Comment 17 for bug 449196

"X is a server which responds to client requests. If the client is posting a lot of requests it will drive up the CPU usage on X; this is not an X bug but rather an issue in whatever client application is driving X too hard. For assistance in troubleshooting issues with high CPU loads for X, see this troubleshooting guide: http://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Troubleshooting/HighCPU"

well, i knew that, and i'd poked around through all that before i posted, but i figured i'd better check it out again before replying. i've since messed around with different scenarios the last couple days.

the behavior i described in my previous post still seems accurate. i only get the high cpu if i have another gui login on another vt like vt8 or vt9. the cpu doesn't ramp up afaict unless i start an app in that second session. it doesn't appear to matter which app. once that happens, the high cpu does occurs, and behaves as described in my previous post in some detail, including the high cpu switching to whichever xorg process *doesn't* currently have the console.

i don't pretend to understand x11 except from a high level and very abstract pov - but could it be a kdm thing? (oops - forgot to mention i'm using kde.) anyway - i ask that just cause it seems like the possible connection re the high cpu usage "migrating" to whicever xorg process *isn't* currently being displayed.

just whatever i've gathered - hope it helps.