Topic: VWS is a computer hog

[mblanton]

I am running an OS WMR-968 which communicates with my computer through Virtual Weather Station (latest version).  Even with the software set to use minimum resources it significantly slows my computer and makes it nearly impossible to use the PC for anything else.  I have a Pentium 4, 3GHz machine with 2 GB ram.  Anyone have any experience speeding up VWS?  I don't have a second computer to dedicate to VWS only.

Mark

[Weather Display]

try slowing the communication rate down, e.g to 5 seconds, if set faster
also minimise the amount of graphics on the VWS desktop maybe

[GVaughn]

I run VWS on a Pentium 3 800MHZ with 500 MB ram - it does eat the cpu at times but I also run 4 other programs that do graphing and web page creation (one set of 2 run every 2 minutes and the other set of 2 every 5 minutes).  I also have some other jobs that run on demand - triggered by file receipts on a linux box.

You might look at getting a cheap used computer - most cities ahve dealers in them.

Gvaughn
www.dawiz.net/Weather2/wx.htm

[sam2004gp]

I run mine on a Pentium II 300MHZ with 384MB RAM.  I run VWS, Cobian Backup, FWINK, Webcam, Fling, Executive Disk Keeper, and a program to monitor to my inbound/outbound traffic usage (I forgot the name of it, but I think Axelvoid/Lars recommended it to me).

On the average I run about 40% processor usage with all the above programs operating at the same time.  I usually restart the machine about once a month, more out of habit than necessity. 
To get your VWS cpu usage down.  Do not use VWS's ftp upload functions for your website.  I turned off VWS's ftp and used Fling and that really cleared things for me. 
Also it helps that you use a dedicated machine for your WX stuff.  My WX box is for the station only.  I "created" the box with a fresh clean install of Win XP and then Nothing else is installed, except what is listed above. I uninstalled/turned off all of the "cute garbage" in Win XP that I found was not needed.  That really helps.

[Anthony]

VWS is far from a resource hog. Like Sam. I run VWS on a bare bones pentium 433 (I think), with less than 256 megs of ram and it runs just fine. FWINK on the other hand. There a resource hog if you ask me.

[stevebrtx]

I'm running on a little HP Slimline Celeron 1.6GZ and 1G ram, typically VWS, CuteFTP, Firefox, Eudora, Open Office, firewall, Avast open etc. and no problem at all, VWS is using 38M of memory and it's varying from 4-8% CPU usage. The HP only uses about 40W of power VS my big Sony which eats 100W and in MX we count every watt.

[sam2004gp]

VWS is far from a resource hog. Like Sam. I run VWS on a bare bones pentium 433 (I think), with less than 256 megs of ram and it runs just fine. FWINK on the other hand. There a resource hog if you ask me.

Yeah, Fwink uses more than VWS on my machine.

[W3DRM]

I run mine on a Pentium II 300MHZ with 384MB RAM.  I run VWS, Cobian Backup, FWINK, Webcam, Fling, Executive Disk Keeper, and a program to monitor to my inbound/outbound traffic usage (I forgot the name of it, but I think Axelvoid/Lars recommended it to me).
...

Can you find out what program you are using for in/out traffic usage? I am interested in looking at those stats - thanks...

I have always experienced high cpu usage with VWS. Based on Task Manager displays, it usually runs near or at the top of the list of cpu usage at 60 to 95%. So, saying VWS is not a cpu hog may be true for some but not for others.

[sam2004gp]

It's called Netmeter, and can be downloaded here.  
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Network-Tools/Bandwidth-Tools/NetMeter.shtml

other additional info about it.....
http://www.metal-machine.de/readerror/index.php?PHPSESSID=e52dc96221dd408abe6f425eb61fc1e9&

[W3DRM]

Thanks Sam! Will have to watch it to see what it shows. Nice tiny display too.

[sam2004gp]

No problem.

[Anthony]

VWS is far from a resource hog. Like Sam. I run VWS on a bare bones pentium 433 (I think), with less than 256 megs of ram and it runs just fine. FWINK on the other hand. There a resource hog if you ask me.

Yeah, Fwink uses more than VWS on my machine.

I totally agree.