XORG Processor spikes

[BoDiddley]

I noticed doing a web search that several people, mostly Ubantu users were having a problem, like myself - with processor spikes on XORG - running up to 30-40 % every minute or two. Also, of the posts I read all were AMD64, again like myself.

The final problem I had to conquer in my Debian/Lenny - initially, build on ReiserFS was Java. Java is not working on websites I try to view (2).

After much wrangling I was able to get Java to work by uninstalling Iceweasel, and installing Sun-Java6-bin. Sun-Java6-bin actually installed Iceweasel with it. Java worked.

However, I began to notice that my fan was running constantly, and my CPU monitor was showing activity when there should be none.

So I went back to wrangling with Java. Unfortunately it was a one shot option. Now no combination of Sun Java will work. I was never able to install default-jre, because of missing and broken where fix would not work (this is probably due to my install method - maybe).

Now I have Sun-Java6-bin installed, again installing Iceweasel after it - but no Java, and back to being a quiet processor - with no spikes from XORG.

The pleas on the Internet was for AMD to work this bug. I think Java may be the missing link. I only know this because I loaded Java last.

Fortunately, I am not a developer, I have no real need for Java. Very few websites, at least none of my favorites - are using it. Flash player-nonfree works fine.

It also bears mentioning that like the other two similar situations I browsed, I too am using Nvidia, on a Compaq Notebook (HP). However, they reported that their problems affected VLC - freeze moments. I have no such problem. VLC works fine.

Any suggestions?

[BoDiddley]

I am updating this for the benefit of other AMD users:

One non-crucial component I overlooked in customizing my build was:

<package> AMD64-libs.

After installing this my system runs better (I can load the processor without the fan running at high speed), and my Internet experience is greatly enhanced.

Still no java - but at this point I feel that I have simply not cleaned the remnants of previous installs well enough.

If you are running AMD64, do not overlook this package.

[BoDiddley]

OK, this is what worked for me. Remember this is after I installed AMD64-libs.

Sun-java6-bin is not installed.

First, I was working with the wrong package. I was able to get it to run poorly the first time by installing sun-java6-plugin.

Cleanup:
apt-get purge java-common
apt-get purge sun-java6-jdk (the correct package - not previously mentioned)
apt-get purge sun-java6-jre
apt-get purge Iceweasel

reboot
delete .tmp files
#java -version (not installed)

apt-get install sun-java6-jdk
installs all 3 of the above purges except Iceweasel

apt-get install sun-java6-plugin
installs iceweasel; xulrunner

Reboot.

Java now works like a charm. I monitored processes; #top; no cpu usage by xorg; java; or firefox bin - above 10.

Before, I got just enough of a taste to know it would work, but it was not installed properly. Research did the rest.

Done.