I just recently began paying attention to my CPU usage while BOINC is running and I noticed that it behaves in a manner that I consider...odd. I'd like to know if it's normal or not. I have my CPU usage limited to 40% but instead of running a (more or less) constant 40% it spikes to 80% for a second and then drops to 0%. While that DOES even out to 40% it also makes my fan spin up and slow down constantly, so I was wondering if this is normal and if not if there's anything I can do about it.

CPU: Core 2 Duo E7500
BOINC: 6.10.18
Projects: rosetta and seti

Normal.
So many seconds on, so many seconds off, to give the required average.

If you're doing this to control temperature, then consider setting it to 100% and giving Tthrottle a go.

edit
Too slow again.:)

Thanks I saw the thread about that shortly after I posted, t's not so much the temperature as the oscillating fan sound that was annoying (now that my video card is quiet enough to not mask the CPU fan). I'll check out Tthrottle.