Maximizing Performance

Willybobo · 10-12-2006

I am running Windows XP on a 2.6 GHz Celeron with 512 Megs of RAM. I recently installed a chess program that is causing my CPU to run at 100% capacity while it is open. Normally, my PC runs at 1% capacity with approximately 50 processes and several other open applications. Is there any way I can run my computer more efficiently, perhaps by restarting it with only the bare essentials? How do I go about doing this?

Bluefish · 10-12-2006

Hey Willybobo!
Welcome to PC Helpforum!

You can change the programs that start-up with your computer (and thus take some cpu/memory usage), via Start -> Run.. -> 'msconfig', Startup tab.

Also, what kind of Chess program are you running?

Bluefish

madmonkey · 10-12-2006

Hello willybobo, and welcome to PHF.

I don't believe there is anything wrong with you PC. It may well be the way the chess program was written to cause it to run at 100% capacity, such as waiting for an event. Something as simple as constantly checking for a keypress can cause this. You would probably find the same problem if a PC was sent to you by God himself with a 182 GHz God processor and a billion terrabytes of RAM!

Anyways, Bluefish is right, the easiest way is to use msconfig to disable what you don't need. However if you really did want to start from scratch, you will need your Windows installation and recovery disks.

Bluefish · 10-12-2006

Originally Posted by madmonkey

However if you really did want to start from scratch, you will need your Windows installation and recovery disks.

That's won't be necessary.

Willybobo · 10-12-2006

Originally Posted by Bluefish

Hey Willybobo!
Welcome to PC Helpforum!

You can change the programs that start-up with your computer (and thus take some cpu/memory usage), via Start -> Run.. -> 'msconfig', Startup tab.

Also, what kind of Chess program are you running?

Bluefish

I'm running Chessmaster 10th Edition. I am aware of the msconfig utility, but I don't use it very often. Should I just uncheck all of the boxes under the startup tab, or are some of them essential.

Isn't there a way to do this with one click under the general tab?

Here's another issue I have that’s somewhat related. I was just upgraded to the new McAfee Security Suite. I learned from their tech support forums that there is no way to shut down the application completely. Can you believe that! I unchecked 11 boxes under the services tab in msconfig, and I was ale to restart without the McAfee icon in my system tray. However, I think there may have been other remnants running anyways (the McAfee SiteAdvisor utility was still active in my Firefox Browser).

Do you have any suggestions on this?

Bluefish · 10-12-2006

Yeah but you might want to keep your virus scanner or firewall e.g. still starting up.

On the McAfee, you can uninstall it if you don't want to use it anymore?

Willybobo · 10-12-2006

Originally Posted by madmonkey

Hello willybobo, and welcome to PHF.

I don't believe there is anything wrong with you PC. It may well be the way the chess program was written to cause it to run at 100% capacity, such as waiting for an event. Something as simple as constantly checking for a keypress can cause this. You would probably find the same problem if a PC was sent to you by God himself with a 182 GHz God processor and a billion terrabytes of RAM!

Anyways, Bluefish is right, the easiest way is to use msconfig to disable what you don't need. However if you really did want to start from scratch, you will need your Windows installation and recovery disks.

I’m considering starting from scratch as soon as I get a backup hard drive, just to have a good restore point, but I don’t want to go that route just for the game.

Is running my PC at 100% capacity indefinitely going to damage it in any way?

10-12-2006	#1
Willybobo Bronze Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 67	Maximizing Performance I am running Windows XP on a 2.6 GHz Celeron with 512 Megs of RAM. I recently installed a chess program that is causing my CPU to run at 100% capacity while it is open. Normally, my PC runs at 1% capacity with approximately 50 processes and several other open applications. Is there any way I can run my computer more efficiently, perhaps by restarting it with only the bare essentials? How do I go about doing this?

10-12-2006	#2
Bluefish Elite Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Holland Posts: 2,211 PC Experience: Very Experienced	Hey Willybobo! Welcome to PC Helpforum! You can change the programs that start-up with your computer (and thus take some cpu/memory usage), via Start -> Run.. -> 'msconfig', Startup tab. Also, what kind of Chess program are you running? Bluefish __________________ PCHF Rules - You're Welcome! What's inside my PC? - Prework

10-12-2006	#3
madmonkey Site Manager Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: South Wales Posts: 8,981 PC Experience: ...	Hello willybobo, and welcome to PHF. I don't believe there is anything wrong with you PC. It may well be the way the chess program was written to cause it to run at 100% capacity, such as waiting for an event. Something as simple as constantly checking for a keypress can cause this. You would probably find the same problem if a PC was sent to you by God himself with a 182 GHz God processor and a billion terrabytes of RAM! Anyways, Bluefish is right, the easiest way is to use msconfig to disable what you don't need. However if you really did want to start from scratch, you will need your Windows installation and recovery disks. __________________ <br />

10-12-2006	#4
Bluefish Elite Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Holland Posts: 2,211 PC Experience: Very Experienced	Originally Posted by madmonkey However if you really did want to start from scratch, you will need your Windows installation and recovery disks. That's won't be necessary. __________________ PCHF Rules - You're Welcome! What's inside my PC? - Prework

10-12-2006	#5
Willybobo Bronze Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 67	Originally Posted by Bluefish Hey Willybobo! Welcome to PC Helpforum! You can change the programs that start-up with your computer (and thus take some cpu/memory usage), via Start -> Run.. -> 'msconfig', Startup tab. Also, what kind of Chess program are you running? Bluefish I'm running Chessmaster 10th Edition. I am aware of the msconfig utility, but I don't use it very often. Should I just uncheck all of the boxes under the startup tab, or are some of them essential. Isn't there a way to do this with one click under the general tab? Here's another issue I have that’s somewhat related. I was just upgraded to the new McAfee Security Suite. I learned from their tech support forums that there is no way to shut down the application completely. Can you believe that! I unchecked 11 boxes under the services tab in msconfig, and I was ale to restart without the McAfee icon in my system tray. However, I think there may have been other remnants running anyways (the McAfee SiteAdvisor utility was still active in my Firefox Browser). Do you have any suggestions on this?

10-12-2006	#7
Willybobo Bronze Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 67	Originally Posted by madmonkey Hello willybobo, and welcome to PHF. I don't believe there is anything wrong with you PC. It may well be the way the chess program was written to cause it to run at 100% capacity, such as waiting for an event. Something as simple as constantly checking for a keypress can cause this. You would probably find the same problem if a PC was sent to you by God himself with a 182 GHz God processor and a billion terrabytes of RAM! Anyways, Bluefish is right, the easiest way is to use msconfig to disable what you don't need. However if you really did want to start from scratch, you will need your Windows installation and recovery disks. I’m considering starting from scratch as soon as I get a backup hard drive, just to have a good restore point, but I don’t want to go that route just for the game. Is running my PC at 100% capacity indefinitely going to damage it in any way?

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