x100e really slow with 100% cpu much of the time

[haf63]

I just bought the single core x100e and am finding it really slow in doing many things and the cpu monitor is often showing 100%. Its mostly when IE8 is running but not exclusively. I have the factory preload and only done critical windows updates so far. Any suggestions on how i can get to the bottom of this appreciated...

[rwoodson]

Replace with the L625 dual core model.

This is what I ended up doing and the difference is significant. The single core model seems to be running at maximum in the X100e configuration - video is slow and jerky ("slide show" affect as someone described it), the machine runs hot under load, and the overall impression I had was that the processor was being pushed to its limit. I took a chance that the problem could be resolved by going to one of the dual core models, and chose the L625 because of the larger L2 cache. End result is the new machine runs cooler and seems to not be laboring as the single core one obviously was. Video now plays smoothly (iTunes trailers, movies, and Flash video). With the Intel G2 SSD in it, my "new" X100e runs almost as well as the high-end T400 I gave up to go this route.

Hard news to accept, but I think the single core X100e is pushing the envelope too much. While I now have an extra X100e that I don't know what to do with (although I do have an extra AC Adapter and battery out of it), I am much happier with the decision to downsize to the X100e, in spite of the extra cost. Still alot cheaper than going to an X201, which was the only other option that I saw that would be in the direction I wanted to go.

My personal opinion, and the consensus of most of the reviews I have read, is the X100e is a nice mechanical package, but the performance is substandard. The L625 appears to have resolved that issue.

[jvarszegi]

You may have a malware infection, just something to check. IE8 alone won't cause that kind of behavior. The main question is, what sort of processes are you running when it happens (besides the browser)? What sort of things are you doing with the browser that cause you to think that's involved? What processes are running? I am currently running 79 processes, including two instances of Microsoft Office apps, AV, etc. and am typing this in a browser (Google Chrome, though), and my processor is showing a 7% load.

That's not to say that you're not processor-limited, as you may well be. The X100e single-core processor is only about the level of a Pentium M 1.6 GHz.

[The Solutor]

Replace with the L625 dual core model.

This is what I ended up doing and the difference is significant. The single core model seems to be running at maximum in the X100e configuration - video is slow and jerky ("slide show" affect as someone described it)

The flash video slideshow effect is due to the "stoneage" ati drivers presinstalled on the x100, just install the latest 10.4 ATI catalyst drivers (use mobility modder to unlock them), uninstal the flash player plugin and/or activex and install the ones from labs.adobe.com.

Thats'all you will get a silky fullhd reproduction even in youtube, even with a 1920x1080 monitor connected, even with a single core processor,(my x100 is a dual core model but I just disabled one of the cores to simulate an X1 processor).

[control]

The flash video slideshow effect is due to the "stoneage" ati drivers presinstalled on the x100, just install the latest 10.4 ATI catalyst drivers (use mobility modder to unlock them).

Wow, that mobility modder thing actuall worked pretty well. Got about 15 more points in 3d part of Passmark Performance test.

[haf63]

unfortunatly buying a second x100e isn't really an affordable option.
I will have a closer look at what may be causing the 100% cpu spikes and maybe switch to a different browser. The default MSN home page does seem to have a lot going on eg video clips runnings etc so not sure if thats relevant.
I doubt its any kind of virus as the system only has a factory preload and MS Updates on it with NAV.
I appreciate that the single core cpu may not be enough but surely it can cope with some web browsing of emails as that about all i'm using it for.

[GrandMasterKhan]

the Neo is clearly better than the Atom. But one thing you might try in addition to modding the ATI drivers is disable as many W7 services as possible. Aero being one of them. You want only base servcies and processes running and you can get the CPU usage down to maybe about 70%. I tried this on an Atom netbook and it seemed to help. In the end returned it though.

[codedivine]

Well, you can look at some tips at the comments section of this review:
http://netbooked.net/netbook-reviews/re ... 0e-review/
Look for comments from Peter Wong. He advises updating catalyst drivers and uninstalling some Lenovo software etc.
How much RAM do you have? You may want to upgrade RAM.

[haf63]

Thanks for the tips and I will have a go at disabling some windows services and trying updated drivers etc.. I did upgrade the memory to 3GB so hopefully thats enough

[Jason404]

the Neo is clearly better than the Atom. But one thing you might try in addition to modding the ATI drivers is disable as many W7 services as possible. Aero being one of them. You want only base servcies and processes running and you can get the CPU usage down to maybe about 70%. I tried this on an Atom netbook and it seemed to help. In the end returned it though.

I don't think doing that would be a good idea, as then the ATi graphics chip will no longer be offloading the desktop rendering from the CPU. Aero has the GPU do it rather than the CPU.

Flash video is also hardware decoded by contemporary graphics chips on Windows these days, so just making sure you have the best graphics drivers installed is the best strategy.

[haf63]

So i've now uninstalled a whole load of lenovo preload stuff (as suggested in earlier posts and s/w i'm not using (sql/windows-live/office/etc). Plus i have downloaded latest bios. I've not done the graphics driver updates suggested as i'm not doing anything graphics heavy (games/video etc).
I have the windows resource monitor running so i can watch cpu usage (this seems to take 10%+ cpu by itself)
I'm not sure what 'searchprotocolhost.exe' is but its taking 10%+ cpu as well and other services like 'trustedinstaller.exe' randomly take up 10%+ cpu but i guess thats standard windows stuff.

Anyway if i leave the system alone for 5mins then my cpu/disk/memory useage comes right down.
I just started IE8 and it took 12 seconds to connect (via direct ethernet) and during that 12 sec cpu/disk/network was all at 100%. doing nothing for next 60 seconds brings everything back down. The system does seem more responsive than before and I will monitor it to see how it goes as i use it more..

[control]

So i've now uninstalled a whole load of lenovo preload stuff (as suggested in earlier posts and s/w i'm not using (sql/windows-live/office/etc). Plus i have downloaded latest bios. I've not done the graphics driver updates suggested as i'm not doing anything graphics heavy (games/video etc).
I have the windows resource monitor running so i can watch cpu usage (this seems to take 10%+ cpu by itself)
I'm not sure what 'searchprotocolhost.exe' is but its taking 10%+ cpu as well and other services like 'trustedinstaller.exe' randomly take up 10%+ cpu but i guess thats standard windows stuff.

Anyway if i leave the system alone for 5mins then my cpu/disk/memory useage comes right down.
I just started IE8 and it took 12 seconds to connect (via direct ethernet) and during that 12 sec cpu/disk/network was all at 100%. doing nothing for next 60 seconds brings everything back down. The system does seem more responsive than before and I will monitor it to see how it goes as i use it more..

Seems like a longshot but, is the Maximum CPU speed set to low in the power manager?

[haf63]

well i have uninstalled the thinkpad power software as advised and the standard windows 7 power options only seem to talk about display brightness/sleep etc. I have set to 'max performance' regardless. Plus I primarily use the system with mains power.

[jvarszegi]

1. Right-click on the Windows 7 task bar battery notification icon.

2. Select "Power Options".

3. Next to the currently selected power management plan, click "Change plan settings".

4. Click "Change advanced power settings".

5. Now you will see a bunch of settings that will control processor power management, display brightness, etc.-- and you can set most or all of them to separate levels for when the machine's on wall power or battery. That way you get the best of both worlds: full power when you're plugged in, and for those rare other times, double the battery life.

BTW for web browsing, office tasks, etc. I find that a processor setting of around 66% works fine on battery, without compromising battery life too much. With my current set of settings I get 4:30-5:00 hours on battery and do actual work that way with no problems. This would of course be different if I were listening to music etc. while I worked, but I'm just doing work.