How the WGC utilizes PC resources

Managing your games is the main function of the WGC, and it's the most resource-intensive one. For example, in order to apply game updates, the WGC:

• Downloads the update.
• Checks the current game client for damage and downloads any required files from the server in the case that damage has been detected.
• Applies the update by unpacking the relevant files and rewriting them into the game client.

Each of these actions consumes PC resources (starting with the hard drive up to the CPU), while the most resource-intensive action is the direct application of an update.

The WGC can install and update games in two modes:

1. Minimum resource consumption (set by default) In this mode, the processes of installing and updating games are carried out with low system priority (including I/O operation priority). This means that the WGC won't compete with other system tasks for resources, but rather cedes them. Thanks to this, you'll barely notice game installation and updates, so you can use the PC for other purposes without any inconvenience caused.
2. Utilizing all available resources In this mode, the WGC works with standard priority, which means that it will compete for resources with other processes. In situations where there are other noticeable tasks running on the system (browser activity, playing a movie, working in Word, scheduled system updates, antivirus processes, etc.), the WGC might slow them down while operating in this mode. However, games will install and update faster when this mode is selected.

Both modes affect only the priority of the WGC's processes in relation to other active system processes. In other words, if there are no noticeable active system tasks that would otherwise share resources with the WGC, installing and updating games will take approximately the same amount of time with either mode activated.

In its active state, the WGC is visible to you. In other words—it's running and maximized.

In this state, PC resource consumption directly depends on your actions. We'll review the influence of various possible actions on resource consumption with reading a news article in Game Center as an example:

1. You open a tab of a desired game. The WGC downloads and displays the contents for the tab, including news headings, banners, and links. This utilizes a small amount of system resources.
2. The tab is open, and you review the list of news. At this moment, the WGC is in the standby state: there is no need to download anything, and only the downloaded content is being displayed. Resource consumption at the current stage is minimal.
3. You select a news article and open it. As it did previously, the WGC downloads the content of the news article and displays it, thus spending PC resources.
4. You read the news article. The WGC is in the standby state again and utilizes minimal resources.

The WGC acts in the same way upon every interaction with it. Depending on the size of the data that needs to be downloaded and displayed, the system load can change.

This way or another, the WGC strives to finalize its processes as quickly as possible, and return to the standby state which consumes hardly any resources.

Even though it strives to complete any tasks as quickly as possible when downloading and displaying a specific amount of information, while doing so it will still consume comparatively little system resources. That's true, even if your interactions with the program are intensive.

By default, upon clicking X at the top-right corner of the WGC window, it will be minimized and continue working in the background mode. While in this mode, the WGC checks for updates and notifications periodically. If they any are found, the program will inform you accordingly.

For such checks, the WGC sends highly simple http queries. This utilizes an almost unnoticeable amount of system resources.

The WGC acts in the same way if it's maximized, but hidden behind other windows and applications.

Remember: if the WGC finds an update while in the passive state and there are no obstacles for its installation, it will start the update process.

If you launch a game, the WGC will pause all of its processes and cease any checks for updates and notifications. In other words, while a game is running, the WGC is simply in the computer's memory and consumes an absolute minimum amount of resources (e.g. consumption of CPU resources will remain close to 0%).

Once you minimize the game and start interacting with the WGC again, it will return to its active state, but without checking for updates or downloading them.

For the majority of time, the WGC consumes minimal system resources. You can apply several additional settings for better control over its operations.

1. Launch Game Center when I start the computer (activated by default). If you turn this option off, you'll need to launch the WGC manually each time you want to use it. Sure, the program won't consume any resources when it's turned off. But it's worth noting that the program also won't be checking for any updates or sending you notifications about a particular game's status (some of them may well be important).

In order to set it, you need to:

• Launch the WGC and click the Settings icon (it looks like a gear) on the left side of the main window.
• Click General. Then check or uncheck the box next to "Launch Game Center when I start the computer."
  

  

  
  

2. Exit Game Center when I close the main window (deactivated by default). Upon clicking X on the top-right corner of the main window, the WGC won't switch to the passive state, but will close entirely instead. You turn this option on for maximum economy of PC resources, however, checks for updates and their installation, as well as receiving game notifications will cease until the next time you launch the WGC.

In order to set it, you need to:

• Launch the WGC and click the Settings icon (it looks like a gear) on the left side of the main window.
• Click General. Then check or uncheck the box next to "Exit Game Center when I close the main window."
  

  

  
  

3. Use all computer resources during installation (deactivated by default). We've described this option in the "Installing, updating, and importing games" section. We'll remind you briefly: if you turn this option off, the WGC will consume fewer resources, and you'll be able to use your PC without any inconvenience caused to other processes. If you turn the option on, the WGC will consume more resources and games will be updated much faster, but you might face difficulties while using other programs.

In order to set it, you need to:

• Launch the WGC and click the Settings icon (it looks like a gear) on the left side of the main window.
• Click Updates. Check or uncheck the box next to "Use all computer resources during installation."