This is my current maximizer layout. Four windows split one monitor into quadrants, while the fifth window (generally the one I control from due to larger screenspace) is run in windowed mode on the main monitor. I'm running all 5 copies of WoW with every graphical setting turned to it's lowest possible setting on one computer using Keyclone's maximizer. I'm using an Nvdia 8800, I believe it's a 512 card. My system specs:



I used to run that windowed mode as a maximizer window that took up the whole monitor. However, I managed to accidentally stumble across the fact that running WoW in windowed mode for the main screen greatly increases my FPS (the one kind of lag that -really- gets under my skin - PVP at 4 FPS with unpredictable system lockups is a pain in the rear.) I still can't hit shattrath in the middle of the day, though it runs smooth as a dream around 3 in the morning. Not exactly sure why, aside from having less character models to graphically load/process.

I load all my copies of WoW using the command line feature, to be sure they always maximize into the right spots. The fifth, windowed mode window does not have Region, because it's in windowed mode rather than being maximized.

With that said, on to the questions!

One: How does this even *work*? is it simply that the computer needs to do less processing in order to present a smaller window's graphics? If so, would running a non-full-screen maximizer window give better FPS than running one copy in windowed mode? Or would running all 5 copies in windowed mode further increase FPS?

Two: Having just recently switched to the focusless, leaderless setup, PIP sounds like a feature I may want to start using. But before I start choking my processor to death with maximizing/un-maximizing using PIP, I was curious as to whether or not mixing PIP with a non-maximized window is a good idea, or even possible.

And finally, three: Aside from splitting the five accounts across two computers (which I'm slowly getting around to doing anyways), what are the main things I could do to further increase FPS and game processing to prevent large lockups and inability to use major cities during the afternoons? More RAM I'm guessing, but I have never been much of a hardware person. If there are some obvious upgrades that can be made, where do I go looking to see what I'm capable of doing/changing?

I appreciate the help in advance.

EvilSqueegee