoot a problem is to identify where the issue may lie through process of elimination:

    "Hey, it doesn't seem to happen when I save the same project with different effects".

    OR

    "Nope, same CPU spike with different effects."



    Another good way to troubleshoot a problem is to offer a suggestion to help identify that potential problem which will lead to "understanding your situation".
     
  17. Auen Fred

    Auen Fred Rock Star

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    this is the point to dig.
     
  18. clone

    clone Audiosexual

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    Maybe. But is this, "my laptop has been on for a week and I start a new project", or " i reboot and then re-open my DAW to a new project"?

    Also, depending on your DAW; you can be loading a ton of files into your project (and resources), that are not being used in the project itself.
    But they are using resources by being loaded into your "media pool" or "loop browser".

    There isn't enough information at all to diagnose this problem systematically. The first thing I would try would be going to DAW preferences menu and there is normally an option to reset the DAW to factory default settings. Next, I would move all my plugins out of the folder the DAW plugin manager is scanning when it is loaded up. Maybe batches of them at a time. If ruling out the third-party plugins did not fix it, I would reinstall the DAW. Something systematic like this. Otherwise, we are just playing guessing games.

    The first post is how about 90% of IT/Helpdesk requests begin. "I didn't do anything to it, but.... ". Then later, " oh yeah, I did click on some email but then it just started acting crazy. It's obviously unrelated".

    With an i5 cpu (old), I'd probably open the case and hit at least the fan with compressed air. Reseat the RAM modules while you have it open. (because of some RAM optimizing program already being installed for some reason) If there is something actually wrong, you should be able to duplicate it. Nothing is random or just "doing it when it wants".
     
  19. zalbadar

    zalbadar Kapellmeister

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    Start by identifying what is using the CPU.

    Press the windows key the type "resource monitor"

    Run that. (It'll be there as it's part of windows).

    Go to the overrview tab and see whats on the top. We'll make suggestions judging on what at the top.

    Odds are one of your plugins has decided it needs to call home over the internet for some reason, be it update or crack stopped working, we'll work it out later adter identifying. It's not managing since it's being blocked therefore it's in a constant loop of connect to server, fail retry and eating up CPU.
     
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  20. clone

    clone Audiosexual

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    This is what I was thinking right away, and why I asked about firewall settings and online vs offline. Blocking via Hosts file is also an option.
    Also those "Share usage statistics with [vendor]" options being checked in various plugin menus can create a traffic loop like you mention, even if the offending plugin is legit, firewalled, or blocked other ways.
     
  21. Auen Fred

    Auen Fred Rock Star

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    very first thing to do ,just task manager is enough
    but its not deep
    this is a bit deeper process explorer /
    DL
    Code:
    https://www.chip.de/downloads/c1_downloads_hs_getfile_v1_16084436.html?t=1722126595&v=3600&s=fc6a3992700e4f304274e3936ab9d80e
    but not deep enough too since it wont show DAW inner process when i remember right

    maybe event log or so ...and network ,unfortunately i forgot the command to show all ongoings:mad:
     
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