Feature reference
A full breakdown of algorithms and controls documented by Bitsum: from ProBalance to GPU Preference rules and the Process Governor service.
Capabilities
Overview of the controls. Screenshots live with each detailed section below.
When background processes monopolize the CPU, ProBalance temporarily lowers their priority class (typically to Below Normal) so foreground work stays interactive. Betanews timing with the CPUEater demo showed Chrome appearing in under a second with ProBalance on, versus tens of seconds with it off in an extreme case.
ProBalance details →Set permanent CPU affinities, softer CPU Sets, priority classes, Windows 11 Efficiency Mode, and more. Forced Mode can re-apply rules when other apps fight them.
Affinity controls →CPU Limiter, Instance Balancer, Group Extender, Watchdog, IdleSaver, Performance Mode, Keep Awake. Enforceable by Process Governor without the GUI.
Full breakdown →Cap utilization when a process crosses your threshold. Pair with Watchdog or Instance Balancer when a workload needs hard ceilings instead of priority nudges.
Limiter options →ProBalance
The headline algorithm that protects responsiveness when background load spikes.
ProBalance watches running processes and, when a background load threatens responsiveness, temporarily lowers that process's priority class (default: Below Normal). The change is marginal and only matters during contention.
Defaults ignore foreground processes, children of the foreground process, non-normal priority processes, and (when enabled) system services. You can exclude specific executables and tune CPU thresholds in ProBalance Settings.
Stuck after a tweak? See ProBalance guidance.
Affinities
Pin processes to core sets, persist priority classes, and keep Windows 11 Efficiency Mode sticky across launches.
Pin processes to core sets permanently (CPU affinity) or prefer cores more softly with CPU Sets. Persist priority classes and Windows 11 Efficiency Mode so matched processes start that way every launch.
Anti-cheat titles: EAC affinity workaround.
Tools that act when thresholds or instance counts call for it.
Dynamically, temporarily limit CPU utilization of a process when it reaches a threshold you define.
Spread CPU cores among running instances of applications, including NUMA-aware balancing options.
Help processor-group-unaware applications make fuller use of CPUs on large systems.
Watchdog
Act when processes cross thresholds — or stop them from running at all.
Advanced Watchdog rules take action when matched processes hit resource thresholds. Disallowed Processes terminate matches immediately. Limit Instances caps how many copies of a process may run in a session.
Memory limits usually mean restart or terminate via Watchdog when a threshold is exceeded, not denying allocations (that would crash apps). See FAQ on memory limits.
Power
Automate Bitsum Highest Performance and other power profiles when apps run, when idle, or by timer.
| Feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| Performance Mode | Engages Bitsum Highest Performance (formerly Gaming Mode) for selected processes; can use automatic game detection with user exclusions. |
| IdleSaver | Higher performance while in use; conserve energy when idle. Configurable CPU utilization threshold for engagement. |
| Keep Awake | Prevent sleep for a set time or while selected processes are running. |
| Per-process power profiles | Switch power plans automatically when specified processes are found. |
| Load-based switcher (v18.2) | Added in 18.2.0: switch power profiles based on system load. |
Graphics
Live GPU graphs, multi-GPU views, and per-process GPU Preference rules from v18 onward.
Version 18 adds GPU utilization to the main graph, process lists, status bar, and widgets. Version 18.1 adds multi-GPU display and per-process GPU Preference rules. Version 18.2.2 optimizes per-process GPU collection and fixes phantom iGPU adapters on some multi-GPU systems.
Governor
Rules run in the background service — the GUI can stay closed once you are set up.
All algorithms and process rules are enforced by Process Governor, a stand-alone background service (or process). The GUI hosts the tray icon and main window and can stay closed once rules are configured.
Configuration Profiles let you keep multiple rule sets and switch them (including from the tray). Import and export profiles as a zip archive when you move machines or share setups.