Penumbra Requiem pegs CPU @ 95%+ only on level 9

[jimbofluffy]

My machine is a P4 2.66ghz and has a Radeon 9550. I was able to get through the first 8 levels with only an occasional slowdown with 800x600 and medium textures. Level 9 hits and its like a sideshow, which is not good when you need to jump across electrified water. I even turned every graphic option to the lowest level and it still gets pegged! Note this is a version from Steam. I applied the 1.01 patch but still no luck. I was hoping to finish the game tonight. Very sad, and ideas?

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Note I just loaded up level 8 and it runs smooth as silk with everything set to the min level. I then loaded 9 and instant slowdown.

[jimbofluffy]

I toughed it out. Interestingly when I turned on power to the area a little later in the game, the CPU became unpegged, weird.