High CPU usage, speed slows after short while

[Bryan Garvin]

I just rediscovered this screen saver on my NAS after years. I used to use it all the time but had forgotten about it but want to again after remembering how awesome it looks. Configured it on my current PC and after fiddling with the monitors settings got it to cover all three screens (1080p x 1440p x 1080p). However when I preview it it starts at whatever speed I set but as the screens populate with more characters (20-30 seconds in) it slows down significantly. I can tell from the LCD display on my keyboard that my CPU usage kicks up a bunch when its running about 12-15% more than idle (from 38-39% to 50-53%) w/ my current set of programs open in the background. I have a pretty beefy PC (VGA card is old compared to the rest):

Intel Core i7 6700K

ASRock Z170

32GB DDR4

Samsung 500GB SSD

MSI HD6950

1000W Corsair PSU

I vaguely remember years ago seeing significant CPU usage but don't remember the animation slowing down. This CPU is significantly better than my past ones and isn't maxing out so I'm a bit confused here. The only thing I can think of is the number of pixels its driving,almost equivalent to a 4k monitor in total. When I run it without any defined monitor settings it covers the top 1/5 of each of my 1080p monitors and the top 1/3 of my 2K monitor and doesn't slow down or raise the CPU usage at all. Anyone seen any behavior like this or have any ideas on how to fix it?

Thanks for any help,

Bryan

[kshipp]

Bryan,

Not sure exactly, but it shouldn't be slowing much on today's computers, unless you have a LOT of background processes running.
You mention that it runs great with the original display settings, but when you tweak them, it's slows a lot. My guess is that your settings may be incorrectly high, causing it to paint off-screen a lot, which could slow it down if those were exaggerated.
Post your Display Settings here and we can review.

Another suggestion is to uninstall the screen saver and re-download it from my website and install it again.

It should work fine, unless you're using a very old video card with large monitors.

Thx.

[Craig]

I experience the same issue.
But if I let it run for a while, the pace picks back up.
Happens whenever it starts, no matter the trigger, and often it takes it 15 or so seconds to even start.
Anecdotally, I'd say it takes a minute or two (haven't actually timed it), but once it picks back up it runs just like it always did.

I do intentionally paint offscreen because I have one of my three monitors in portrait orientation, so it makes the canvas much taller than it would normally be and offscreen for the other two monitors.
It's also a little taller than it needs to be to force the clock off the screen as well... But that's a matter of a few pixels in height.

I'd post my settings, but am not anywhere near my computer right now.

All that said, in my case I'm pretty sure it is a Windows 10 issue, as the exact same hardware with the exact same screen saver settings had zero issues on Windows 7.

So I've chosen to just live with it, but if a good fix were found I'd definitely like to reap those benefits.

Thanks!

[kshipp]

I haven't tested this on Windows10, but what you suggest certainly makes sense. The poor souls at Microsoft keep screwing-up each newer operating system.  Windows 7 works great - just leave it at that.  :)
I have no short-term plans to do anything special for Windows10.  Microsoft needs to wake up.

[Craig]

Totally agree.
No complaints towards your awesome screen saver, just providing information.
Thanks!!