Comments on: iTunes pegged my CPU at over 130%?

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 12:15:00 +0000

I have a single core processor (G3 800MHz), and I’m seeing top reporting iTunes using CPU of up to 124%. this is with OSX 10.4. Any ideas why that would be?

By: Stuart Colville

Stuart Colville — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 07:58:54 +0000

@Feaverish, Mackie, Johan, David: Had to be didn’t it. Though it would be nice if top reported only up to 100% for a dual core CPU as that would make more sense imho.

@Christian: Quite probably!

By: David Emery

David Emery — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 07:18:18 +0000

As you’ve got a dual processor system, and iTunes is multi-threded, the number can indeed go above 100% – you have 200% to play with.

By: Johan M

Johan M — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 06:54:24 +0000

The CPU load maximum is per processor (or core). Since your MacBook Pro has two cores, the maximum is 200%.

By: Chris Heilmann

Chris Heilmann — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 06:11:46 +0000

My guess is that the CPU blushed at the sight of what you store on the iPod. This caused more heating and the system read this as more processing. That’s where the wrong number came from.

By: Mackie

Mackie — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 03:38:11 +0000

Apparently with dual processors you can go up to 200%. I found this out after I bought my first dual processor Mac four years ago, and imported lots of things at once in iTunes.

By: Feaverish

Feaverish — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 01:32:34 +0000

With two cores (or processors) you can get up to 200%. A lot of system monitors (MenuMeters, et al.) average the processor loads and only output up to 100% (which would mean both cores are pegged at 100%, for 200% total).