[Computer Spec]

I normally have a few programs runnig like winows media player and some other stuff, but I always have a lot of IE windows/tabs open because I need to get from one place to the other quickly.

Lately my IE keeps crashing on me and if I do ctrl + alt + delete and click on performance it says my CPU is at a 100%, so what is CPU? And how can I fix this problem, without having to reduce my IE windows , can I increase the CPU size?

[CG Man]

CPU/ Processor maxed out is'nt a problem. It's designed to do it's best at what your telling it to do.
If your CPU/processor was really over heating your comp would reboot switch off or crash. I render 3D graphics and for a minuet of animation my 3D software keeps both processoers maxed out all day and all night for a few days till its finnished the light simulation for each frame. It will be maxed out for the duration your in a demanding game.

When your running everything at once do ctrl + alt + delete and check how much your ram is full its the collum underneath the CPU one. If that is full it means all of your ram is in use and some of your hard drive is being used as ram.

With lack of ram your software is forced to use a space on the hard drive as ram which slows things down an extream amount and makes some apps sensative to your actions. With windows XP 512MB is the minimum how much more you need depends on what software or games you use.

If your ram is not the problem then it could be all sorts of things, Viruses out of date drivers, out of date software, corupted files.

[CG Man]

What processor, Ram and windows are you using?

[ozzie]

C G Man, you post was very helpful to me as I was reading here. My husband and I have been trying to figure out this same problem with CPU being at 100%. We were concerned and now I guess we don't need to be. Is that correct?

[CG Man]

My Processor on my 3D modeling computer maxes out with nearly anything. It's just trying it's best to do things fast. A processor is not like a car engine. The makers supply them with a cooler to keep it cool so that it can remain at Max usage 24/7 for weeks without a break.

No need to worry about CPU usage.

In my rendering computer their is two processors when I monitor the CPU usage it is only to check that both processors are working on the task and how much ram is in use.

The utility to worry about if you have one installed is the CPU temps monitor some motherboards and computers come with the utility.
AMD 64 processors and Opterons auto shut the computer down if the processor get too hot.

What effects too high cpu temps is:-

Not enough case fans.
1 fan at the front ,air in, is normal and needed.
1 fan at the back, air out, is certainly needed.

Badly installed or wrong processor cooler.

Not enough space around case ventilation space needed where the air is sucked in at the front and blown out the back.

[ozzie]

Thank you for your reply. I will have to check and see if my computer has a CPU temps monitor. I have never seen that anywhere before so I'm doubting that I have one.