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Windowserver takes too much CPU

Windowserver takes about 30-48% CPU (usually during scrolling but basically during any graphical activity).


OS: 10.7.2

HW: 13", Mid 2009, 2.53GHz C2D, 8GB RAM DDR3


Resetting PRAM and NVRAM didn't help. I've tried to uninstall Parallels Desktop 7 but it didn't help. I have another MBP late 2008 that runs without that issue.


Do you know what could be the reason and how to fix it? Or at least how to trace the issue (debug mode of windowserver or dtrace etc....) Thanks a lot.


Regards

Jaroslav

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Nov 6, 2011 6:31 AM

Reply
3 replies

Nov 7, 2011 3:37 AM in response to jkprg

Although System Informatition doesn't say anything about Quartz or Core Image


Chipset Model: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M

Type: GPU

Bus: PCI

VRAM (Total): 256 MB

Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)

Device ID: 0x0863

Revision ID: 0x00b1

ROM Revision: 3427

Displays:

Color LCD:

Resolution: 1280 x 800

Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)

Main Display: Yes

Mirror: Off

Online: Yes

Built-In: Yes


Quartz Composer doesn't make windowserver busy (about 9%). Windowserver gets busy during ordinary 2D operation like scrolling and window motion.


I was playing with Activity Monitor's Sampling. It seems most of the time is spent by

  • 40% mach_msg_trap in libsystem_kernel.dylib
  • and 40% mach_msg_overwrite_trap
  • the rest are gfx calls


I measured that during scrolling in iTerm.app


Any idea what to do next? Thx

Windowserver takes too much CPU

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