[Andy_25]

Hi,

Like the title says, is it normal that my CPU usage in task manager jumps 100% when printing, and stays there until the print is finished? In other words, my computer becomes extremely slow when I print something, even a text document in Word. The same thing happens with both my Lexmark 3200 (with the "hacked" install) and my old HP Deskjet Plus (which is supported by Win2K).

As far as I can remember this sort of thing didnt occur in Win98. Any ideas anyone?

Thanks,

Andy

[Igor]

Not that I've noticed.. I have Epson 800 and I can use the system while printing. It does seem a bit slower. Also tryed with Epson 440, HP 6L, Cannon 4000/4200 all on different systems and they appear to use some resources but definatly not 100%.

[Arin]

actualy i think it is normal, usualy when you first launch stuff, it jsut says 100% but then it goes right down. does your stay up at 100%, because that would not be normal


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Amd k7 500 w/ 3dnow and mmx. :: 192 mb sd100 ram.
Biostar m7mka mobo. :: 32x toshieba cd rom. :: 2x write 4x read phillips cdr w/ adaptec scsi. :: Winfast nvidia geforce 256 ddr 32mb w/ tv out. :: Diamond monster mx 300 Sound. :: Standard Floppy. :: 5 speakers including a subwoofer. :: Us robotics external 56k modem x2 v.90. :: Intellimouse explorer. ::
Standard gateway keyboard. :: 17 inch gateway ev700 monitor. :: Epson stylus color 600 printer. :: Info scaner. :: D-link 10/100 mbit ethernet lan card. dfe-530tx+ w/ wol. :: Windows 2000 Professional.

[Andy_25]

Yeap, it stays at 100% during the printing. It's really annoying because it's hard to do anything else meanwhile. I have no clue as to what could be causing it...

Thanks,

Andy

[Corinthian]

Tweaki...for Power Users http://www.jermar.com/
It has an option under 'Performance Tweaks' to 'Increase application performance during print jobs'.
Maybe this could help ?

[euankirkhope]

Try this:

goto device manager,
find your parallel port
It should be ECP/EPP preferably
enter its properties and select "try not to use an interupt"
or "don't use an interupt"
that way your printer won't interput the PC for every data transfer (as long the printer/PC is ECP DMA enabled or EPP aware(?))

[spacey]

well i have a deskjey 820cxi and it does take up 100% cpu according to task manager when printing... meh :P

[DocSilly]

Same happens to me, 895CXi, printing a lousy small Notepad file eats 100% CPU cycles for almost complete time of the printjob ...
Anyone got any ideas ?

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DocSilly members.bigfoot.com/~albern

[Andy_25]

euankirkhope: I checked the interrupt think, and it was already set to "never use an interrupt". Is that what you meant? I really find it hard to believe that Win2K is supposed to take 100% power for printing.

Thanks,

Andy

[euankirkhope]

yeah i thought that there was some sort of problem with win2k controling your parallel port.

I quickly then discovered that NT doesn't use an interupt in the first place (mostly, for that good stability). The reason it takes 100% is due to the spool priorty setting, and the hardware protocol your printer uses to print.

To fix it change the priorty setting using either the service manager or download the tweakui thing above.

Incidently I don't have a problem with slow downs or anything when printing, and my PC also hits 100%. I know a fair bit about how printers print, I'm not really suprised as thers almost an infinte ammount of ways of sending the data (about 5) and the last thing NT wants to see is a tiny parallel port hanging the system... unfortunatly most printers use the most inefficient protocols for compatibilty.

[This message has been edited by euankirkhope (edited 21 March 2000).]

[vf]

The way to reduce cpu usage should be to make windows _use_ an interrupt for the parallel port. Otherwise win always has to ask if new data is to be sent out to the lpt, and that causes the 100% usage.

But as euankirkhope already said (and also windows-help) - that can produce new issues you maybe don't want to deal with...


[This message has been edited by vf (edited 23 March 2000).]

[nova]

Hi there!

Maybe some of your printers are so called GDI printers?

GDI printers contain far less intelligent electronics than normal printers, and the computer's CPU has to do most of the printer's calculations! See, I have a HP DeskJet 720C, which is a GDI printer, and when I print something, I also have 100% CPU load, but this is totally normal for this type of printer!

The reason why GDI printers exist in the first place is that they are less expensive to manufacture, and can be sold for lower prices.

If you have a fast CPU, there's nothing bad with having a GDI printer.

nova.

[Andy_25]

Yeah, my printer is a pretty cheap Lexmark 3200. So I guess it's one of those GDI printers. But what I don't get is why this didn't happen in Win98? Today I printed some cd-cover photos and it took ages, much much longer than it did in Win98. I always thought Win2K would handle this kind of stuff more efficiently. For example, someone once posted a message here saying that in Win98 his scanner took all the CPU power, but in Win2k he can scan, surf the net, etc. , all at the same time. But I guess it could be the Lexmark drivers; they are releasing the new ones quite soon (fingers crossed). By the way, my CPU is a Celeron 450. Would you say that's a fast enough CPU for a "GDI" printer?

Thanks,

Andy