I guess the experts will tell you that 37 minutes is the true CPU time allocated to BOINC. It implies you have other task(s) running. Have a look in the Task manager (left click start bar and pick).

Two things are possible:

• One or more other processes are taking up the CPU.
  
• Check to ensure the science app is actually running. Check the BOINC Manager to ensure the the app is running and CPU Time is accumulating. You can also check the Task Manager to see if it's running. I've seen from time to time (mostly on Linux) where the science app is loaded, but not running, thus not accumulating any CPU time.
  

Hi Pete M,
The first thing that I suggest is that you take a look at the 'Useful Utilities' thread at http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/forums/wcg/viewthread?thread=2490 You will want to download a temperature diagnostic such as Mother Board Monitor and perhaps other diagnostics. In particular, I recommend Belarc Advisor. Last year I had a similar problem with a member in Italy who had a program similar to ThreadMaster on his computer named CPUIDLE (all capital letters). That one really puzzled us since Task Manager showed most of the cycles being used by CPUIDLE but we did not realize that it was not cpuidle. What type of computer are you using? Is it a laptop? Sometimes laptops have special programs to slow down the CPU when it overheats. If you are running 12-20%, what does Task Manager say is running 80-88% on your system?

Lawrence

Oops this calls for the Heavy Duty Doctor: .....Hide'n'Seek?
... registry settings and other traces of its activity. ... Service processes are not visible in Task Manager under Windows ... was the rst known Windows 9x full stealth virus but it did not ...
www.blackhat.com/.../bh-europe-04/bh-eu-04-erdelyi/bh-eu-04-erdelyi-paper.pdf - [cache] - - Ask

Stealth Service Processes not visible in Task Manager

Pete,

Glad to hear you've got it licked. Don't worry about silly, it happens to everybody

You might consider overclocking (OC) if you want to speed up the processing but be darn sure you know what you're doing first. OC can give significant speed gains on some CPUs, very little gain on others. And if you don't know what you're doing you will destroy the CPU very quickly.

If you're interested then Google around for OC sites and forums and read, read, read. Get an idea of how much extra you can get out of your P4 versus how much work it will require from you. Often it isn't worth the effort, sometimes it is. Sometimes your BIOS and mobo make it very difficult to OC while others are cake. Get the free CPU-Z utility, see what you've got under the hood. See if your BIOS allows adjusting Vcore, FSB, clock and clock multiplier and other settings. Get a manual for your mobo and see what you can do with the jumpers. Some mobos have free utilities that make OC easy. Pay close attention to your CPU and mobo temperatures and be prepared to add extra cooling. Sometimes the time and money spent on extra cooling isn't worth the speed gain.