Project Mercury is a small Windows utility with one idea: give the program you are actually using more processor time than the ones sitting in the background. It watches which window has focus, raises that process’s priority, and lowers it again when you switch away — all from the system tray, with no configuration required.
It is free, made by a developer working under the name SvenBent. It has not been updated since 2017, and the project is no longer maintained — the details are below, because they matter for whether you should use it.
Project Mercury at a glance
| Last stable version | 1.2.8.0, April 2017 |
|---|---|
| Last build of any kind | 1.2.9.0 beta, October 2017 |
| Licence | Free utility; the author does not publish licence terms |
| Platform | Windows, 32-bit and 64-bit builds |
| Status | Abandoned — no releases since 2017, the author’s site has not been updated since 2020 |
What it does
- Foreground boost — raises the priority of the application in the active window, lowers it when it goes to the background.
- Profiles for different usage patterns: desktop, server, gaming and multitasking.
- Excessive mode — drops the priority of any process taking more than half the processor, so a runaway task stops freezing everything else.
- Core parking control, which stops Windows from idling cores when you need them.
- Processor affinity management, including a fix for machines with more than sixteen cores.
- Reduced disk priority for minimised applications.
- A “no CCX switching” option aimed at AMD Ryzen processors, keeping a process on the same core complex.
- Clear memory from the tray menu.
Honest assessment
The idea is sound and the tool was well regarded in its time. But the situation today is:
- Nine years without an update. The last release is from October 2017 and it was a beta available only to donors.
- The author’s infrastructure is gone. The original site now redirects to a free blog, and the file server that hosted downloads no longer exists.
- There is no source code repository, so nobody else can pick it up.
- A known crash on start in the 64-bit build was reported on some systems, with the 32-bit version suggested as the workaround. It was never fixed.
- Modern Windows schedules processes rather better than Windows 7 did, so the benefit on a current machine is smaller than it was.
It still runs, and on an older machine short of processor power it can help. For anything you rely on, a maintained tool is the better choice.
Download and use
- Click the Download button at the top of this page and unpack the archive.
- Start it — it settles into the system tray and begins working immediately.
- If the 64-bit build crashes at startup, use the 32-bit one. That is the author’s own documented workaround.
- Pick a profile that matches what you do, and leave the rest alone.
What to use instead
| Tool | Why |
|---|---|
| Process Lasso | The same class of tool, actively developed, with a free version — the natural replacement |
| ParkControl | From the same developer, focused on core parking |
| Windows Task Manager | Built in: set priority and affinity by hand when you need it for one process |
| Actiona | Different job — automating repetitive work rather than tuning the processor |
FAQ
Is Project Mercury free?
Yes, it is a free utility. The author accepted donations and gave donors access to beta builds, but the program itself is free.
Is it still being developed?
No. The last release is from October 2017 and the author’s site has not been updated since 2020.
Does it actually speed up my computer?
It changes which process gets the processor first. If your machine is short of processing power, that can feel faster. It does not add performance that is not there.
Why does the 64-bit version crash on startup?
A known issue on some systems, reported by the author. The suggested workaround is the 32-bit build.
Does it work on Windows 11?
The author never stated which Windows versions are supported, and the program predates Windows 11. Test it before relying on it.
Is there a maintained alternative?
Process Lasso does the same kind of work and is still updated, with a free version available.
