Computer Help

Schmids5.3l · October 29, 2007

I got a Linksys wireless internet USB plug in thing the other day. When I have it plugged in (for the internet), the computer fan kicks on and stays on. When I go to task manager, "CPU usage" bounces from 3-7% to 90-100% back and forth constantly, and the fan stays on. The fan is annoying. What can I do????

Wingnut · October 29, 2007

Does it use drivers? Do you have the latest ones?

Schmids5.3l · October 29, 2007

Does it use drivers? Do you have the latest ones?

I have no idea. I just know when I plug in the USB thing for the wireless internet the CPU usage fluctuates like a mofo.

Zembonez · October 29, 2007

I got a Linksys wireless internet USB plug in thing the other day. When I have it plugged in (for the internet), the computer fan kicks on and stays on. When I go to task manager, "CPU usage" bounces from 3-7% to 90-100% back and forth constantly, and the fan stays on. The fan is annoying. What can I do????

Is it a laptop? If so...They generally kick in their cooling based on CPU usage and power consumption. Many are actually blind to temperature. The USB device is using current and the PC sees it as a load and activates the fan.

One possible trick is to use a seperate USB hub that has its own power adapter. They are wired so as not to pull power from the USB cable. More wiring but the power supply provides your USB internet device with power so the PC doesn't have to.

If it isn't a laptop... I've never heard of such a thing on a desktop machine.

Chestah · October 29, 2007

Either try a hub with an alternate power source or crack the computer open and swap your current fan for a quieter one. Also go to the Linksys website and download the latest software.

As for your CPU usage, a wireless adapter should not increase your usage more than a couple percent. Call Linksys customer support and see what they say.

omegafiler · October 29, 2007

Yeah, that's not normal. What kind of computer do you have? Brand, model, etc?

Schmids5.3l · October 29, 2007

Thanks guys, I'll look into everything. Its a desk top, i dont like lap tops. It's a HP, not sure of the model, kinda new. I'm not big on computers.

Long story short I moved out too early with my g/f, and moved back because the g/f is going back to school full time and slowed down on work, so bills would have been a pita. But its cool because its a Bi level with a bathroom down stairs, I think down stairs is actually bigger than our appartment was a 2 car garage is nice too, I can change my oil and stuff here. Kinda weird living in the old house with my g/f, but o well. But my brother has a router hooked up to his modem for play station and stuff, so I figured I'd bum off his internet. (which I am)

Zembonez · October 30, 2007

Thanks guys, I'll look into everything. Its a desk top, i dont like lap tops. It's a HP, not sure of the model, kinda new. I'm not big on computers.

Long story short I moved out too early with my g/f, and moved back because the g/f is going back to school full time and slowed down on work, so bills would have been a pita. But its cool because its a Bi level with a bathroom down stairs, I think down stairs is actually bigger than our appartment was a 2 car garage is nice too, I can change my oil and stuff here. Kinda weird living in the old house with my g/f, but o well. But my brother has a router hooked up to his modem for play station and stuff, so I figured I'd bum off his internet. (which I am)

HMMM.

It's still possible that the USB hub with it's own power might just solve it. They are pretty cheap. Worth a shot.

Wingnut · October 30, 2007

Thanks guys, I'll look into everything. Its a desk top, i dont like lap tops. It's a HP, not sure of the model, kinda new. I'm not big on computers.

Long story short I moved out too early with my g/f, and moved back because the g/f is going back to school full time and slowed down on work, so bills would have been a pita. But its cool because its a Bi level with a bathroom down stairs, I think down stairs is actually bigger than our appartment was a 2 car garage is nice too, I can change my oil and stuff here. Kinda weird living in the old house with my g/f, but o well. But my brother has a router hooked up to his modem for play station and stuff, so I figured I'd bum off his internet. (which I am)

It's a PC?

Don't use USB for your internet. Get one of these.

Nytemare · October 30, 2007

Its pushing your CPU usage up because its an external device fed through a USB port. It now has to interface with the device every time it refreshes.

This means that a program has to run in the background to control and receive data from the device. Same as when you put a thumb drive in and you get the little Icon in your system tray saying you have an external drive hooked up.

So every time you request a web page or it gets a signal refresh, the program accesses the device and reads from it, making CPU usage increase.

Like Wingnut said...get an internal one. It will use a driver instead of an external device program

As for your fan, it sounds like you have a throttling system on your computer..Its set up through the BIOS if you feel the need to change it...I have mine set to always on...and I have a turbine fan that pushes 350CFM, and thats just for the CPU...It will be liquid cooled soon though.

Schmids5.3l · October 30, 2007

You guys mention drivers, and someone mentioned going to linksys for downloads and updates, I found a driver in the download section on linksys' website for my thing.

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c...d#versiondetail

Nut thats a router right? Basically gives off a wireless signal?

THANKS ALL!!!!!

Wingnut · October 30, 2007

You guys mention drivers, and someone mentioned going to linksys for downloads and updates, I found a driver in the download section on linksys' website for my thing.

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c...d#versiondetail

Nut thats a router right? Basically gives off a wireless signal?

THANKS ALL!!!!!

Not really. It's a receiver for a wireless signal. Basically, it's like the wireless card in a laptop that enables you to access the wireless router that your bro has set up. I use one in my PC so I don't have to put it next to the modem, router, or one of the network drops in my house. I can put my PC in my closet if I want. All I need is power.

Other than that, it's more of a "dumb" hub than anything. You can plug other things into it to network them too.