Should by CPU be intermittently spiking when syncing blockchain?

[go1111111]

I've downloaded the entire blockchain about 3 times on Bitcoin-QT (v0.8.5.0-gef14a26-beta, the 'raring ringtail' edition). Once on Windows 8, once and Linux Mint 15, and now I'm doing so again on Linux Mint 15. The previous times I don't remember Bitcoin-QT having any significant CPU usage while syncing. However this time, QT will consume over 200% of CPU (I guess "top"'s calculation gets messed up by multiple cores) for 5-10 minutes at a time, then goes down to 1-2% for ~20 minutes, then the CPU spikes again.

Is it normal for QT to work this hard when syncing the blockchain for the first time? Is it simply "scanning the blockchain"? Or might there be an issue with my QT installation / data?

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[BookLover]

I run Linux Mint 12 and and I can get cpu spikes of over 400% .  I have a RAID 5 array and since the main bottleneck on sync speed is your hard drive, I can sync a lot faster then the average person.  Peer speed and internet speed can also affect your sync speed. 

What is most likely happening is you managed to connect to some faster peers and as a result are managing to stress your cpu a little.  It is nothing you should be worried about.