I'm a bit mystified by something that seems very strange, and I hope someone here can provide some clarification.

Without detailing my system (not really necessary), suffice to say its overall performance with UD agent typically ranges anywhere from about 129 to 139; IIRC, I think I might have actually observed it as high as 141 to 143. Most of the time -- about 16 hours/day -- I'm active on my computer with a number of other programs running at the same time, such as my calendar, word processor, browser, antivirus, and even a couple of other programs, and my system usually seems to be rated at somewhere around 134.

Now, when I had to leave on Friday and expected to be gone for one, or possibly two nights, I closed down every program I wouldn't need -- everything I just listed above, including even my antivirus program, since my firewall would be sufficient. My thoughts were that this would maximize available RAM, as well as eliminate unnecessary CPU cycles for things like periodic backups, updating my clock display and news ticker, notifications of email, daily virus scan, etc., and thereby provide UD agent with maximum resources. But after being gone for more than 24 hours, I returned, checked my UD agent, and was surprised to see that my system was rated -- at least for that work unit on which it was then working -- at a very low number (it was late and I don't recall exactly, but I think it was either 108 or 112 or something like that -- VERY low). What I don't remember is how long it had been crunching that particular WU, but it seems like it wasn't one of those real long ones that took a couple of days, and I think that's right because this device has posted points everyday (if it was working on a unit that took longer than 24 hours, then there should be one day without any points, or at least low points one day and high the next, correct?).

Now that I am back using my computer with a number of programs running, and naturally am also using CPU cycles for things like typing out this message, my UD agent is now rating my device at 139. This present WU was begun over 12 hours ago while I was still in bed, so maybe that makes a difference.

So, my questions are: if I free up some RAM by shutting down programs, but I do that AFTER a WU has already started, does UD agent begin using that additional RAM for that current project? If so, does the rating for that device ever change during the WU (I've never actually noticed)? If it doesn't change, how does that reconcile the difference in points that I would have received; e.g., if I have two identical computers running identical WUs, but one minute before the WUs are assigned, I shut all other programs down on one computer while letting them continue on the other until just a minute after the WUs are assigned. Let's say that one computer is rated at 139 and the other is rated at 112, even though -- except for 2 minutes -- both computers have identical resources available to UD agent, and I would expect them to both complete the WUs in about the same amount of time. Are points assigned strictly on the basis of the device's displayed rating that is, presumably, determined at the beginning of the WU, or is there anything that compensates for the things I've just mentioned. Finally, if UD agent does NOT take advantage of additional RAM when it becomes available, is there not some way to fix that, because I'd assume that it will always work in reverse of that, i.e., if plenty of RAM is available to UD agent, and I start up additional programs, I expect UD agent to surrender whatever I need -- if it truly isn't supposed to have any impact on my other computer activities and performance.

Hope someone here can answer some of my questions.

Cheers.

Bill Velek