[Ham-Computers] DOS under WinXP and CPU usage?

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

Phil,

I don't have an answer but if you get one that doesn't go to the list, I am 
also interested.  I run a commercial grade accounting package (SBT) under dBase 
5.  And have a similar CPU (3.1 gHz Intel) running under W2K.  Currently, 
when I start the accounting package, CPU utilization goes to around 25%.  
However, over the past two or three years with progressively earlier Microsoft 
stupid-fixes and Service Packs it has run as high as 70%.  And does not seem to vary 
at any given OS update level with how many other applications I am running, 
at least if they are basically idle.  At this moment I'm running SQL Server, 
Norton IS 2005, Norton Ghost, EasyMedia 6.x, a Seiko lable printer, two 
instances of IE-6, Compuserve 7.x and a postage printing program.  And CPU utilization 
hovers near zero unless I do something in one of them.  Until I start the 
accounting package in which case it zeroes out at 25%.  Which incidentally is I 
think the lowest it has ever been.

In a message dated 12/11/2006 11:10:16 PM Central Standard Time, 
ndb_fch-344 at sbcglobal.net writes: 
> WHY would a simple DOS logging program demand so much CPU resources 
> (essentially one 3.4GHz P4 processor at 100% load).  Especially since the 
> logging program is sitting idle MOST of the time, and since it will run just 
> 
> fine on an old XT, obviously doesn't require much "Horsepower"!
> 

Robert Downs - Houston
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