How many processes should ideally be running?

deathwinger · 07 Sep 2010

Hi, right now on my system I have these things running

Google Chrome
3 PDFs in Adobe Reader
Call of Duty 4
Digsby
Free Download Manager
Steam

As of now, I have 120 processes running. Is this normal for Windows 7 or in order to get ideal performance, there should be less running?

I use this computer for editing and would like to know how much more performance I can get out of it that might be held back by the unnecessary processes.

Thanks.

fseal · 08 Sep 2010

Well that depends on how much memory and CPU you have... The i77 20 is ok, and memory will be fine till you run out. The computer will be fast fast fast right till then then be horribly slow :) THEN you know you better shut dome programs down...

I only have 75 processes running with Normal windows, MSE, WHS connector, IE, a game open and WMP12 running. Looks like you may have a larger than normal number of things running. But just check your CPU usage and your emmory usage in the task manager, if your not close to maxing them out then your ok.

SlackerITGuy · 08 Sep 2010

deathwinger said:

Hi, right now on my system I have these things running

Google Chrome
3 PDFs in Adobe Reader
Call of Duty 4
Digsby
Free Download Manager
Steam

As of now, I have 120 processes running. Is this normal for Windows 7 or in order to get ideal performance, there should be less running?

I use this computer for editing and would like to know how much more performance I can get out of it that might be held back by the unnecessary processes.

Thanks.

Seems a little high TBH.

I usually disable unnecessary services every time I do a fresh install of any Windows version (Black Viper's Web Site has one of the better guides for this on his site, so check him out).

Here's my Task Manager with Steam, ~3 tabs of Google Chrome, Digsby, avast! Free Antivirus, PC Tools Firewall Plus, D3D Overrider & Team Speak 3 all running.

marsmimar · 08 Sep 2010

I concur with SlackerITGuy. The number of processes on any given machine really depends on what programs are installed and what is configured to run at start up. While task manager gives a basic overview of the processes that are running, a free utility called Process Explorer from Microsoft will give a lot more info. You can either install it on your machine or run it in your browser (right column, "Run Process Explorer now".

Process Explorer

Zepher · 08 Sep 2010

I've got 128 processes running.

deathwinger · 08 Sep 2010

Lol I just looked at my processes and I now have 128 running.

The cpu usage hovers around 3-5% and the memory usage is 35%.

However, after rendering a huge file in Premiere Pro/Media Encoder, I feel like the computer takes quite a while to 'recover', in terms of the memory is at 90% used up to ten minutes after the render is complete.

I was wondering if the processes amount would have had anything to do with that.

pparks1 · 08 Sep 2010

With regards to the number of processes running...while some people prefer to shut off what they deem "unnecessary" services...what may not be realized is that 1 or 2 running processes could improve performance. For example, I have an SSD drive for my OS and people always say "disable superfetch, it isn't needed". Well, my computer is simply faster with superfetch enabled.

On my work computer, with a few of my daily apps open, I'm sitting at 65 processes. So, a reasonably light load. That's running Trend AV, outlook, an instant messenger, our checkpoint security suite, some remote desktop connections, etc.

deathwinger · 08 Sep 2010

Zepher said:

I've got 128 processes running.

Hey, I'd like to get a Hi rez shot of your workspace there. I'd like to see your workflow with three screens.

What graphics card you got there powering all that and what are the connections?

Zepher · 11 Sep 2010

deathwinger said:

Zepher said:

I've got 128 processes running.

Hey, I'd like to get a Hi rez shot of your workspace there. I'd like to see your workflow with three screens.

What graphics card you got there powering all that and what are the connections?

In the pic below I was running a GTX285 and a 9600GT, all DVI. I don't do too much editing on this machine so I sold the 285 to a friend who is shooting a documentary using a Canon 7D, and the 285 helps out a lot with his workflow using the Mercury Playback Engine.
I went with an HD5850 so I could do Eyefinty and use 1 card for the 3 screens. 2 DVI and 1 Display Port to VGA adapter.

Maxxwire · 11 Sep 2010

Years ago when I was trying to tame Vista's 137 services I discovered some excellent step by step advise on how to safely do so at the BlackViper website. Originally my Win 7 x64 computer was running about 56 services some of which were for printers, fax machines, wireless internet access and other services which I have no use for so I disabled them knowing that if I should need any of them in the future I can always start them again with the click of a mouse. Since thinning out about 20 unneeded services in Win 7 it now has between 35 and 38 services running after its 21 second boot to the desktop according to the Windows uptime clock.

~Maxx~
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