XP: Set the Number CPU cycles a Running Program Receives

Contributed by AlexTheBeast February 15, 2004  
Tagged: Windows

XP allows you to set the priority by which programs receive CPU power.

I always have several programs running at a time. Sometimes I want to direct which programs receive the majority of CPU slices.

To change the priorty of a running process do the following:

1. Hit CTRL-ALT-DEL
2. Select Processes tab in Windows Task Manager
3. Right click on the process you wish to change
4. Select Set Priority from the context menu
5. Set the Priority you wish:
[list] – Low
– BelowNormal
– Normal
– AboveNormal
– High
– Realtime

This new priorty will only stay in affect as long as that process continues to run. If you close or restart the process, you will have to change the priority again.