mwille64
Been contemplating this one a bit further you could be short on memory. The application takes around 75Mbytes of RAM to operate. If you PC is already up against it memory wise running your other applications. This may be causing the other applications to slow as application data is swapped out to your hard drive to make room for WCG. I'd recommend at least 256Mb RAM in an XP machine (512Mb would be better)

I remember the days of the Sinclair ZX81 when you could get a memory upgrade to a full 16K (not M) of ram. It was delivered with just 1K (1024 Bytes). It had a Z80 processor that ran for then an unbelievable 4Mhz

Hope this helps

Regards

Dave

It sounds logic, but doesn't reflect my experience. The performance is definitely effected when I deselect the "Run Only As Screen Saver" option.

I have definitely sufficient memory (768 MB) with an average utilisation of 50% when the grid software is running. I also have a decent machine (compaq nx7010 series)

mwille64
I've had a look at your PC spec and I think it's running a Pentium 4 M (for Mobile) Processor.
Looking through intel's data sheet reveals that it has "Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology" which is used to save battery life by slowing down the processor when its running on its batteries. However there is also this nugget of info

"
• Improved Intel Thermal Monitor mode.
— When the on-die thermal sensor indicates that the die temperature is too high, the
processor can automatically perform a transition to a lower frequency/voltage specified in
a software programmable MSR.
— The processor waits for a fixed time period. If the die temperature is down to acceptable
levels, an up transition to the previous frequency/voltage point occurs.
— An interrupt is generated for the up and down Intel Thermal Monitor transitions enabling
better system level thermal management."

This could be what is slowing your Laptop down. When the agent runs flat out (When you deselect the run only as a screensaver option) the core temperature of your processor is going to climb this would cause the above feature to click in possibly causing the slowdown you are experiencing. What do you think could we be onto something?
It might be possible to change the power options in XP so this feature is not enabled but your fans would come on more often.

This "feature" is also enabled in the fastest P4 chips on the market and when they get hot, as these fast chips do, they slow down which is not why you paid over the odds for the fastest processors. See this article in Toms Hardware for reference What happens to fast P4's when they get hot

I could be wrong (I've been wrong in the past) but it's an idea to explore.

btw The Ram pack on those ZX81's used to fall off crashing hours (days) of lovely BASIC programming 10 GOSUB 50

The kids of today eh
All the best, keep crunching
Dave

No, it is not a heating issue.

The laptop is just fine. The Intel Processor Utility shows everytine I test 1.6 Ghz speed. Also, the Grid software doesn't run on battery, only with the power supply plugged in. Hence power save settings do not apply.

My observation shows that due to the processor running always at 100%, the system slows down in a moment a new task kicks in (starting a programm) and also when hard disk access peeks. In particular if these tasks are processor and memory intensive.