I’ve been using Avast! for roughly 3-4 years now (ish) and this is the first major problem I’m running into. For no reason, that I can see… (no new programs installed) today I found that Avast will go to 30-60% CPU usage (randomly) and cause my Fans to increase in speed. That’s how I notice it actually… is I hear my fans kick up and then I check my temps and they’re pushing 60C+ when I’m normally in a good 30-50 range.
No games running, no software; just at my desktop. I know this is Avast causing the issue because the Icon in the Notification area is spinning and as soon as I disable the shields for a few moments, my fans and heat return to normal. If I put the shields back on… it’ll randomly happen again after a few minutes.
Any ideas? Can I some how check to see what it might be scanning when that happens?
Edit: Seems to be the Web Shield, and all I have open is Chrome right now on the Avast Forum, editing this post. (avast! Service 32-bit is what’s using a lot of CPU)
I’ve had Avast! for all these years and it’s never behaved like this before; even with all my activity on my computer that I’ve ever done over all those years.
I did track the issue down though; Steam was downloading a game. (I’ve downloaded over 400 games from Steam and never had this happen) When I paused Steam… Avast chilled out. Resumed the download… Avast went crazy.
I understand that the spinning notification icon means it’s actively doing something; I’m not that Green. However it’s never caused my Temps to go into the 60C+ area and cause major heat issues before. That’s quite an alarming concern, if Avast is going to cause overheating issues. Ever since the download has now finished; Avast is chill, and my temps are at 25-29C.
It was a 30 Gig Download; and thankfully I had it downloaded within 8 minutes. What if someone else, with a slower internet connection was attempting to download the same thing and hadn’t caught the heat issue? It might have overheated their CPU.
Just a heads up/warning for anyone else out there that sees the same thing!
Couldn’t this be a forebode of hardware trouble - graphical card - mem problems?
(dirt causing to sink overheating, vacuum clean the sink).
These abnormalities about to happen could cause Avast or any resident software for that matter to behave rather strangely.
Did you experience any errors, BSODs, screen flickerings?
Does not have to be anything wrong, mabe the system is healthy.
I posted just to open your eyes to other options/posibilities/causes.
A 30 GB download is massive in today’s terms. On a 1.5 Mbs connection here, it took 20 hrs to download a 40 GB file, plus another 8 hours to do a 15 GB game update file.
Avast was doing it’s job despite the virtual streaming torrent you experienced at your ?? 40 + Mbs connection?? Volume of data would’ve meant avast would’ve had to commandeer a significantly greater amount of cpu time than normal to scan all that data coming in, and thus drawing more power. More power=more heat.
Running such a torrent would stress your system beyond what you normally would see in normal use.
Routine maintenance of a desktop, laptop, or tablet would call for canned air cleaning at least twice a year to blow out accumulated dust and dirt. If not done, expect overheating symptoms to eventually arise. Power off your system (remove battery if necessary) and clean/blow out when system has had a chance to completely cool down. Best to do outside if weather permits as if not done recently or never done, there can be quite the duststorm when using canned air.
Your garage can also be used.
Back in the day, your 52k modem would not have worked as it would’ve taken far too long.
I do appreciate you attempting to bring other possibilities forward Polonus. No BSOD’s / Screen Flickers / Or literally anything else that would relate to system issues. I’m 105% confirmed it’s Avast!
I completely disagree with the theory presented however. Using that theory then I should be having/seeing the spikes in Temp Usage without Avast! The only time I ever see these issues now is when I’m downloading a game through Steam and Avast! is running. As soon as I disable Avast! then the temps all return to normal; Avast! is the cause and I’ve proved that theory here by doing those basic ‘tests’ by trying it with and without Avast!
If what you’re saying is true; when I disable Avast! and download from Steam then I should still have the high-heat issue and my fans should kick up. However, they do not. So that throws out your theory of it being hardware problematic.
I actually came back here today to completely confirm this issue with Avast! and Steam downloads. I started download Farcry 4, and Logo Jurassic World just this morning; and the problem happened again. I think it was a total of 40-50 Gigs to download from the both of them; as soon as the downloads started Avast! kicked in and caused all my temps to fly up. As soon as I disabled Avast! the temps and fans returned to normal.
@mchain: Torrents are completely out of the equation because I don’t use them. Don’t like them, usually don’t trust them, so I don’t use them. I never mentioned I was using Torrents in my original post either; so you’re confused there. I’m not reporting issues with Torrents; they’re like call girls in NYC, you’ll never know what you might wake up with.
I’ve used Avast! for years, and I’ve downloaded Steam Games for years. This is the first time it’s ever done this. I’m not sure if it’s something with a new/recent update… but I’ve downloaded even GTA V over Steam for PC (60+ Gigs) and it did not do this for that game awhile back. Something ‘new’ in Avast! is causing this, I believe at least.
I appreciate the responses and assistance; please don’t take my response toward either of you as unpleasant. Now, I’m more interested in figuring out how I can Exclude Steam from all of Avast! scans. Could someone help me with that?
