How to Make a Dream File Use Less CPU
Dream files contain all of the video, animation and image files used to create interesting scenes for your Windows desktop. The output from these files hooks in with the Desktop Window Manager and Windows Explorer executables. When a Dream file is running, the overall processor usage of both executables will increase. The amount of increase is dependent upon the processor and your particular Dream file. You can make the Dream file use less of your CPU by adjusting the file’s quality through the DeskScapes application and by lowering the Windows visual effect options.
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Instructions
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DeskScapes Performance Options
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Open DeskScapes by clicking “Start,” typing “deskscapes” into the search box and pressing “Enter.”
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Click the “Settings” link at the top of the DeskScapes interface. A Settings dialogue opens.
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Click and drag the Quality Setting slider to “Best Performance.”
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Select the “Advanced” tab and click to deselect the “Enable support for additional graphics cards (may increase CPU)” option.
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Click to place a check next to the “Pause dream when windows are maximized” option.
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Click the “OK” button at the bottom of the box to save your changes and close the Settings dialogue.
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Click the “Dynamic Dream Settings” tab at the bottom. This displays settings specific to your particular Dream file.
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Look for any settings related to entity amounts and animation. If you see an animation setting, decrease the speed of the animation. If an option is available to specify the total amount of particles, shapes, atmospheric effects or any other type of entity, lower the amount to increase performance. Click the “OK” button to save. If you ever want to change the appearance back to the way it was, click the “Restore “Defaults” button.
Desktop Performance Options
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Click the “Start” button. Type “sysdm.cpl” in the search box and press “Enter.” A System Properties window opens.
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Select the “Advanced” tab and click the “Settings…” button under the Performance section. The Performance Options window opens. These options control the Windows visual effects. Like the Dream file, these effects also rely on the Explorer and Desktop Window Manager executables. Disabling some of these effects will decrease processor usage.
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Click to deselect any effects you can do without and then click “Apply.” You can deselect everything but the “Enable Desktop Composition” and “Use Visual Styles on Windows and Buttons” options. Disabling either of these two effects will prevent your Dream file from working correctly. The more effects you turn off, the less memory and processor cycles the DWM and Explorer engines will consume.
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Tips & Warnings
You can pause the Dream file to free up system resources quickly by right-clicking your desktop and clicking “Pause DeskScapes.
The overall processor usage of each Dream file you try will vary.
