file operations cause 100% CPU

[Argos]

Hi all
I noticed on my computer that any file copy/transfer operations, for example copying from an external drive, or upload/download many files using FTP, causes my CPU to go 100%, slowing down everything and basically i have to wait for the file operations to finish.

Any idea what causes that ?
background: i have an AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4800+ 2.5GHZ, i have two SATA HDDs, i installed Jaunty clean, using EXT4 file system, i have 4GB of ram. When installing KUbuntu, i set the swap size to 2 GB. i assumed that having the 4GB of RAM i will not need big swap partition.

Any thoughts on the problem will be highly appreciated.
Thanks

[Detonate]

Re: file operations cause 100% CPU

I don't know,, I'm having the same problem. I suspect that there is some dysfunction with the sata hard drives, not read/write as they should and things a bogging down, but I can't pinpoint the problem. But when it happens, my computer completely locks up until the hard disk activity is completed.

[ukchucktown]

Re: file operations cause 100% CPU

Are you both running ext4 file system? I have an external SATA drive formatted ext3 connected through a SATA express card and my dual core CPUs jump around 40 to 50% each when I copy big files. The dual cores average 70% load during the copy operation but I'm still able to work.

[Detonate]

Re: file operations cause 100% CPU

No, all of my partitions are ext3. Mine is an AMD Athlon 64 4000+ Dual core. Which I am running underclocked, and under voltage which seems to have helped a lot. I have a lot of problems at boot with this machine, unable to boot, without a few DRDY errors, both hard drives are WD. One 200GB and one 500GB. It seems to run fine once booted, except for the occasional lockup problem as noted. The reason I underclocked it was because it was overheating the CPU and I have a realy good Thermaltake cooler on it. Funny thing is, only one core would get really hot, but not he other. Now it runs in the 30-40 degree C range all the time.

[ukchucktown]

Re: file operations cause 100% CPU

I'm an Intel T7300 2Gz dual core. I don't think the problem is SATA related. Maybe an AMD problem.

[marcopl]

Re: file operations cause 100% CPU

Copy operations shouldnt take so much cpu power. i doubt its issue with sata drives. the most likely culprit will be ext4.

[Argos]

Re: file operations cause 100% CPU

i have EXT4. unfortunately i'm writing this post from my wife's laptop with Windows since my HD crashed. i suspect the extreme operations caused it to crash taking with it all the data i had.

[Detonate]

Re: file operations cause 100% CPU

I think I may have discovered my problem with the system freezing up, it's Ubuntu One. I turned it off and have not had a problem since.

[Nakrull]

Re: file operations cause 100% CPU

never ever undeclock ur amd CPU ull get L1 L2 cache errors... slowing down ur whole pc
i am a hardware geek so i know... ur not only slowing down ur cpu... when u slow down ur cpu also slow down everything else fpu mem clock and all disck write/copy since amd has cpu based mem alocation n the north brige depends on ur clock n the south grige depends on ur north brige

ur using a termaltake and have temp problems what kind of cpu paste ur using the basic paste
ill give u nice temeratures whit no overclocking!!! so u have some oxigen bubles betwen ur cpu n cooler
so the cooler is not cooling right... GET IT FIXED ULL BURN IT!!!! underclocking it or not!!!

its normal that one core get used more than the other only multy-threaded progs use all cores
so dont worry its normal how long does it take forthe cores get to a normal stable temp

post ur
"ps aux" or "ksystemguard" when u copy things
i only have 2gb n amd64 x2 3800
2600mhz ovecklocking
3 hdds... 320gb n 2x250gb all sata drives ext4
im having no errors or slow downs and i overcklock from 2000 to 2600 whit the original cooler n the normal cooler paste

there is somethigng wron n it not only ur software!!!!

[Detonate]

Re: file operations cause 100% CPU

Nakrull, take a look at this thread and see if you have anything to add as a hardware knowledgeable person.
http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3104769.0
My CPU and cooler are both properly installed. I know how to do that. I use Arctic Silver paste. The cooler is working properly, this CPU has no overheating problems with Windows. It comes up to operating temp within a few mniutes after booting, then levels out.

Output from sensors:

k8temp-pci-00c3
Adapter: PCI adapter
Core0 Temp: +8.0°C
Core0 Temp: -3.0°C
Core1 Temp: +18.0°C
Core1 Temp: +9.0°C

w83627ehf-isa-0a10
Adapter: ISA adapter
VCore: +1.25 V (min = +0.00 V, max = +1.74 V)
in1: +12.41 V (min = +13.46 V, max = +6.71 V) ALARM
AVCC: +3.30 V (min = +4.05 V, max = +4.08 V) ALARM
3VCC: +3.31 V (min = +4.08 V, max = +3.06 V) ALARM
in4: +1.59 V (min = +1.90 V, max = +2.04 V) ALARM
in5: +1.44 V (min = +2.04 V, max = +2.04 V) ALARM
in6: +4.61 V (min = +6.53 V, max = +6.53 V) ALARM
VSB: +3.26 V (min = +3.06 V, max = +4.08 V)
VBAT: +2.91 V (min = +4.08 V, max = +3.06 V) ALARM
in9: +1.46 V (min = +2.04 V, max = +2.04 V) ALARM
Case Fan: 0 RPM (min = 703 RPM, div = 128) ALARM
CPU Fan: 0 RPM (min = 703 RPM, div = 128) ALARM
Aux Fan: 0 RPM (min = 0 RPM, div = 128)
fan4: 3068 RPM (min = 0 RPM, div = 8)
fan5: 0 RPM (min = 0 RPM, div = 128)
Sys Temp: +29.0°C (high = -73.0°C, hyst = -1.0°C) ALARM sensor = thermistor
CPU Temp: +35.0°C (high = +80.0°C, hyst = +75.0°C) sensor = thermistor
AUX Temp: +33.5°C (high = +80.0°C, hyst = +75.0°C) sensor = thermistor
cpu0_vid: +0.375 V

[DanteAshton]

Re: file operations cause 100% CPU

It's probably worth noting I've had the same problem. Slowdown of the entire system, followed by lockup, when moving large amounts of files. (about a 100gigs worth causes a noticable spike), especially if your computer has a moderate load on it already.