is constant CPU usage bad?

I agree with Mike - using idle CPU time is fine and dandy - but not for extended periods of time.

http://toolbar.google.com/dc/faq_dc.html#trouble2
Google has a section on their website saying this 100% CPU usage is completely normal, and that it runs in the background with minimal priority. However, you can switch it to a 'Conservative' mode, which only runs when your computer is completely idle.

what about at other levels such as 40% or is that just as bad as 100% in the long term

Your a good man helping out folding proteins.  

You can set it to use less cpu time if you choose.

If you have a rock solid system, good fans etc then it will be ok.  But...

I would check out how hot your cpu is running.   Make sure your case is well ventilated.

I did the SETI program which is similar on my old linux box.  It was pegged 24/7 for weeks and never had a problem.  That was in the days of slower cooler cpus.   It was running on a celeron 300a @ 450mhz, I think the entire kernal fit inside the cpus 128k cache.  Even pegged out at 100% that cpu did not produce anywhere near the heat the new ones do.

If you have a fast computer (1.4GHZ or more) lower the priority so it uses like 25% cpu time at most.  Give them 300 to 600 mhz.   That way you are still helping but your not cooking your system.

Callandor to be technically technically correct indeed it is the CPU running at 100% that eventually screw your CPU cooler.

A system with the fan running 24/7 is not a problem.  Please do not forget "how close" the cooler is in proximity to the CPU, and in turn is exposed to extreme temperatures.

The system running @ 40% load will run perfectly year round (Like my computer and many servers do).  But 100% no way.

Do not forget extreme heat will expand the bearings / mechanism of the fan and put huge wear on it.  The lubrication within the mechanism would also dry out quicker, and then friction sets in and causes more problems.

I am talking of the latest generation of CPU's now, not the old PIII & Celerons.

The best example I could think of is a car.  You drive it year round with a full engine of oil.  The speed you do is 40 MPH.  
Now the temperature is more or less constant under the bonnet and like you say the mechanism is running permantly. (Exactly like inside your PC)  

Now run the same engine with full oil at 150MPH.
The temperature under the bonnet would be more or less the same, BUT I guarantee the mechanism, I.E. the engine won't last you long !!

I believe you have the answer to your questions all listed above.

Yes do the google thing but limit you CPU usage to 25 - 35% like goblin072 suggested and you will not encounter any problems or @ least minimise any risks.

Thank you for all your comments ... could someone suggest a good system monitor?

Points will be shared

5t0rmUK,

As you can see, there are a number of dissenting opinions from yours.  However, if you can provide a link that shows running at 100% is detrimental to the lifetime of a cpu, I would be happy to update my personal knowledge.

One more point.   Staying within intels heat specs should mean you are ok but I have not found that to be the case and many others have found the same.
Take a look at overclockers forums.  I overclock too but only when I really need it.

Intel/amd cpus should be fine at 60c many systems start to crap out at temps above 60c but well below the chips thermal limits.   I could be just do to poor monitoring software/hardware ie
the chips really at 90c and not 60c.   I don't think they are off by that much.

I am quite pleased this question has raised such an debate, it has given me more insight than I had hoped for.

Thank you to everyone who contributed

It is hard thus for me to award points, so I've increased it by a lot to reflect the quality of responses on here. I have awarded them according to my conclusion:

"Running CPU at 100% is thereoricatlly fine, but not if your system is badly ventilated and in the end the fans/memory are likely to fail first"

LOL !!   You certainly did stir up a hornet's nest with this one.

Not only did I get some lovely points, I also got some very interesting views, which in-turn has made me also look at this issue from a different perspective.

Cheers


Mike.

This has nothing to do with the topic but I thought I would stir up the nest some more.

I have been helping people for free for many years and in turn I have been helped by others too.   I don't really keep track of how many times
I have help others vs getting help myself.  If I did I am quite sure that I give more than I take and thats fine with me.  I am new to this forum but not
new to helping people online.

This forums setup is different.   I have no idea of how good the quality of information is since I am not allowed to surf here unrestricted.  I'm not about to
pay them for help.   I guess when I get 10,000 points I will find out.   But looking at it from an outsiders and my cynical eye :) I can't help feeling like we are being manipulated.

I think its fine that others that do not have the time are willing to pay for help.   I don't have time to fix my driveway so I hire a guy that knows his stuff to fix it for me.  I pay him
he does a good job we both are happy.

People here that don't have time just pay a fee and they get all the help that they want.   There are many many fellow enthusiest that are more than willing to strut their computer
prowness and help out.  I can tell many here know the back end from the front of a computer case :)  Thats great I appreciate those people.

But.......

Maybe I am looking at this all the wrong way, I would be happy to have someone turn my thinking around 360.  

What I see is someone that is selling a procuct (information) using free employees.   How they keep the employees working for free is to set up a point competition, lets face it
many of us love competition.  The harder we work happier the customer and we love to please.   We get POINTS!   What do we do with these points?  Hmmm use them to better our
computer knowledge because non of us knows everything.     We take that new information and use it to help even more people.

All the time this is taking place someone is getting paid but its not us.
 
Feel like we are being EXPLOITED.  

Someone tell me what so good about this forum?  

I don't think I have ever run into a problem with a computer that either myself or with the help of friends and FREE newsgroups that I could not solve.   So I really do not think
this place has anything to offer me in terms of BETTER information.   Maybe more organized but that has yet to be seen with my own eyes.  I will have to hit 10,000 points and see for
myself.  

Don't get me wrong I am not trying to be cocky or anything like that.  I just don't like being taken advantage of.

I care more about helping some guy fix his system that counting points.  

I am hoping I am missing something and I have it all wrong. I have not really taken the time to find out how this site got started or who runs the show.

Someone please educate me.

 

Some people like helping other people and hanging out with others that think likewise.  I can tell you that the top experts in other TA's are really good, and one can learn a lot from them, but there are equally good experts who don't have as many points (or time) and also have things one can learn from.  If you are into learning, this place has a lot of it to spare.

I don't doubt what you say is true, I am sure it is.

I'm thinking of the guys that take in the money.   WHo are they?  

I would love to own a business where I had to pay my employees zero money, pay them zero health care benifits, zero unemployment etc and
have them cherfully help others.   I could award them points for helping the most customers.   And if they get enough points
I would allow them read some of my magazines for free. YEA!  All the wihile I am taking in all the profits for my greedy little grubby hands. hehe.

I don't have a beef with you or others that help,   I don't have a beef with the people looking for help.   I may have one with the people that run this site.

Well, I guess they have to pay for the servers and connectivity somehow, because that isn't free.

Hehe well yes in my fantasy land analogy I would of course be paying the heat, electric, rent etc.  Just not the employees.  

I think I have been in the inside of the business world too long, sorry for the rants.   Ignorance is bliss.

Cal, I can see why you defended the site.   You are one of the big guns here in hardware.  Good job!

Thanks, it's something I enjoy doing, and I hope that is true of all the contributors.

Cal, there is no question in my mind that these people are all good folks.