--I'm not sure what level of performance you're getting, or what level you're expecting from the machine (FPS wise), so I can't really comment on if there's a problem or if you're just choked. (not seeing 100% CPU utilization in Windows is perfectly normal due to having multiple cores)


I'd personally expect that the problem is that Dual-Core 1.7ghz CPU (2.4 - 2.6ghz boost).
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-C...r.74464.0.html


**The GPU isn't heavily utilized, most likely because the CPU is simply incapable of pumping sufficient geometry fast-enough for it to render (CPU choke). If you take a look at the above page of benchmarks, your processor is about onpar with an older Core 2 Duo notebook (yet basically more power efficient). Keep in mind that this Acer is intended to be a low profile / slim machine, and is spec'd hardware wise to maximize portability / battery life (not performance).


Far as the CPU usage and it not being pegged, games typically don't fully-scale in terms of multi-threading. Certain roles are broken apart in an engine ... such as game-logic, rendering, network, physics, yet ultimately there tends to be a single thread providing the 'final' geometry to the GPU. As such, in many games the rendering thread is the most heavy thread in the game / most critical, and this is simply something you need very high single core performance for.


There's exceptions, certain phases of preparation of geometry can be threaded, which some engines do well... DX11 also has some mechanics for fully multi-core / parallel presentation of data.. Yet it's rare to see such. **Bottom line, in the typical renderer you'll see one thread chewing far higher CPU cycles than the others. Also keep in mind that if the game were to use all cores heavily, that your CPU would be throttled back / not achieve the high boost clock ratings.


--Please let me know what frame rate you're getting. Unfortunately alot of people have different definitions of what low FPS is. Some people would call 10-20fps in town "low". Others might call 40 fps in town low.

Specifically, the type of performance you'd get in two situations:
-Dungeon instance.
-Uld, near the northern market board when many people are around.