PCBoost is a Windows utility from PGWARE. It tries to make the program you are currently working in run faster by giving it a larger share of processor time. It targets demanding foreground software such as games, video editors and photo editors. It works on desktop and notebook PCs with both 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows. PCBoost is commercial software with a downloadable trial; a purchased serial number turns the trial into a licensed copy.
Boosting the active window
Windows hands out processor time according to process priority. When programs compete for the CPU, Windows serves a program with a higher priority class before ordinary background tasks. PCBoost uses this mechanism automatically. It keeps track of which application is in the foreground, meaning the window you are actively using. It raises that application’s priority above everything running behind it.
When you switch to another window, PCBoost returns the previous program to its normal priority and applies the boost to the new foreground application instead. The effect follows your focus from program to program, so only one application is favored at a time. PGWARE calls this soft overclocking. The processor’s clock speed stays the same, but the work you are watching gets first claim on the CPU.
Moving work to idle cores
On processors with more than one core, PCBoost also looks at how busy each core is. It assigns the foreground application to the least-used core. The program therefore does not have to share a heavily loaded core with background activity while other cores sit underused.
Block list for incompatible software
Raising priority does not suit every program, and some applications slow down or crash when their scheduling is changed. PCBoost ships with a built-in block list of applications that should never be accelerated. The list is fully editable. You can add a program that misbehaves under the boost or remove an entry you do not need. PCBoost leaves listed applications at their normal settings.
Acceleration settings
After setup, PCBoost runs in the background and needs no interaction for the boost to work. Users who want more control can change how fast PCBoost accelerates applications. They can also choose which programs to exclude from acceleration and decide whether PCBoost starts automatically with Windows. Updates can be installed from inside the program.
Processor benchmark
PCBoost includes a processor benchmark test that gives an estimate of how fast and how stable the computer’s CPU is. It offers a quick point of reference for the processor alongside the acceleration features.
