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Load Avg using top command
Authored by: roncross@cox.net on Feb 20, '04 03:52:55PM

I believe that a better indicator of how hard the CPU is working is the load Avg in the top command. If the load average is less than 4, then you are probably not consuming a lot of the CPU resouces and programs do not have to wait to have access to the CPU. If the load average is between 4 and 10, then the system is overburden and programs may have to wait to gain access to the CPU. If the load average is above 10, then you are probably consuming excessive CPU resources and programs may be denied having access to the CPU.

For example on my computer right now. the Load averages are .50, .38, .29 I rarely see it ever go above 1 so this mean that are my programs have access to the CPU without having to fight over resources.

thx
RLC

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rlc



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Load Avg using top command
Authored by: adrianm on Feb 21, '04 03:12:02AM

That means that you don't use your Mac for anything :)



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Load Avg using top command
Authored by: roncross@cox.net on Feb 21, '04 05:17:37PM

My loan average is now 1.54, 1.73, 1.94. It does change depending on what I am doing. My only point is that a lot of discussion is on top to determine %CPU usage when all I want to say is that load average is a better estimation of you %CPU usage. %CPU for top is pointless as most other people on this site have pointed out already.

thx
Ronald Crss

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rlc



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