Computer Working Too Hard ?

With recent events I wonder if my computer is working too hard as I've had a few audio issues (posted previously) and nothing seems to work to fix it.. But if I use linux things seem fine...

According to Speccy these are my temps:

Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 @ 2.33GHz 33 °C
Hewlett-Packard 2820h (XU1 PROCESSOR) 41 °C
Acer AL2216W (1680x1050@60Hz)
512MB ATI AMD Radeon HD 6450 (ASUStek Computer Inc) 58 °C
1863GB TOSHIBA DT01ACA200 ATA Device (SATA) 31 °C

are things running too hot ? should I look at cooling things down ?

It's a low profile computer and only seems to have 1 vent on the front and one on the back.

It seems like my computer can't multi-task other wise I notice a few problems such as audio issues being the main one. as my audio gets choppy..
All my stuff is up to date (as in drivers)

Although with it being a low profile computer I have 2 slots in it..
PCI-E (video card plugged in)
PCI (audio card plugged in)
it makes me wonder if the video card is over heating the audio... with them being so close together since i can't put things any other spot...
but when I pull the audio card out... the onboard audio also gives kinda a choppy sound when I go to open my browser..

This has frustrated the hell outta me, I never had this issue until recently and i don't know why I do have it.

Could it possibly be that I have a ton of stuff running ? by that i mean I'm running on windows 8.1 so I have my mail app running in the background as with the extra stuff that runs with 8.1 online account would that cause enough problems to have the problems I'm having ?

Sorry for the long post, I thought I solved my problem the other day but it seems to keep coming back...

 

I have a PC with an E6400 2.13 GHz, and those are almost identical temperatures to the ones I get on the machine (it's also an HP low profile SFF). I don't think temps are your problem. NVIDIA NVS 290 graphics card is the hottest element. It runs about 60 C at idle and 75 C at the hottest.

How much RAM do you have inside? For multi-tasking, I really believe 4 GB is the minimum these days...

 

6gb of ram
2tb hard drive

sadly i've watched the stats and the computer does recognize the full 6gb but it never uses anymore than 3gb...

 

kennie...

Your version of Windows 8 must be 32 bit. 32 bit versions of Windows since XP I know only support 4 GB. Then Windows subtracts the amount of your video card memory too. That would leave you around 3.5 GB.

I am running a PC with 8 GB, but I only have 32 bit XP Pro. Bought the PC without a HD, and I all I had to put on there was XP. If you can upgrade to 64 bit Windows, it will support up to 512 GB. Your full 6 GB, might help with your problem...

 

it says in my system information: 64bit
it even shows that it has 6gb of ram in it, i just never seen it use anymore than 3gigs

as you can see my system info in the added image

i know it's 64bit as I bought it directly from microsoft and I chose 64bit

 

Ok...that's not a bad thing. Your PC probably hasn't ever needed more than 3 GB. The extra RAM is still useful, as your system rotates placement of information on the RAM chips when it assigns addresses for information...this is so that the RAM will last as long as possible...

Not a Windows 8 expert, but it sounds like you have a simple case of a choked down PC. Could be adware or malware. I think it would be a good idea to visit this page:

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407

Follow the instructions on this page and then post in the Malware Removal forum here:

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/forumdisplay.php?f=35

They will take a look at the logs you post and let you know what to do about the problem...walk you through any steps you need to take. You may be sent back here with no action taken and a clean system, but it will help to know that your PC is malware free...

 

First off Sir, thank you for taking the time to try and help me solve my problem, I got doing somethinking about it and the audio issue occurs when:
I have iTunes open then when I goto open Firefox and surf the web... So I opened my task manager and found out:

Firefox uses around 600mb of ram (currently using nightly 64bit version)

As for email I use the windows 8.1 mail app which on idle is sitting 120mb of ram.. so what I think happens in one way your right, thinks basically are choked down (or bottle necked) as all the programs have to do with the internet connection... i mean not just those but I also have Avast Internet Security running too... but in any case I got thinking... I'm going to do a test..
I'm going to uninstall all my apps and change windows 8.1 to a local account rather than a live account so that I can't use apps... to see if that fixes the problem... I figure I got nothing to loose.

I completely hear you about perhaps malware but I've scanned my computer with:
Avast, SuperAntiSpyware & MalwareBytes all within 4 days from now and they all came up clean...

I'm going to give you a thumbs up of "Thanks" and try my idea, I'm also going to document if things make a difference right here on this thread so if anyone else with windows 8/8.1 has the issue they may be able to learn from it if I can solve the problem... Since as I told friends and family earlier today:
"If I could afford a new PC I would go buy one so that I would no longer have these issues"

You have answered a bunch of my worries such as the overheating ones. So once again THANK YOU.

 

kennie...

Been there, so glad to try to help out any way I can...

Sounds to me like your iTunes is not getting along with Firefox or some other type of conflict, but with 6 GB of RAM, you should be fine with that processor you have. You shouldn't be having a choking effect.

By the way, your Avast uses the internet heavily, also...not just Firefox and mail. It opens many channels when you run your browser. As you mentioned, it is active at the processor, and it scans each page and will actually scan entire videos while they run online. Still, your PC is equipped (powerful enough) to deal with all of that. The similar PC I have has Avast, too, so I am sure of it.

One thing you might try is, using Task Manager, take a look to see which programs are using the most processor when the audio becomes garbled. Of course, the top ones will be your iTunes and whatever else you are running program-wise, but it's the other ones that can really give an indication of what's going on inside the PC. As it is written..."it's the little foxes that spoil the vine" so to speak. Anyway, perhaps you could make note of them and post them here.

Wish I knew more about Windows 8. If you have a large number of apps, I suppose that could lead to alot of traffic at the processor. Removing them sounds like a pretty big job, but maybe it's the way to go. If things get better, you could always start by readding your mail, and so on...

If you don't have anything in the system tray (other than A-V) at start up, you can ignore this next part.

Optimization is a pretty big subject, and there are numerous things you can try...as it sounds like you have come to realize. As a counter option to removing your programs, you might try ridding yourself of boot/startup programs (other than typical Windows processes). Actually, the first thing I would do would be install CCleaner and use its "Startup" feature to turn off all my start up programs with the exception of A-V and Windows processes, so that nothing else was running in the system tray when Windows starts. Then I would go to work on the PC as usual to see what happens.

I know what you mean :-D

 

Not to answer you completely backwards but....

In my tray I got:
Avast
DropBox
AMD Catalyst Control System
Xonar DG Audio Center
TomTom
PrintScr (just added this today so I know it has nothing to do with any previous issues)

The thing I don't get neither does my fiancee is this:
Ubuntu works flawlessly with this computer, and at times the sound works fine too... but then it's like it hits this speed bump and the audio just sucks after that...
I don't get what the problem is because you said it yourself the processor is more than capable of handling things plus I got 6GB of ram that I'm not maxing out at all

I even backed my way to windows 7 previously and I still had these issues as well

I have thought about pulling out my graphics card (ATI) and sound card (Asus - Xonar) to see if they're fighting for some reason and causing issues but then I hit more troubles:

Onboard Sound - it hasn't been updated since like 2006 or 2007 as it's tagged as "Microsoft HD Audio"... No new drivers are out for it and stuff like RealTek HD Audio doesn't work for it as I had that thought myself...

Onboard Graphics - well lets just say any graphically enduced games I'd be installing would be useless as the onboard graphics just plain sucks.... It's fine for text based games but nothing like Warcraft or RIFT (in the event you know either)

I thought about scrapping iTunes to see if that's the problem, but then another problem also shows up, sadly you need iTunes to manage your iPods
yea, so now you know the problem... atleast I think that's the only thing you can use...(kinda doing research about that as i type this)

Task Manager - I have tried that idea, it's funny you should suggest it because I have tried it... to be honest whichever is causing the issue makes my stuff spike so quickly it's almost as quick as snapping your fingers that's how quick it spikes and goes back down to normal but the audio issues continue.

Optimization - You ready for the big kick to the crotch on this one ? (sorry just don't know how else to word it) my last computer... It was SINGLE CORE and I never had audio issues and none of the programs I use changed... I only got rid of that one cause the power supply was crapping out

Back to my iTunes thing:
I guess tomorrow I'll try out one of these:
http://mp3.about.com/od/essentialso...e-Software-For-Syncing-Music-To-Your-Ipod.htm
Which means I'll uninstall iTunes and see if that fixes the problem.

Yes at times I am willing to goto extreme lengths to solve this problem

 

Don't think it is the sound card, but ya never know I guess. Since it is sound, maybe pulling the sound card for starters is a good idea. You mentioned you have the driver already for it I think ("Microsoft HD Audio").

I don't think I would mess with the graphics card to start with. It might be your problem, but you can hope for something else if you know what I mean. The HD 6450 is a pretty decent card if you aren't playing high end games. This does bring me to World of Warcraft and the like. If you have been playing these types of games, you could have a graphics card problem in that it might just be worn out. However, I think it would be best to pull your cards one at a time with it and the sound card. Starting with the sound card seems logical to me, since at least you have an option already on hand that isn't plain unbearable.

The PC I mentioned to you...I got about 3 years of hard travelled wear out of it before the motherboard went. I thought it might be the power supply, because the USB sockets were shutting down, but I replaced it, and the problem was still there. It might be RAM on that machine. I bring this up, because if you use the machine pretty hard, you might have the same situation. On mine, basically everything started to go all at once. Based on Passmark DiskCheckup, the hard drives were becoming worn, the RAM failed MemTest, and then it just quit. Anyway, this is just something to keep in mind. I haven't had time to replace all the parts on that old PC, yet, but I'll get around to it eventually.

Let us know how your test works out...

 

the onboard audio, I don't have drivers for it... it's just factory installed drivers..
but I get the same sound issue from onboard as I do from the sound card.

is there anyway of testing a graphics card to find out if it's dying ? like a program to run because i'll run it for sure...

as for memory, earlier in another post someone had me run a memory test and things passed with flying colors so I don't think it's a ram thing.

the pc i'm on, i've had it for about a year I bought it used... but I didn't buy it used from some nobody i bought it used from a rather well known computer store never had any issues before and the sound issues come and go at times I can listen to things without problem at other times I can't...

I'll try a iTunes replacement first before I start pulling out cards... I guess my 3rd option is see how well this computer flies out the window into the snow bank below lol...

 

kennie...

Mind if I ask what model of PC this is specifically? The one I have had trouble with is an HP DC7700. I bought it, and it was basically unused. I have gotten 3.5, but I think about 4 years of solid, hard use for those corporate type PCs is pretty good.

Thing is everything is sort of on the edge of failure with this type of PC, if you have similar to what I have. The power supply in the DC7700 is only 240 watts, and there is no such thing as an upgrade. That means it's cutting it close to use any graphics card. If the power supply fails, who knows what other kinds of damage can occur.

Don't know of any test for graphics cards. Maybe someone will come along who knows.

Well, if you know the problem happens with your motherboard sound card on instead of your PCI sound card, maybe you could try running without your graphics card for awhile. If you must, pick up one of these as a short term replacement:

NVIDIA Quadro NVS290 256 MB DDR 3

This card uses only 15 watts, but it does much better than onboard graphics, and you can get a used one on ebay for around $10. It doesn't even have a fan, but it is low profile, which I think your PC is if I understood you about the size of the computer. It's what I have in the DC7700, and it will run QuakeLive at 30-40 frames per second.

Hope this isn't something like the PCI or PCI-e socket or something. Some of the hardware problems are just plain hard to diagnose.

 

sure the model is:
HP Compaq dc5800 Small Form Factor PC

I'll be removing iTunes shortly... just had a few things to do today before I did that.

Yea with my luck it's some hardware dying just my luck near end of the year when I don't have a whole lot of money in my pocket.
been having such a bad last few years with computers it's just plain stupid the bad years I've had

my choice of iTunes replacement to try is MusicBee... here's hoping it works.

 

Yeah...you have the same power supply restrictions I have on the DC7700. Not sure, but I think they use the same PSU. Noone makes an upgrade for that type of PSU sorry to say.

If you want to just try a different video card, here is an excellent deal on the NVIDIA NVS 290...less than $10 delivered:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-NVIDIA...034?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item3f28bac76a

It's a good card to have around for that system, because it uses so little power. Also, it's sort of a workhorse in that it holds up to pretty rough treatment. I had it up to 75 C, but it's rated up to 95 C...

If you went this route, you could obtain the driver from NVIDIA

Good luck with the test...

 

truth be told shipping would cost me almost $16 alone...
I live in Canada

I pulled iTunes tested MusicBee still same issue, more frequently... after that I went back to iTunes and just recently pulled my audio card... don't want to say if the problem is fixed or not since it tends to come and go..

Thanks again for your help..
I may look at another video card but I don't know as it would be cheaper than buying a new computer but at the same time if I have the same problem it's not like it's helping the cause... if that makes any sense

 

kennie...

Apologies...that listing I posted isn't for a low profile card. Here's another one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SFF-Low-Pro...729?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item2586742d89

Sorry :-o the price is alot higher, but if you keep an eye open at ebay, you can find one for about $10...

 

no worries, the new one doesn't ship to canada... besides for me to walk into a store and buy one I'm basically looking at $45 and that will be the exact same card I have...

I don't think it's the video card, i think it's something more major than that.

 

so after doing my usual surfing and listening to music the audio issue is still there...

I'm starting to remove things from my computer to try and solve it since it's clear it can't be the hardware unless the hardware is failing... so i'm removing software... tried a few things nothing changed my next is change up Avast Internet Security gonna go with what was recommended a few days ago which is Panda
See if that clears up the issues.. that'll be changed up later tonight.

Guess the only other thing I can do is change up from FireFox but not sure if anything is lighter than it

 

After testing a bunch of things and nothing lasting good for longer than a day, I did research and for anyone who comes across this thread with the same problem... The iTunes/Firefox stuttering issue that occurs has been reported since 2006 on numerous forums including directly on apple I think back in 2011..

Not sure if Apple cares or plans on doing anything about it since windows isn't there staple and they may just blame windows for causing this issue... I have no clue.

I also read that the stuttering CAN happen with almost any browser when listening to iTunes so I don't know as many people report that it's because of iTunes being such a resource hog that it just out right fights with things but I don't know as apparently at one point in the past even Mac users had the stuttering problems...

I am trying to solve it for me even if I don't use iTunes I'm trying a few alternatives, sadly when nothing seems to work in my favor it makes me wonder if it's not a hardware issue more than software

but I'll keep y'all posted