Windows detecting slow performance, and some other odd issues.

So I have a very odd problem that I think qualifies to be posted in this forums, as its somewhat related to Windows 7. If this is the wrong place to post this, feel free to move it. My explanation is relatively long because I want all the info I can provide to be in this post. The post is long, so I provided a short version at the end.

I'm going to start with my basic computer specs -- no overclocking is done:

CPU: Intel I5-2500
Video: Radeon HD 6850
RAM: 8 gb Corsair vengence
Mobo: ASUS P8Z68-v LX
OS: Windows 7 64 bit SP 1
Monitor: ASUS VH242H


I never had this problem before switching monitors from an old 19 inch LCD that ran at 1260x1024 resolution. Early last month I upgraded to the one listed above. Its about 4.6 inches bigger and runs at 1920x1080. Performance, obviously, was going to take a hit. I thought my hardware could handle it, and it appears too. Thats not the issue.

The issue is that windows keep prompting me to change to the basic color scheme from Aero, because apparently my computer has slow performance. This often happens while the computer is idle, or simply browsing the web. Once I caught this message while resource manager was open. At that time I was simply browsing the web, talking on skype and running resource manager. My CPU was at 4-7% load, and my Ram was at 17%. My GPU was at a meager 2%. So Im convinced this is just a windows bug. CPU tempatures never raise above 40 while idle, or 55 under load. GPU tempatures are also very mild, ranging from mid 40s up to high 60s depending on load.

A second issue was discovered while exploring possible causes, I believe it to be related. That issue will start here if you care to read on.
----------------------------------

On the request of a friend, I decided to change my bios preset from "energy saving" to "Asus optimized" (Perfomance). In the performance mode I had several odd issues. First off, 32 bit programs will no longer run on the computer. They crash on start up. Secondly, the computer likes to blue screen.

At first I thought this was due to a virus, I had seen in a Comodo firewall alert a couple days prior. So once it blue screened in safe mode while running chkdsk and malwarebytes, I formatted the drive. I did this once I had switched back to energy saving mode.

Once the drive had been formatted, I used chkdsk to make sure the windows install was good. I then waited to see if the slow performance issue happened again. Sure enough, it did.

I then tried changing the bios presets again. I moved up to the middle preset (Normal) and had no issues besides the performance bug from windows. Once I, again, moved it up to "performance" it was actually stable this time, but again 32 bit programs dont run on that setting.

I then ran prime95 while in performance mode. 4:37 into prime95, it found an error and then promptly blue screened. Later that day, after switching back to energy saving mode, I ran prime95 for 12 hours and 37 minutes with no errors or warnings. I have also never blue screened in energy saving or normal modes.

The event viewer logs of the blue screens were consistent before the format. Always pointing to a computer browser being unable to access a required service which had failed to start. Post formatting the blue screen log said it was an unexpected shutdown, and gave no specifics.

CPU and GPU tempatures are under 55c, and 65c at all times respectfully.

------------------------------
TL R

Windows says my performance is slow, when the load numbers say its not. This happens despite formatting the drive, and while the computer is idle as well as when its under load. This started upon upgrading monitors from one using a 1280x1024 resolution to a 1920x1080 resolution one.

In Energy saving and Normal bios settings, the computer is 100% stable even under heavy load for long periods of time. In performance mode, the computer is very unstable when under load. In performance mode, 32 bit programs also cease to operate.

The event viewer logs of the blue screens were consistent before the format. Always pointing to a computer browser being unable to access a required service which had failed to start. Post formatting the blue screen log said it was an unexpected shutdown, and gave no specifics. Blue screens only ever occur while in the performance bios setting. They NEVER occur in energy saving or normal modes.

During all of that, CPU and GPU temperatures are well within the safe range.


-----------------------------
My current theories:

I think the performance being slow message is a windows bug. But I havent dismissed that its connected to the bios setting issues.

I think the bios setting issue is caused because I am surging my hardware, unknowingly. And so I plan to avoid that setting at all times in the future.

My ram is the only hardware I can think could be causing any of this. But the computer sees all 8 gbs, and has used 6 gbs at one time before with no issues.
------------------------------------

I'm curious as to any solutions to either problem, ideas as to what is wrong, or just advice on things to try.

Thanks in advance.