Classic eating all my cpu

Scott T · 03-04-2006, 11:51 PM

Classic is badly maxing out my CPU.
As indicated by Activity Monitor, starting any program in classic causes the TrueBlueEnvironment's CPU utilization to spike to 100% and stay there.

When switched away from the Classic program, cpu utilization drops to 5-10%. An old version of FileMaker Pro (3.0 v2), which I need for an old database from work, is almost unusable - missed and repeated keystrokes, missed mouse clicks, jerky mouse movement, generally the symptoms of an overtaxed cpu.

I had previously thought that TrueBlue was simply using the whole of the factory 512mb (on a 12" G4 Powerbook, 10.4.5 & 9.2.2), but today I installed a 1gb memory card and was disappointed to note only a slight improvement. Reinstalling classic (per the FAQ at this site) had no effect. This whole thing is not a problem on my dual-1Ghz processor G4 desktop, which actually has less ram but is smooth as silk under Classic.

Researching on the web and in Apple's KnowledgeBase haven't uncovered anything, and I'm fresh out of ideas. Is there any help out there?

chabig · 03-05-2006, 11:00 AM

You didn't say what kind of Mac you're using. But you did say you have a dual G4 desktop. Why not dedicate the older computer to OS 9 and run OS X on the dual G4?

Chris

Scott T · 03-05-2006, 12:14 PM

The problem is happening on a 12" G4 Powerbook, 3 months old. The thing is, the woman (She Who Must Be Obeyed) has pretty much taken over the desktop machine. I'm not "stuck" with the PB - it's a really great machine - but when I'm going to burn some hours taking care of some work, it works out better with me on the laptop.

chabig · 03-05-2006, 07:50 PM

Good reason. I have the same Powerbook you do, but I don't use Classic. I'm fresh out of ideas. Sorry.

Chris

styrafome · 03-05-2006, 08:12 PM

I don't have an explanation except to say I have seen this Classic behavior too. The only suggestion I can offer is to try using the minimum extension set and watch for background processes in Classic that might be causing the high CPU usage.

Scott T · 03-06-2006, 09:23 PM

I've done some more research on the 'web - it helps to spell "TruBlueEnvironment" correctly - and apparently this problem is endemic with Classic. More memory helps, more processors help, fewer extensions help, but nothing much cures the problem. There are plenty of theories as to "why", but no solid fixes. Some users are more sensitive to it than others, I guess, and Apple has little reason to burn resources on it. Guess I'm livin' with it. Thanks anyway.

Tuxford · 03-07-2006, 08:01 PM

I too suffer this problem. Seems the only solution is to restart Classic after a while. I believe the problem is getting worse with recent updates to Tiger. Apple seems intent on killing Classic. This is a sneaky way to wean us off our old ways. Too bad some apps aren't yet replaceable.

Tuxford · 03-07-2006, 08:23 PM

See this thread for a possible clue:
http://forums.macosxhints.com/showth...&highlight=MYM
I am experimenting with Energy Saver settings in OSX and in Classic. I had set my Classic to never sleep. CPU soon pegs to 100%. Setting Classic to sleep in 2 minutes, CPU usage is staying low with Classic running (for now). Perhaps this is causing problems. Anyone have another idea?

Scott T · 03-08-2006, 07:50 PM

I tried Tuxford's suggestion by setting Classic sleep in 2 minutes (was previously 15). No change in CPU utilization when in the classic program (Filemaker 3), but I did notice an odd thing: mouse-down-and-hold on the classic app window border, such as when resizing a window, utilization drops to almost nothing. Example: right now, I'm running Safari, Activity Monitor, and Filemaker. As I type this in Safari, TruBlueEnvironment is using 2.5 - 3.0% CPU. Switched into Filemaker, mouse up, TruBlueEnvironment uses 85 - 112%. Mouse down on window-resize hotspot, uses 1.4 -2.0%. Interesting.

Tuxford · 03-09-2006, 12:37 PM

Since changing from Classic Never Sleep to 2 minute sleep, I have not seen CPU usage peg and stay at 100% (Cee Pee You) as before. Now I have changed to sleep in 5 minutes, since I think this is the default setting for classic. Anybody know for certain what the default classic sleep setting is? Probably this setting is the best tested by Apple.

tlarkin · 03-09-2006, 01:55 PM

launch your apps and type the following code in the terminal.app:

Code:

top -s3 20

This will refresh your top 20 apps using the most resources every 3 seconds. You can try killing other applications running that are not related to the system (like other programs, ie office, etc) and see if it is conflicting with something.

Sono · 03-15-2006, 02:37 AM

The problem only arrises when you use Filemaker and … when there is a file (a database) open even when you are using another application whether it be Classic or Native OS X.

So the only workaround I found is to close all databases before switching to another application.

What I want to know, and what nobody could answer me, is if the Native (NEW) Version of FileMaker for Mac OS X is indeed solving this problem, because I suspect FileMaker to look at the network, the same as MS-Word does (Word is looking for a printer, even when you are just typing text).

Thanks for any confirmation or denial about the Mac OS X version of FileMaker.

Sono

Scott T · 03-17-2006, 08:27 PM

I've come up with a functional workaround - Sheepshaver. I managed to get it running, after some tribulations, and has so far been excellent. OS8, OS9, silky smooth and entirely configurable. It runs at "full speed", which is rather zippy on my PowerBook, and so far has been reliable.

It's unfortunate that it has been necessary to use such a roundabout technique to do what the system is supposed to handle on its own, but that's the way it is. Thank you all for your suggestions and help in this matter.

Pedro Estarque · 07-04-2006, 08:33 PM

I think it has something to do with the built-in 68k emulator that the classic OS had. I get the same result with 68k apps: Photoshop 3, Filemaker 3 and Calculator. Maybe it's trying to access hardware directly, who knows. PPC applications seem to run fine.

03-07-2006, 08:23 PM	#8
Tuxford Triple-A Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 97	Energy Saver & CPU usage See this thread for a possible clue: http://forums.macosxhints.com/showth...&highlight=MYM I am experimenting with Energy Saver settings in OSX and in Classic. I had set my Classic to never sleep. CPU soon pegs to 100%. Setting Classic to sleep in 2 minutes, CPU usage is staying low with Classic running (for now). Perhaps this is causing problems. Anyone have another idea?

03-09-2006, 01:55 PM	#11
tlarkin League Commissioner Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kansas City Posts: 11,347	launch your apps and type the following code in the terminal.app: Code: top -s3 20 This will refresh your top 20 apps using the most resources every 3 seconds. You can try killing other applications running that are not related to the system (like other programs, ie office, etc) and see if it is conflicting with something.

03-15-2006, 02:37 AM	#12
Sono Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1	FileMaker in Classic eating up all CPU under Mac OS X The problem only arrises when you use Filemaker and … when there is a file (a database) open even when you are using another application whether it be Classic or Native OS X. So the only workaround I found is to close all databases before switching to another application. What I want to know, and what nobody could answer me, is if the Native (NEW) Version of FileMaker for Mac OS X is indeed solving this problem, because I suspect FileMaker to look at the network, the same as MS-Word does (Word is looking for a printer, even when you are just typing text). Thanks for any confirmation or denial about the Mac OS X version of FileMaker. Sono

07-04-2006, 08:33 PM	#14
Pedro Estarque Triple-A Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 159	68k I think it has something to do with the built-in 68k emulator that the classic OS had. I get the same result with 68k apps: Photoshop 3, Filemaker 3 and Calculator. Maybe it's trying to access hardware directly, who knows. PPC applications seem to run fine.

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03-04-2006, 11:51 PM	#1
Scott T Prospect Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lodi, California, USA Posts: 10	Classic is badly maxing out my CPU. As indicated by Activity Monitor, starting any program in classic causes the TrueBlueEnvironment's CPU utilization to spike to 100% and stay there. When switched away from the Classic program, cpu utilization drops to 5-10%. An old version of FileMaker Pro (3.0 v2), which I need for an old database from work, is almost unusable - missed and repeated keystrokes, missed mouse clicks, jerky mouse movement, generally the symptoms of an overtaxed cpu. I had previously thought that TrueBlue was simply using the whole of the factory 512mb (on a 12" G4 Powerbook, 10.4.5 & 9.2.2), but today I installed a 1gb memory card and was disappointed to note only a slight improvement. Reinstalling classic (per the FAQ at this site) had no effect. This whole thing is not a problem on my dual-1Ghz processor G4 desktop, which actually has less ram but is smooth as silk under Classic. Researching on the web and in Apple's KnowledgeBase haven't uncovered anything, and I'm fresh out of ideas. Is there any help out there?

03-05-2006, 11:00 AM	#2
chabig Hall of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,930	You didn't say what kind of Mac you're using. But you did say you have a dual G4 desktop. Why not dedicate the older computer to OS 9 and run OS X on the dual G4? Chris

03-05-2006, 12:14 PM	#3
Scott T Prospect Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lodi, California, USA Posts: 10	The problem is happening on a 12" G4 Powerbook, 3 months old. The thing is, the woman (She Who Must Be Obeyed) has pretty much taken over the desktop machine. I'm not "stuck" with the PB - it's a really great machine - but when I'm going to burn some hours taking care of some work, it works out better with me on the laptop.

03-05-2006, 07:50 PM	#4
chabig Hall of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,930	Good reason. I have the same Powerbook you do, but I don't use Classic. I'm fresh out of ideas. Sorry. Chris

03-05-2006, 08:12 PM	#5
styrafome Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 3,818	I don't have an explanation except to say I have seen this Classic behavior too. The only suggestion I can offer is to try using the minimum extension set and watch for background processes in Classic that might be causing the high CPU usage.

03-06-2006, 09:23 PM	#6
Scott T Prospect Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lodi, California, USA Posts: 10	I've done some more research on the 'web - it helps to spell "TruBlueEnvironment" correctly - and apparently this problem is endemic with Classic. More memory helps, more processors help, fewer extensions help, but nothing much cures the problem. There are plenty of theories as to "why", but no solid fixes. Some users are more sensitive to it than others, I guess, and Apple has little reason to burn resources on it. Guess I'm livin' with it. Thanks anyway.

03-07-2006, 08:01 PM	#7
Tuxford Triple-A Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 97	I too suffer this problem. Seems the only solution is to restart Classic after a while. I believe the problem is getting worse with recent updates to Tiger. Apple seems intent on killing Classic. This is a sneaky way to wean us off our old ways. Too bad some apps aren't yet replaceable.

03-08-2006, 07:50 PM	#9
Scott T Prospect Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lodi, California, USA Posts: 10	I tried Tuxford's suggestion by setting Classic sleep in 2 minutes (was previously 15). No change in CPU utilization when in the classic program (Filemaker 3), but I did notice an odd thing: mouse-down-and-hold on the classic app window border, such as when resizing a window, utilization drops to almost nothing. Example: right now, I'm running Safari, Activity Monitor, and Filemaker. As I type this in Safari, TruBlueEnvironment is using 2.5 - 3.0% CPU. Switched into Filemaker, mouse up, TruBlueEnvironment uses 85 - 112%. Mouse down on window-resize hotspot, uses 1.4 -2.0%. Interesting.

03-09-2006, 12:37 PM	#10
Tuxford Triple-A Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 97	Since changing from Classic Never Sleep to 2 minute sleep, I have not seen CPU usage peg and stay at 100% (Cee Pee You) as before. Now I have changed to sleep in 5 minutes, since I think this is the default setting for classic. Anybody know for certain what the default classic sleep setting is? Probably this setting is the best tested by Apple.

03-17-2006, 08:27 PM	#13
Scott T Prospect Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lodi, California, USA Posts: 10	I've come up with a functional workaround - Sheepshaver. I managed to get it running, after some tribulations, and has so far been excellent. OS8, OS9, silky smooth and entirely configurable. It runs at "full speed", which is rather zippy on my PowerBook, and so far has been reliable. It's unfortunate that it has been necessary to use such a roundabout technique to do what the system is supposed to handle on its own, but that's the way it is. Thank you all for your suggestions and help in this matter.