[Solved] High CPU Usage

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BotKIRA
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[Solved] High CPU Usage

Post by BotKIRA »

Hi,
I am using Linux Mint 20.2 Xfce right now. Almost after the new OS upgrade, my CPU usage has been acting abnormally. It has been showing spikes too much and became unstable. It is not allowing me to do any browser or comparably heavy work. It is killing itself while doing multitasking and sometimes shows a blank screen after going screen off. So, I went to see the problem in the forums and they suggested using 'perf' to create a log report. Here is the output of the perf report: https://mega.nz/file/Tqg2zJpS#Kynh_wfKP ... 8mAcpRb_mw

I don't know how to read the perf reports properly and can not identify the actual problem. The perf report was taken while the CPU was remained idle.
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 2 times in total.
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innavoig
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Re: High CPU Usage

Post by innavoig »

Try indicator-cpufreq.

Code: Select all

sudo apt install indicator-cpufreq
or try install on the Software Manager.
Moonstone Man
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Re: High CPU Usage

Post by Moonstone Man »

innavoig wrote: Tue Jul 27, 2021 10:30 pm Try indicator-cpufreq.

Code: Select all

sudo apt install indicator-cpufreq
or try install on the Software Manager.
What is the objective of doing that? The poster already knows that they have a high load.
Moonstone Man
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Re: High CPU Usage

Post by Moonstone Man »

BotKIRA wrote: Tue Jul 27, 2021 1:32 pm I don't know how to read the perf reports properly and can not identify the actual problem.
The information isn't useful. Please post the output of inxi -Fxz from a terminal and enclose it in code tags [code]output.here[/code]. You'll see the code tags icon </> when you reply.
BotKIRA
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Re: High CPU Usage

Post by BotKIRA »

Kadaitcha Man wrote: Tue Jul 27, 2021 10:39 pm The information isn't useful. Please post the output of inxi -Fxz from a terminal and enclose it in code tags [code]output.here[/code]. You'll see the code tags icon </> when you reply.
Here is the output:

Code: Select all

System:
  Kernel: 5.4.0-80-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 9.3.0 
  Desktop: Xfce 4.16.0 Distro: Linux Mint 20.2 Uma base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal 
Machine:
  Type: Desktop Mobo: N/A model: N/A serial: <filter> BIOS: Phoenix 
  v: 6.00 PG date: 06/20/2011 
CPU:
  Topology: Dual Core model: Intel Core2 Duo E7200 bits: 64 type: MCP 
  arch: Penryn rev: 6 L2 cache: 3072 KiB 
  flags: lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 ssse3 bogomips: 10109 
  Speed: 1596 MHz min/max: 1600/2534 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 1596 2: 1596 
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel 82G33/G31 Express Integrated Graphics driver: i915 
  v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.9 driver: intel 
  unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,vesa resolution: 1366x768~60Hz 
  OpenGL: renderer: i915 ( 
  v: 2.1 Mesa 21.3.0-devel (git-206fe78 2021-07-28 focal-oibaf-ppa) 
  direct render: Yes 
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel NM10/ICH7 Family High Definition Audio 
  driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1b.0 
  Device-2: WCM_USB WEB CAM type: USB driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo 
  bus ID: 1-1:2 
  Device-3: Generalplus type: USB driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid 
  bus ID: 2-2.3:3 
  Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-80-generic 
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL810xE PCI Express Fast Ethernet driver: r8169 
  v: kernel port: ee00 bus ID: 02:00.0 
  IF: enp2s0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter> 
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 111.79 GiB used: 96.50 GiB (86.3%) 
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Transcend model: TS120GSSD220S size: 111.79 GiB 
  temp: 49 C 
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 109.04 GiB used: 96.50 GiB (88.5%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda5 
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 74.0 C mobo: N/A 
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A 
Info:
  Processes: 206 Uptime: 28m Memory: 3.83 GiB used: 1.28 GiB (33.5%) 
  Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 9.3.0 Shell: bash v: 5.0.17 
  inxi: 3.0.38
Moonstone Man
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Re: High CPU Usage

Post by Moonstone Man »

BotKIRA wrote: Wed Jul 28, 2021 4:26 am

Code: Select all

System:
  date: 06/20/2011 
CPU:
  Topology: Dual Core model: Intel Core2 Duo E7200 bits: 64
Your machine is up to 12 and possibly 13 years old. While someone else may have a better idea, I would point you in a different direction: viewtopic.php?p=2045891#p2045891
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Larry78723
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Re: High CPU Usage

Post by Larry78723 »

Also note: the / partition is getting very close to full at 88.5%
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BotKIRA
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Re: High CPU Usage

Post by BotKIRA »

That means I should not have upgraded my OS to 20.2 in the first place. I will try to install the previous version and see if it helps. Thank you.
Aztaroth
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Re: High CPU Usage

Post by Aztaroth »

Just another direction, but first of all I agree with Larry and Kadaicha Man : your system is too old for Mint 20.x

My tip is : look in LMDE4's direction. The 19.x Mint will end support in April 2023. LMDE4 will be obviously supported longer because it's still the last version (LMDE5 will be built on Debian 11 stable, which is still not available, even if coming soon). So, if you want to use your computer a bit longer, the tip may be valuable. Of course, you should investigate the little but significant differences between LMDE4 and Mint.
dual boot LMDE4 (mostly) + LM19.3 Cinnamon (sometimes)
Reddog1
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Re: High CPU Usage

Post by Reddog1 »

Keep in mind, LMDE4 has only the option of the Cinnamon desktop which, in itself, is a resource hog, and you might want to consider something with Mate or Xfce. For Cinnamon to work as designed requires video acceleration. It will work without acceleration, but you will be nagged with warnings. Mint is not a lightweight distribution, but I run it on machines as weak, and even older, than yours, and I always install Mint 19 Xfce, but not version 19.3. There were some kernel changes made in 19.3 that I've found to be problematic on old machines. Mint 19 is LTS and is in support until spring of 2023. Later Linux kernels have been dropping support for some old hardware, which may or may not effect you (I didn't do the research), and I am actually surprised that the 20 series will even run on what you have.
BotKIRA
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Re: High CPU Usage

Post by BotKIRA »

Reddog1 wrote: Tue Aug 24, 2021 4:02 pm Keep in mind, LMDE4 has only the option of the Cinnamon desktop which, in itself, is a resource hog, and you might want to consider something with Mate or Xfce. For Cinnamon to work as designed requires video acceleration. It will work without acceleration, but you will be nagged with warnings. Mint is not a lightweight distribution, but I run it on machines as weak, and even older, than yours, and I always install Mint 19 Xfce, but not version 19.3. There were some kernel changes made in 19.3 that I've found to be problematic on old machines. Mint 19 is LTS and is in support until spring of 2023. Later Linux kernels have been dropping support for some old hardware, which may or may not effect you (I didn't do the research), and I am actually surprised that the 20 series will even run on what you have.
Before 20.2, Linux Mint Xfce just worked fine. The problem started when I upgraded my system to 20.2. Then I installed LMDE 4. It's running as good as Linux Mint 20.1 Xfce or better than that in some cases. It is using 1GB/4GB RAM on average, but running quite smoothly. I had faced problems with some Unicode layouts in the past with Linux Mint but LMDE has shown its compatibility and stability. I am not a new feature freak. I always wanted stability.
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