How to lower CPU usage?

[Tereadia]

My host is complaining that my CPU usage is too high.

This was it a few days ago:
CPU:7.69
Memory:0.2
Mysql:0.2

This was it today:
CPU usage: 9.65
Memory usage: 0.19
MySQL usage: 0.2

The funny thing is that this is the CPU usage for just one zencart store, MagicShopInc.com even though there are 2 other zencart sites on the same server not causing any problems. This site has almost 7000 products on it, and the others don't, but I didn't think that would cause such a CPU problem. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

[yellow1912]

Your cart version? Modules installed? Also, turn off unnecessary things such as the who is online sidebox

[mprough]

I just posted on this last week, some helpful stuff pro-webs.net/blog/2009/03/17/5-easy-things-to-make-zen-cart-cook/

Pay close attention to the Zen Cart list and also watch the number of products in new, special and featured. These display randomly and if you have say 300 products on special they all have to be queried.

~Melanie

[Tech-E]

With a site that large, your server activity could be due to search engine spiders. They love large sites. I ALWAYS find spiders in my ZC site, even though it is not very large.

You can check for spider activity in your server logs or by viewing Who's Online under Tools in the Admin area.

[Tereadia]

Thanks so much for these tips! I'm reducing the number of Specials as we speak. I've turned off the who's online sidebox and a couple others that aren't necessary and hopefully that will help a lot. I'm running 1.3.7 but I've been meaning to upgrade, although I've heard that wouldn't solve the CPU problem. I don't even have any fancy add-ons on the site.

Thanks again! I'll be back if it doesn't help significantly enough to get LunarPages off my back.