XP has a setting in the control panel, under SYSTEM-then aADVANCED tab,PERFORMANCE click SETTINGS then ADVANCED and there is a setting that is set to default for the processor usage and memory setting that allow it to "adjust for best performance of programs" I noticed that too when I first got XP. When working with Bryce you can click the "minimize" button on the top right and then select whatever else you may have running on the taskbar.