Bitsum Technologies has released a beta of CPUBalance, its intelligent tool for optimising PC responsiveness.

The program uses the same ProBalance technology as Process Lasso to monitor running processes, detect CPU hogs, and instantly adjust priorities to keep your system running smoothly.

CPUBalance runs stand-alone, and you don’t need Process Lasso to try it out. Just install and launch the program and it works immediately.

You can also run the program alongside Process Lasso, where it adds extra options. The developer explains:

CPUBalance is unique in that it can either run independent of Process Lasso, or along-side Process Lasso, offering extended functionality over the ‘base’ ProBalance algorithm. That includes a sliding aggressiveness scale, an easy access system tray icon, and a newer ‘core technology’ than is available in Process Lasso, since it has a slightly longer development cycle due to its greater number of features.

An “Insights” list highlights your most resource-hogging processes

The program’s configurability is a major plus. If the default settings don’t quite work for you, there are options to have any “adjustments” start working earlier, or later; include or exclude foreground processes; set CPU affinity during restraint (allow resource hogs to use specific cores only); lower the I/O priority of target processes, and the list goes on.

CPUBalance delivered on every one of its promises during our tests, no great surprise as it’s using the same reliable core engine as Process Lasso. But be careful, anyway– bugs in this kind of system-level tool can cause major problems. Don’t use it unless you’re fully backed-up and understand the risks.

CPUBalance is available as a free beta for 64-bit Windows.