High CPU usage by process called "System"

OH MY FKING GOD

So I uninstalled Rambox and rebooted. At the same time there was a BIOS update from Dell, so I updated. Afterwards I recorded the task manager again: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1r5OwNakIAxcUJj1B9DoIIzJvtmhJbfAU/view?usp=sharing

I did "sfc /scannow" and got the following:

C:\WINDOWS\system32>sfc /scannow

Beginning system scan.  This process will take some time.

Beginning verification phase of system scan.

Verification 100% complete.

Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.

I couldn't get out of my mind that thread "nvlddmkm.sys" and it was from NVIDIA. I lost my patience and uninstalled everything from nvidia but the control panel (driver and physX)

And guess what happened after the uninstallation? MY COMPUTER GOT SILENT. I suddenly could hear the flies in my room, the rain outside, it was so beautiful. I couldn't believe it, so I went into task manager and remember when I said that after 5 seconds the "System" process took the first spot? IT DIDNT! I watched this task manager for 5 minutes and not a single time "System" took more than 1.1% of the CPU. And they said that there is nothing unusual with that........

I invested more than 25 hours only because of that! It truly drove me crazy. I'm very annoyed by nvidia. 

I will reinstall the driver and do a startup video again to show you the beauty. 

But how important was PhysX? Can I live without it?

I had one more question you said "although that is showing 'high power' - the resource draw (reality) is actually low" this is true because you see it in the video, the "Power usage trend" was always "Very low". How can it be that it runs like 2h at 10% and the Power usage indicates Very high but the Power usage trend stays very low? Other apps use a bit of cpu for 20s and their trend is instantly moderate or high. 

And that sole process made the difference of heating up my computer so that fans had to blow (we know it bcs now even with 37 Browser tabs open it is dead silent). To me that sounds not like a low resource draw. It heated up the processor. 

Oh, gosh I'm so happy you can't imagine. Thank you for everything Rick. I would want to invite you for a coffee. Do you have paypal or something? 

**Edit: Here is the video**of the third startup

UPDATE: Back from a restart.

It holds nicely. This seems like a problem with Nvidia cards on dual-card systems (since if you have only Nvidia you ALWAYS have something running on that card). I am surprised it hasn't been caught yet.

Not sure what the implications are of that solution regarding battery life, but I guess if you need more battery (if it drains it somehow) then you can disable the Nvidia card in Device manager temporarily.

Dear Samuel,

Bad News - If your career is to be a programming engineer, you just have to accept computer hardware, software, ancillary and other factors ... causing 'bugs' ... is a fact of life. Computers always break-down.

 In the very beginning - with the Abacus - I expect weevils (sneaking out in the middle of the night) probably ate the beads, contributing to critical errors; or you might be hurrying to the big construction project/Pyramid - for an engineer's meeting - accidentally trip on a rock, fall over and crack the frame ... then half the beads fell-off .... meaning going down the market to buy a new one. Centuries may have passed - but they still break-down, usually at the worst possible moment.

 The detective mind-set is the only way to stay sane. Either enjoy tracking/finding problems - or give-up/go insane.

 We already knew you were a serious programmer (what software people run, tells you a lot about those people - you run some hard core stuff, gaming side yes, but that is still 'hard core' ... and to be respected).

 Your knowledge makes discussions, investigating and moving forward - a lot easier.

Rambox? Dump it. It is not designed for 2+ Gb RAM systems (makes multiple mirror copies of itself as off-load buffers, which you do not need/use, but are stuck with - each holding a percentage of RAM that is not being used).

 Ideally - use another/older computer (with Rambox) for email/messaging and keep the new Dell (75~95%) for programming/work.

 I am presently on a (moderately enhanced) 2014 {HP} ML350 G6 Dual Xeon/56 Gb reg EEC/Nv750 4Gb/1 x 1TB + 4 x 2Tb SFF & 2 x 750Gb HSD ... workstation unit (converted server) - because I blew-up (Win 10x 1903 scrambled it) my Z400 communications system. That update/associated-issues took down lots of our systems, so by the time I got to stores only laptops were left (new) and replacements (WS/SVR) were a week away. I grabbed the ML350 (redundant/replaced by newer Z800's), then 'reworked' it a bit {laugh - like 'hotting-up' a car]. In comparative HP terms, would be a very high capacity ML380 G20.

 Thing is:

a). Do not use the communications computers for work, basically due to performance limitations - but also for security and integrity. Should always assume - sooner or later - a virus or malware will get on your system - via communications activity (internet, messaging, gaming, downloads, etc.). Best way to protect your work (between back-ups) is to use a separate system. Although separate (Comm's and peer review), I use this/my units to look-at engineering stuff (heavy CAD), so need the Xeon and expanded character architecture;

b). There are better, faster, resource efficient Browsers around - much better than Rambox; although they do not bring together as many different app's in the one place (albeit - with all the same active at the same time, in use or not).

 As  rule: for MS sites we use Explorer or Edge; general sites Firefox/Waterfox; P2P/Torrent resource & Github - TOR browser; then either Avast's Chrome or CCleaner-Browser ... for Chrome sites. Using one browser across different site interface platforms has many security issues (exposures).

 Option:

 For various reasons, folks around here are not allowed to install TSR/background software without permission/review. That is partially security, but mostly 'performance' and avoiding issues such as yours

 Folks are welcome to put what games they like on their desktops/laptops - as long as IT know it is there, and it is not TSR/autostart-up.

 Glary Utilities (free version) is a good suite of Utilities, and has a start-up manager. Use that to go into your start-up files and simply 'turn-off' auto-start/auto-load - for those programs you do not need all the time.

 Next: in Windows start-up (menu), right click on each of those program's start-icons ... copy it ... go to your desk top and paste it (start-link).

 That way you have all the stuff you want, but it is only starting/active (from your desktop) when you want it/are using it.

Note. Not 'telling you' to do anything. Just discussing options and explaining why we do things the way we do (reasons behind). Choices are always yours.

Life can be distressing for programmers, developers and computer/IT engineers - which is why we do not mind games.

Example: This time of year, you might find you came 4th in the local Gord/Pumpkin competition; office jokers might stick smiley faces on your Leder Hosen; drill holes in your pumpkin Kayak; or staple an apple to your festival cap - with an arrow thru, which makes getting through doors/into toilet cubicles extra difficult. This can cause depression and anxiety ...

 So either you take sick-leave, or go play a game.

 Being programmers - first run through you notice is bugs and potential cheats or stupid forks/story lines. By second or third you've worked out cheats and are getting really angry about the dumb/obvious story-line limitations. By four or five you write-up the cheats and criticisms, then go up to "****-for-Fun" (share the cheats/write an acid review) - feel satisfied, then look for a new game to download (start again).

 F4F are friends of ours. We mirror a lot of their content to help them with bandwidth.

 Thing is - after getting furious with games - our guys and girls are really sharp/focused/do their best work.

 Point ? Does not matter what is on the computer.

             It does matter how much is running, versus how much is using resources and doing nothing.

 This also applies to the Sleep/Shutdown functions of the computer. "sleep" is really for tea or lunch breaks - when you are away from the system, intend returning and continuing what you were doing/working-on, but either wish to preserve screen life (old CRT units) or do not want people looking at your work.

 I think between 95 & 100% of people here all have: "Off" or "Reboot" as the power options. "Sleep" has been redundant (real terms) since CRT's were replaced by LCD/LQP screens/technology.

 Another factor in this - and possible resource drain - is the MS 'Hotspot' setting (inside networking).

 Basically that turns your computer into a P2P sharing BOT for MS update/upgrade - which is very egalitarian, social and kind of you - but is still a 'BOT' - so is running (resources/bandwidth) as long as the computer is powered-on ('Sleep' also).

 Go into network/sharing settings - find the 'hotspot' (sharing) option and switch it off.

 Discord and other media sharing platforms can do the same (as Hotspot); but for now we just turn-off the MS stuff.

 Next got to Security and Update.

In Update - turn-off auto update and select (advanced) one day/date/time for 'update' to run. (20th or 21st = best)

 This will stop update processes/checks (force 'pause'), then save a lot of resources CPU activity.

[80>90% of MS releases are the 18th or 19th of the month]

Once done - same window - go to "update"; then look to see what the settings are. Couple of people here, think your system might be running back-up or a shadow drive ... all the time. I doubt that simply because it usually requires a third party program/software; however "backup' might be scheduled for 'daily'.

 Check the settings and make sure they are all turned OFF. Write a day in your diary, each fortnight or month, then do a back-up on that day. We do back-ups (IT does) every Sunday

 There are some issues with Windows Firewall/Security (resource usage/scheduling). I suggest you download and install Avast (free) Antivirus. The basic free version will do all you need and more - however does have 'nags' (product promo's etc.). We used it 2018-2020, but are dumping it shortly.

 Why - It is good software, does the job and more - however we paid for premium; then still got swapped with 'nags'. Those 'nags' drive everyone crazy; so we are dumping the software.

 Once installed, make Avast the default AV/AM/firewall. Windows Security will run (limited) in the background - but its worst resource usage aspects will be turned-off/turned-over to Avast.

 There are a few other things, but I'm out the door again (meetings).

 After doing the above (Glary Utilities - first: Major Geeks or Sourceforge sites will have it. Tucows probably) ... once ready - you know the routine. Reboot, into Task manager - watch and report.

 Oh yes - music. We did not have the 'mute' on. As it happens (not here - over in safe storage) I have/own a 1993 Gibson - Les Paul (Cherry Red), while my nephew is the lead in a Metal Band (between gig's - plots on how to kill certain uncles, in order to 'inherit' rare valuable guitars). Folks around here liked that music.

Cheers,

Rick.

Hi and thanks for reaching out. My name is William. I'm a Microsoft Windows Certified Professional and Systems Administrator. I'll be happy to help you out today.

You are right, a properly optimized system should not be seeing prolonged System process usage. This can be caused by any number of things, from a driver to excessive interrupts. To investigate deeper, download the run (as administrator) Process Explorer: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/d...

Locate the System process. Note, the system process also plays host to the Windows session manage, Interrupts, and mem compression processes, however, I usually see CPU usage within the system process directly. Double-click the system process (or which ever one is using CPU) > go to the Threads tab > click the CPU column so that it moves the highest CPU-consuming thread to the top > note the Start Address. The Start Address is the driver responsible. Anything after the ! is the function, although most of them will not be available except the NT Kernel itself, especially if 3rd party. If you are lucky, it will be a 3rd party driver and then you can zero in on a fix, such as updating that specific driver.