Is it true that CPU's are running full power all of the time?

Daniel A-S

Daniel A-S

Member
Hi.

I heard once that CPU's are continously using clock cycles, wherether they are used or wasted.

It's just that I've downloaded some software that runs in your background and works out huge equations and sends the answers back to a medical facility.

It says on their web site that the software takes use of the wasted cycles.

And, does it do any damage to your CPU to have it running at 100% all the time?

Thanks.
 
Hmmm, I guess that the CPU is running at the Clock Speed it is set at constantly (well, obviously) and it is constantly running all the services required for the operating system to run. However, when you have your computer idling, it is not using 100% of the CPU's power. The operating system will be using a percentage of this power, and the rest is set aside for tasks you wish to perform on the computer.

And, does it do any damage to your CPU to have it running at 100% all the time?
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Well, it doesn't damage it as such, but it could if it gets to a very high temperature (extremely unlikely unless your cooling (HSF) isn't applied properly). The only thing it will do is probably shorten the life span of the CPU, since it is running to its full extent the whole time. However, even then, normal processors will last a very long time (10 years?) in this state anyway. :)
 
Would that be Folding at Home? Good cause; I've got five or six machines folding.

The processor is always clocking, but not necessarily using all of the cycles effectively. Folding will not reduce your processor's useful life.

Fold to Cure.
 
As far as I know it's not, the system idle process uses up any unused clock cycles to save power and produce less heat, hence the reason why the temps rise dramatically when you run an app such as F@H, vs when its just idling.
 
Hi.

I heard once that CPU's are continously using clock cycles, wherether they are used or wasted.
Click to expand...
This used to be the case before the System Idle Process was added to windows. Now unused cycles are actually unused causing the CPU to use less power and create less heat. F@H runs on a slightly higher priority than System Idle so it takes cycles that would otherwise go there and puts them to use.
 
Cromewell said:
This used to be the case before the System Idle Process was added to windows. Now unused cycles are actually unused causing the CPU to use less power and create less heat. F@H runs on a slightly higher priority than System Idle so it takes cycles that would otherwise go there and puts them to use.
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Sounds like what I said :rolleyes:

[-0MEGA-];477251 said:
As far as I know it's not, the system idle process uses up any unused clock cycles to save power and produce less heat, hence the reason why the temps rise dramatically when you run an app such as F@H, vs when its just idling.
Click to expand...
 
Yes but you said 'As far as I know' which leaves doubt. :P Besides you didn't say how F@H takes Idle time without really screwing up anything else.
 
Cromewell said:
Yes but you said 'As far as I know' which leaves doubt. :P Besides you didn't say how F@H takes Idle time without really screwing up anything else.
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Fine, i'll give you that :rolleyes:

F@H just runs in low priority mode, WinRAR also runs in low mode, so you can play games or run other apps without a noticable slow down.
 
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