High CPU usage in VLC even when video is paused and not playing

[realflow100]

Happens all the time with absolutely any video format.
Doesn't happen with audio-only formats.
Also does not happen when i disable video output.

I get pretty much 100% CPU usage and laggy stuttery video no matter what kind of acceleration settings I use or renderer like openGL 2D 3D directX GDI output
even force enabling hardware acceleration uses no difference in CPU usage.
I have a decent 3.240Ghz dual core CPU 6mb cache

and 4GB ram windows 7 ultimate 64-bit

Tried installing 32bit or 64bit VLC version. also tried many other things

it uses like 5-20% CPU even when PAUSED and not playing at all!

WMP on the other hand uses 0-5% CPU on full 1080p60FPS content and 0-20% GPU

and VLC uses 100% CPU and 30-50% GPU on the same file.

What do I do? Just use WMP for everything now? I cant play .it or .xt type audio files in WMP and i dont feel like setting up codecs for it

this CPU usage thing happens with any video format

except i don't get this problem with WMP. plays smoothly even at 2x speed of a 1080p video!!
Even full quality bitrate bluray 1080pHD plays buttery smooth in WMP
and VLC it breaks up horrifically and displays distorted video and freezes the whole time with 100% CPU and 12-83% GPU

I've tried everyyy setting under the sun to get VLC to playback video smoothly and nothing helps!

edit: anyone got any ideas to resolve the high CPU bug? Ive got a GT 710 2GB super-overclocked and 4GB ram so that shouldn't be the issue.