Win Tips 
     by Dave Dryer

     Background                                                       
              
     An Operating system is a collection of tasks that manage the 
     resources of a computer.  One of the most important of those 
     resources is time.  In a multitasking operating system like windows, 
     many tasks can run concurrently.

     For Computers, the word concurrent means "appears to be happening at 
     the same time."  A PC with only one processor can only do one task at 
     a time.  However, if windows divides computer time into small enough 
     slices, many tasks can get a slice of computer time often enough to 
     fool the user into thinking all the tasks are running all the time.

     In the windows 386 Enhanced mode, the time slice is measured in 
     milliseconds. When windows installs, the slice is set to 20 
     milliseconds.  This default value was chosen because it works well 
     on all machines that windows must run on.

     Tuning the time slice length improves overall windows performance.

     WinTip:                                                          
     In windows, under the program manager, double click on the icon for 
     the group called "Main."  In this group, double click on the icon 
     for "386 Enhanced." Set the minimum time slice based on the 
     following rule of thumb:                            

     Processor              
     cpu speed (MHz)       time slice                 
     386 less than 25            18                                                                  
     386 25 or more              15                                                                 
     486 25 or less              12                         
     486 more than 25            10                     
   
     This will improve the throughput of windows on your machine.

     Note: If the time slice is too small, performance goes down.  If the
     time slice is too large, performance suffers.  While the numbers 
     suggested are not absolute, they are a better choice than the 
     generic, handles-the-worst-case default that windows installs.  The 
     best number depends on many variables including RAM speed size of 
     RAM cache, and even the programs being run.  Trial and error is the
     only way to find that elusive personal best for a pc.