Performance issues / Task Manager question

[Sivaeb]

I was hoping someone could give a bit of guidance for my performance/graphic slow down issues.

I mainly play on a 17" laptop with an i7 processor and 16gb ram, dedicated graphics card (though I still think the game uses integrated graphics) and when casting spells/having effects on high or lots of people around I slow down to about 10 fps.

I occasionally play on a 14" netbook with only integrated i3 graphics and I don't have these issues with a technically inferior computer.

Any suggestions??

Also, when I played back in 1999 or so, I remember my task manager having like 40 things going on. Now, when I check my current setup (I realize more stuff is going on) I have about 100. Is there anyway to trim this down? Lots of the items I have no idea what they are. I don't want to stop a necessary process.

Thank you

Sivaeb