Seems like I read this somewhere, but can't recall for sure...does the BOINC manager, even when running at 100% while your computer is operating, somehow give priority to other processes?

The reason I ask this is you would think at 100% CPU usage the system would be slow for other tasks, and mine is not. In fact, there doesn't seem to be a performance hit at all with regards to other programs I'm running.

Just curious...Jeff

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BOINC itself uses only CPU cycles when it is uploading/downloading results. At other times it is the science application running under BOINC that takes up the CPU cycles. Yet these science applications are programmed to use the lowest possible priority, meaning that when another application (at a higher priority) asks for CPU cycles it will (almost) instantly get them.

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Gotcha...Thanks!

Actually, it seems like some things are snappier than before, maybe cause the CPU is already at 100% when work needs to get done (versus ramping up the CPU to 100% like normal).

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The funny thing is, your CPU is always running at 100%. It cannot be turned off without powering down the computer.

It's just that Windows has a little program called System Idle Process that will take up those CPU cycles if you are not using them. :)
But this program doesn't put the CPU under load, which the science applications under BOINC do.

So a PC can happily run 100% idle for days on end without heating up, but once you start running BOINC, it will heat up. Making sure the fans inside your PC aren't clogged up with dust helps a lot! And that's all fans, for your GPU, CPU, PSU and however many you have as case fans.

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