Multiple svchosts.exe?

sam.i.am

sam.i.am

New Member
My computer's been playing up recently, freezing for about 25 seconds abd jerky playback in Media Centre are the main issues. Looking in Task Manager, it appears as though I have 10 svchost.exe's running, one of them using 135,000K of memory.

task%20manager.jpg



Is this normal? I've updated my GPU drivers, un-installed all codecs and re-installed, ran a full anti-virus scan (using NOD32), ran a Spyware scan (Spybot) and applied a Windows Classic theme but nothing's seemed to have worked.

I'm using Vista 64-bit with 4GB RAM FWIW.
 

My Computer

System One

svchost is the process for hosting system and some 3rd party services. It's normal to have multiple svchost processes since windows XP. Do not terminate them unless u are clear what you are doing!

The jerk playing back in Media Center can result from multiple issues. You can check:
1. Whether u own a Nvidia GPU and a less powerful CPU. nv cards are infamous for the high CPU usage especially when playing back high definition videos. (Your CPU, at least, must be atop of Core 2 E6300). And ensure you have enabled Hardware accelerated video play back.
2. Codec issue. This may be common. Are you trying to play a video that is not supported by vista's default codec pack? (mean you downloaded some 3rd party codec to play it). Some bad codec may give you jaggy playing back experience.
3. The video has been carefully crafted. Some virus or malicious codes are lurking in the video.
4. The video is itself not swimming. that's may due to the unskillful montage.
5. some backgroud program may conflict with MC. This is difficult to diagnose which one is the culprit.
6. try to play that video on other's machine. see if the problem happens again.

Well, that's all. You may be unable to fix your prob even u have followed these steps carefully. Try to provide some more details to help us to spot the cause.


DeXtmL
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    Core Duo E6320 @ 3.0GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel 965P
    Memory
    VData 4GB DDR2 800MHz (Only 3.25GB available to use)
    Graphics card(s)
    NV Geforce 9600GT-512MB @ 850/2100MHz
    Sound Card
    Integrated Card (Realtek)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    MAG 22" LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    An old Seagate 160GB HDD (7200rpm)
    PSU
    400W (peak)
DeXtmL said:
svchost is the process for hosting system and some 3rd party services. It's normal to have multiple svchost processes since windows XP. Do not terminate them unless u are clear what you are doing!

The jerk playing back in Media Center can result from multiple issues. You can check:
1. Whether u own a Nvidia GPU and a less powerful CPU. nv cards are infamous for the high CPU usage especially when playing back high definition videos. (Your CPU, at least, must be atop of Core 2 E6300). And ensure you have enabled Hardware accelerated video play back.
2. Codec issue. This may be common. Are you trying to play a video that is not supported by vista's default codec pack? (mean you downloaded some 3rd party codec to play it). Some bad codec may give you jaggy playing back experience.
3. The video has been carefully crafted. Some virus or malicious codes are lurking in the video.
4. The video is itself not swimming. that's may due to the unskillful montage.
5. some backgroud program may conflict with MC. This is difficult to diagnose which one is the culprit.
6. try to play that video on other's machine. see if the problem happens again.

Well, that's all. You may be unable to fix your prob even u have followed these steps carefully. Try to provide some more details to help us to spot the cause.


DeXtmL
Click to expand...
Hi DeXtmL,

OK, so multiple svhosts isn't something to worry about...but what about the amount of memory usage it's using?

1. I have an XFX 8800GTX @ standard and an E4300 (1.8GHz) OC'd to just under 3GHz. I've never had a problem with it before. How do I enable Hardware accelerated video play back?

2. I've installed the latest ffdshow, divx, xvid and AC3 filter codecs, are there any others?

3. I hope not..!

4. ?

5. I hadn't thought about that, I'll try various things now...

6. I don't have any other machines with media centre on but I will ask my mates if they do.

Thanks for your help, much appreciated :)
 

My Computer

System One

sam.i.am said:
OK, so multiple svhosts isn't something to worry about...but what about the amount of memory usage it's using?
Click to expand...

136505K = 133MB, which is about 3.25% of 4GB. I wouldn't woory too much about those usage specs. If the numbers go WAY higher than they already are (500MB or more), then you can start being concerned...
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    AMD Phenom 9600 Quad
    Motherboard
    ASUS MB-M3A32-MVP Deluxe/WiFi
    Memory
    2 x A-Data 2GB DDR2-800
    Graphics card(s)
    ASUS ATI Radeon HD 2400PRO
    Monitor(s) Displays
    SAHARA 21"
    Screen Resolution
    1600x1200
    Hard Drives
    2 x 80GB Seagate (I) 2 x 120GB Seagate (I/S) 2 x 200GB Seagate (I/S) 2 x 250GB Seagate (I/S)
    PSU
    800W
    Case
    Thermaltake Tai-Chi
    Cooling
    Tai-Chi Water Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Keyboard
    Genius
    Internet Speed
    384kbps
    Other Info
    Currently dual booting between Vista x64 Ultimate Windows 7 BETA x64
sam.i.am said:
1. I have an XFX 8800GTX @ standard and an E4300 (1.8GHz) OC'd to just under 3GHz. I've never had a problem with it before. How do I enable Hardware accelerated video play back?

2. I've installed the latest ffdshow, divx, xvid and AC3 filter codecs, are there any others?
Click to expand...

Hi again,

I'm not very sure about how to enable Nvidia's hardware accel feature, cuz currently i hold an ATI card. To enable it, just try googling "enable nvidia purevideo" or sth; that should work.

ffdshow, divx, xvid... sorry man, i'm unfamiliar with these decoders (though them are all popular. :p) Codec issue is the most common trouble causing the playing-back quirk. You can seek help on this topic from those video-geeks.

Good luck

DeXtmL
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    Core Duo E6320 @ 3.0GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel 965P
    Memory
    VData 4GB DDR2 800MHz (Only 3.25GB available to use)
    Graphics card(s)
    NV Geforce 9600GT-512MB @ 850/2100MHz
    Sound Card
    Integrated Card (Realtek)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    MAG 22" LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    An old Seagate 160GB HDD (7200rpm)
    PSU
    400W (peak)
just a note on that svchost, you can lower its usage by stoping a service named superfetch, that service is the reason for it being so high.

cheers
 

My Computer

System One

Some time back, MS updated the Windows Update software in such a way that it caused a memory leak on machines running the affected version of WU. That killed many of our machines until we isolated the problem and installed the latest update to Windows Update.

Don't have the pertinent KB # to offer right now, but it's worth a look at MS to make sure you're not affected. (FWIW, the machines affected on our campuses were all XP. This may not be an issue with Vista)

......
Forgot to mention that the effect of the memory leak was that we'd see SVCHOST instances running at 100 - 200 MB and CPU time in the 80-90% range. -- effectively killing the machine unless or until you reboot.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

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    Windows 11 Workstation
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    doofenshmirtz evil incorporated
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    Ryzen 9 5950X
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    Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Formula
    Memory
    Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO Black 64GB (4x16GB) 3600MHz AMD Ryzen Tuned DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    ASUS AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT 16GB ROG Strix LC OC
    Sound Card
    Creative
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    3 x27" Dell U2724D & 1 x 34" Dell U3415W
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 980 Pro 1TB M.2 2280 PCI-e 4.0 x4 NVMe Solid State Drive
    PSU
    1500W ThermalTake Toughpower
    Case
    ThermalTake Level 10 GT
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    Enermax Liqtech 240
    Mouse
    Logitech Performance MX
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    Surface Ergonomic.
    Internet Speed
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    windows 10
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