Windows 7: How effective is WOW64 sub-system?

As we know while running a 64-bit Win OS and running 32-bit applications (most of them) they'll be running through WOW64.

I've noticed Windows 7 x64 7600 is eating CPU for some minor 32-bit apps quite some. Didn't happen with Vista 32-bit.

Also, explorer.exe seems to be constantly eating CPU 8-11% whilst in Vista 32 it was almost always 0%.

Just some technical replies would be great here!

Firsst things first could we have your system specs

Ken

Intel Pentium Core Duo E2200 @ 2,20GHz
NVIDIA GeForce 8500GT 512MB
2* 1GB PC2 667MHz

Indexing Score is 4,5:

sourceX

thanks for the specs what 32 bit apps are running?

Ken

Well,

Combined Community Codec Pack
CoreAVC
Creative drivers
foobar2000
Foxit PDF Reader
M$ Silverlight
Java
OpenAL
uTorrent

Basically explorer.exe is the one that acts kinda weird: CPU usage varies 8-11%

I am running Win 7 RC x64 with 8GB memory on a Core 2 Duo CPU, and I have one of those little applets that tracks CPU and memory on the desktop. I seldom see it go past 30% of memory used, and CPU is always under 30%. My app profile looks similar to yours, I don't do any app dev or use any x64 apps on this site, nothing intensive like movie editing etc. Even when it runs backup it's around 30% CPU.

My experience and with speaking to others, you can't even really tell when something is in WOW64 vs. a true 64 bit app. I have run Firefox x64 and it feels the same (except that a bunch of add-ons don't run in x64 ).

I suspect part of your CPU use is due to the memory you have, there is probably a little more swapping etc. going on. Adding memory will help the CPU usage.

Maybe it depends on what kind of folder you open in Explorer and what folderview you selected (ie images, documents video, etc.)

In Folders with a lot of images or video in it, the explorer will start to cache thumbnails and thus use up more recources. This will pass after they have been cached.

Also it depends on if the folder in question is being indexed or not.

You can always turn of indexing for that folder and see if it helps.

I have indexing off all together because I am so organized I never have to search for anything.

good luck