Yeah it's true.It may be different for another computer but since I reverted back to v1.6 my CPU usage is under control.So methinks that the Gamebox exe is crap.

Stopping processes is a different matter, but that's also something you can do more safely yourself. Not safe as in "Oh my this program will steal your viruses and infect your bank details", safe as in you can shut them down properly and not just kill the processes.
I've never needed to clean boot, the trick is to not have a million and one software daemons running from things you've installed that think they're important enough to justify an always-on element, and actually closing down applications. Everything else is snake oil. You can't "clean RAM", because reading and writing to RAM is almost a free action it's so fast relative to everything else, you can't intensify processor performance because most of the time you can't change that through software, and if you can you damn well shouldn't do it automatically.

Obviously you're free to use a third party application half-based on proven useless techniques if you wish, though.

I'm running 1.51 - so can't speak for later versions at all.




I'm fully aware of "snake oil" tactics - in fact it's used by like everybody in the world since the stone age so not particular for Gamebooster. Basically, you have to be a critical consumer, esp. when it comes to free stuff as they tend to want to lure you away to paid versions etc. It has been the same since forever for almost all freeware so again not particular for Gamebooster. It works perfectly fine for what I want it to do, i.e. keep track on unnecessary processes, shutting them down if I want and restarting them if I want. Haven't noticed anything "unsafe" at all with it really. Basically, I think you guys have a point but are over-reacting. Gamebooster doesn't even register on my OMG! radar. :shrug:

Here's one example of the importance of shutting down processes, regardless of which method you're using: http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1165908-oblivion-wont-start-even-with-mods-disabled/.

An antivirus interfering with the ability for an executable to hook into another one and make large changes in-memory is not a particularly unexpected turn of events, though. That's what they're there for.

What I mean by unsafe isn't that gamebooster may do anything without telling you, or steal your data, or even phone home - I mean that for many applications there are shutdown procedures, and often an automated tool can't follow them, this could cause errors in bad scenarios. If you use gamebooster, that's pretty okay, but I can't honestly recommend it over other solutions.

Here is some good news for Gamebooster fans.

Just for today (5/26), Gamebooster Premium v2 is freely given away on Giveawayoftheday.com (A legit site - I know and have dl'ed from it in the past, and am not affiliated to it).

http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/game-booster-premium/ is the link.

Spread the word to your gamer friends and family. It helps both the website and them! :goodjob:

@those running versions other than 1.6 and later; It seems to me that for most things on the net, if you stick with something and never updating, you don't get any problems. Always trouble with updated version. Somewhat related, I stuck with skype 4.2, as 5.x+ has issues =/. Updating these "enhancement/performance" apps are just bad news.

hmmm, I dnno I have 2.3 and it definately frees up a massive amount of cpu and ram for me... and it's not the paid for "full" version either. /shrug, it even has a modestly effective defrag. Anyway just my two cents, the old versions gave me FAR more trouble than this one has tbh. Also is that free full version thing legit?

Edit: I'll be... It is a legitimate registration key... Excellent haha, I just upgraded what I already had downloaded.

Thanks for that

I've been looking at various performance enhancers for Oblivion, and this one obviously has some support. Is anybody familiar with the tweaker http://www.bitsum.com/prolasso.php? The gaming mode for that re-allocates unused CPU cycles to the game, allowing full use of multi-cores for a single app/game (Oblivion). I definitely noticed a increase in performance while running it with Oblivion, but I am always hesitant to use programs like that and GameBooster. Can anybody else vouch for the performance gain of GameBooster?

I'm of the same mind as you, however I did download Game Booster today thanks to the free link provided above. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm not holding my breath for anything amazing. To reallocate CPU cycles from other processes would require altering the kernel as far as I know, and that's a bad thing. However it's probably just altering the process priority and affinity, but these can also be a bad thing if you don't know what you're doing.

I'm aware of the dangers, and ran it in Safe Mode quite a few times before trying it with Oblivion. I believe the CPU cycles is a side-effect of the main function, PL automatically switches the system to high performance, and suppresses the non-essential background processes. GameBooster doesn't appear to have any kind of FAQ, but from I gather it does pretty much the same thing. PL definitely helped my heavily-modded Oblivion game, though switching power/performance modes every time I launch and exit Oblivion likely isn't helping the longevity of my hardware.

Still reeks of snake oil to me, free or not. There are no magic bullets.

CNET seems to think rather highly of both apps, and I definitely trust the Editor reviews. That said, I agree there are no magic bullets. These apps have manual over-rides that can easily frag your system. I say use with discretion, and make sure to have your Mobo create a log file of the changes inacted by these programs when used with a game.

I don't consider CNET a terribly trustworthy source on these matters. I've downloaded stuff they endorsed before that still turned out to be malware. I've learned to trust my own gut more, and my gut says this program is simply bad news.

Good morning from The Poconos!

Just wanted to add my 2 cents (is it still really worth 2 cents in this new economy?).

There are things on my PC that I love and can't live without (Wrye Bash and mTes4), things I hate but have to use anyhow (iTunes... damn iPad!), and a few things I consider helpful in the day-to-day maintenance and smooth running of my home net. Game Booster falls into that last category for me. I am in the Pro-GB user camp. And while I respect everything that has been said here by people I admire for having way more tech-talent than I do, I can only give my assessment based on use. And I use it almost all the time. So I can offer some stats based on my machine to explain why it's on my quick launch bar.

First some caveats. I run a decent rig. It holds 4 GB of memory and runs WinXP 32bit. (So I drool when I hear talk of you guys being bummed when your Oblivion install bombs out at 3+GIGS!) waaahhh! <_< LOL It also acts as the media server for the house so re-booting is always a last resort. (I would rather face a cave full of Goblins than a young girl finding out she can't reach Facebook!) :ahhh: Also, I am one of the dummies who doled out the 10 sheckies to own the most current version of GB (I think it's 2.3). On top of all that, GB has been with me since early on so, like anything, it's been tweaked to all high heavens. (Whitelists, blacklists and finding out my wife actually needs to print something on the network so I can't stop the print spooler. How Rude!) :flame:

So, to make a long story short (too late for that? :facepalm: ), here's the basics. On average, when idle my machine uses about ~940MB of memory and is running about 72 or so processes. After hitting the GB Gaming Mode it is using up about 730MB of memory and around 38 processes. This CANT be bad! :rock:

One last thing, I find myself running this in the tray a lot more than just while I'm gaming, Firefox will always steal a few more MBs if it can and Wrye Bash can get over a gig on a long haul, so having the extra memory around doesn't hurt. And what most people say is a reboot, I almost get the feeling I can do a "quasi" reboot by stopping and starting GB.

I didn't think I had that much to say. Wait until you all get a look at my upcoming re-install epic of "Life (and Death) in Tamriel" or "man, I used up FCOM to death, it's time for a lil bit of TIE" :biggrin:

One thing I'll say is I definitely won't be using those "Performance Tweak" in GB. For one I can find no specific information on what it does. And two, what I can find from screenshots is that it alters the registry. If there are changes being made to the registry for performance they're going to be made by me, and not some secretive automated process.

Even after the rounding endorsemant I just gave it, I agree 100% with this. Although I think they are just the Windows tweaks found in system properties, way too secretive for my taste. Besides, I can bork my own registry fine on my own! :brokencomputer:

I use GB to shut down unnecessary programs while I game. Simple. I find it easy to use, and it frees up memory that Oblivion can now hog. Does it work? I really have not benchmarked it, but my machine runs fine with it on. My machine may run fine with it being off too - who knows?

Funny that I posted the link to the free version that was valid only until yesterday, but I myself forgot to dl it once I got home. :facepalm: Oh well, GB v 1.6 has served me well, and will continue to do so.

As an IT engineer I know there are several manual tweaks that can be easily applied with knowledge, but when it comes to switching off processes just to run a game, which you then maybe need afterwards, I'd go for the software that has it automated - that alone is worth having this app - I wouldn't pay for it though, I'd only go for the freeware version, so the free premium version was a nice bonus

I suppose whether to use GB or not basically boils down to how familiar you are with the inner workings of your PC. On my machine, GB made zero difference in performance. Reason being: I have a very streamlined system to begin with. I built this computer with the intent of it being a gaming machine, so, unnecessary processes/services are removed from startup/disabled. If have a whopping 17 processes running at startup, and page file usage of under 230 mb once things settle down. (about three minutes after logging in.) The system is still fully functional, does everything I ask it to, and gives me zero problems. I have never seen a bluescreen, or, had an app tell me that it couldn't start because of some service or other is not running.

I run XP Pro, 64 bit. I love it.

I don't think this is fair... however...

This is precisely what I think makes the difference between the ability to start and stop processes. Whether it's a dedicated machine or not. As opposed to the home workhorse.


Can ya still get copies of 64Bit XP? I think I would rather stick with XP on this machine than jump into 7 just for breaking the 2 Gig barrier.

First remark was just a generalization. Not intended as an insult to anyone. My apologies if anyone took offense.

Not sure if XP64 is still available or not.... maybe on Amazon, or similar sites.... I doubt MS is still selling it. Main problem I have with it, no one seems to write printer drivers for it...... so, If I want to print something, I have to transfer whatever files to another machine, and print from there. Annoying.... but, not enough so to prompt me to "upgrade"..... to Vista, or Win7.

there's still some "magic" that booster application can do.
1. clean unused memory granted to processes - it applies only if process still running suffers from memory leak - system keeps the memory until program termination, booster can free it much safely (false-positive almost never happens)
2. defragment memory - it fastens PC if those is running for more than 24 hours (hibernation just pauses the run not stops) - more time and more action you do more you get, but remember to defrag memory once a bigger while and not run it constantly
3. utilize better the swap (it can force something to be or not in swap memory)
4. batch process the processes priviledge - it do process you want (probably Oblivion) have granted more time based resources
5. freeze processes - it stops processes and makes able move whole to swap - and it's better than kill because you can unfreeze later
6. and most mysterious - edit hidden windows options aka registry tweaks

Defragment memory? Erm, due to the very nature of memory, I think that would be a rather futile exercise. By the time it even came close to being 'done', everything in memory would have changed......

Well i don't know about GameBooster, however when i modded Dragon Age Origins and discovered its hideous memory leakage issue, the third loading screen almost every time CTD (The texture packs were the issue) so i did a bit of searching and came across CleanMem; this is from the ReadMe:



There is also a really really really long version in the ReadMe, so if you want it then you could just go an get it, the website is PCWinTech.com they wrote it so i wouldn't download from anywhere else. Also, i run 6GB of RAM haha, so it is a bit pointless but this snippet from the long version sold me:



EDIT: After posting, this seems less relevant then when i thought about it but i'll leave the post for you/moderators to decide