Drizzt wrote ... Does everyone have this issue, or am I just special?

That's 2 questions!

Yes, yer speshul--saw ya in da 'lympcis! Got a medal and a hug, dincha?

I've seen "high priority" in BOINC after 5.8.10 (but not in 5.8.10), and I don't think it really means high priority as a windows task.  I really have no idea what it's supposed to mean.

I haven't run Malaria Control, but I have seen other projects stall, and stall the system with them.  Sudoku test applications, for one.

If it were my server, I'd just find something else to run on it.

perryjay wrote     High priority in BOINC is the same as the old EDF.  It just means BOINC is afraid you're getting to close on the deadline and it's giving that WU special attention.

That was my guess, too. 

Unlike earlier versions, though, there's nothing in messages about going into EDF mode, and I've yet to see (not that I'm looking at it 24/7) any wu on any project that's NOT running high priority.  It's a bit tough to believe that CPDN wu due in 11 months needs EDF now.

Edit: OK, I did see CPDN operating without hi-pri, by suspending all other projects.  Then upon resuming all other projects, NQueens kicked back in immediately on hi-pri.  Eyeballing the task list by due date, I think they're cutting it a bit long, but that should mean they never hear they mismanaged it and missed a deadline.