Allthough you will see that Avast server application will continue to eat CPU time, don't draw the wrong conclusion on its 'lean-ness', even the low end multi-core's CPU power is way stronger than the new Sammsung F3 spinpoint (with is great throughput characteristcs = the F3 with its high density platters is as fast as 10.000 RPM disk). Over bootups, you also noticed that it remembered the clean state of signed and safe software The smart on execution checks works well, you see CPU spikes (or better bumps, because it never execeeded 27%) reduce in frequency. On the family PC a low end dual core with 2gb RAM on XP SP3, i did some 'real world PC usage' simulation. ) and the program update set to manual (old 4.8 had a CPU and disk spike when it checked on program updates on my PC). I also have the on-boot Anti-rootikit scan disabled (DefenseWall V3 beta is on guard, so. I only used the file and behavioral shields, with file shield check on file read/open disabled. On this PC we sometimes have an Anti-Virus real time (with check at writes only), but mostly use an AV on-demand (since it never has happened that we have spread malware, it is allways a issue of doubt: yes or no real time AV). I am just testing with AV's to prevent us sending frozen malware (DW paralises all malware) to friends. I am not using an AV as a typical AV user.

I just took a short drive of Avast 5 beta 2.