JAVAW.EXE slows computer to a crawl
 

I'm running WinXP Pro on

PIII 500
384 MB RAM
1.5GB Pagefile
50% of 146GB storage available across 4 drives

JRE 1.4

I have no performance problems with any other program I run, not even when I run OE6, IE6, VS .NET and MSDN .NET all at the same time.

But even if I run LimeWire with nothing else running in the background, Javaw.exe soaks up a minimum of 50% of the CPU usage, and usually bounces back and forth between 65% and 95% usage.

I literally cannot do anything else with the computer when LimeWire is running which makes it more or less useless to me, so I thought I'd see if anybody knows what's going on before I uninstall it.

Things, that can slow down LimeWire are:

- a couple of files, you are sharing
- LimeWire acting as an Ultrapeer with lots of connections
- downloading many, many files
- a bug that is yet to be found (but I'm almost sure, it's there)

I should have also mentioned that I'm on a cable modem conection, and:

I've tried disabling/enabling Ultrapeer

I've tried setting shares to 0

I generally do not download more than 5 or 6 files at any one time

None of it had any effect on the problem.... it can just sit there doing nothing and the CPU will be pegged at 60%+ by Javaw.exe

CPU usage
 

I have noticed in the versions of LimeWire after (but not including) 2.2.0, the CPU utilization at all times is extremely high, often bouncing up to over 90%. This is the reason I am still using 2.2.0. It is still there in the CVS version as of a few days ago.

Setting the process priority down helps some, but it still bogs down the system. I am going to be forced to move to another client if this is not fixed.

Thats odd, my limewire 2.3.1 only uses 10% cpu when a few uploads/downloads, and 5% when idle (10 ultrapeers connected) and 0% when disconnected from gnutella. And were talkin' Celeron 400mhz on XP :eek: :( :rolleyes:. You wouldn't by chance be using any of Stardock's products (WindowsBlinds, CursorXP, WindowsFX)? I find they despise and interfere heavily with anything Java (those three in particular). Fortunatly, most have an exclusion list u can add "javaw.exe" to. If not you don't use any of those, try temporarily disabling yer virus scanner, I keep finding an increasing number of problems with them, most of which slow a computer to a crawl or crash it incessantly. My two cents,

-Dividend

Possible cause
 

I've been experimenting with sharing different numbers of files and when I share a lot fewer files, my CPU usage goes down. It's possible that the code that looks up matches for incoming searches was changed in 2.2.1 and it now uses a lot more CPU.

I read in the Limewire FAQ that it is safe to open the task manager and set the priority of Limewire to BelowNormal or Low.

I have XP and Limewire eats up resources too. That's Java for you. Its portable, but runs like a piece of crap.

I have to ask, is this Limewire's fault for using Java, or is Windows just not friendly with Java and this is MS's fault?

If Limewire doesn't improve in the next 6 months I won't be buying the Pro version again when my subscription runs out.

-Brian

I've not paid for it yet, and I don't know that I will unless they address this issue..... it's particularly annoying when that box pops up on startup telling me how hard 7 programmers worked to make LimeWire for me and won't I pony up some cash for them.

I'll be happy to buy Limewire..... as soon as they fix it to where using their software doesn't turn my PC into a gigantic paper weight.

Thanks for all of the info everyone. We need to know a couple of things:

1) are you running as an UltraPeer when you see these CPU percentages (you can tell you're an UltraPeer if you have connections labelled as "leaf")

2) how many files are you sharing? do you see CPU usage go up if you share more files or down if you share less?

3) how many connections are you maintaining (in the connections tab)?

4) how fast is your web connection?

5) how fast is your machine (CPU)?

Thanks very much.

I've just installed Limewire, I saw the link to the forum so though I'd take a look.

After reading this thread I opened the task manager and checked out the CPU performance. It's averaging at around 4%, and occasionally peaking at 14%. Interesting.

I'm running:

1.3Ghz Athlon
768 meg
Windows XP Pro

Has there ever been any mention of difference in performance for AMD compared to Intel processors? I don't believe that a PIII 500 should struggle as much mentioned earlier.

Also, any performance difference between JRE 1.3.1 and 1.4?

First impressions on LimeWire - great for downloading music.

Cheers
Col