diff --git a/modules/BarGroup.qml b/modules/BarGroup.qml
index d790a66..9a344e5 100644
--- a/modules/BarGroup.qml
+++ b/modules/BarGroup.qml
@@ -31,10 +31,29 @@ Item {
     implicitHeight: M.Theme.barHeight - 3 - _pad
 
     readonly property int _pad: 6
-    property bool _hovered: false
 
-    HoverHandler {
-        onHoveredChanged: root._hovered = hovered
+    // Shadow source — rendered offscreen, only its glow is visible
+    Rectangle {
+        id: shadowSource
+        anchors.fill: parent
+        color: "transparent"
+        border.color: root.borderColor
+        border.width: 1
+        topLeftRadius: root._tlr
+        topRightRadius: root._trr
+        bottomLeftRadius: root._blr
+        bottomRightRadius: root._brr
+        visible: false
+    }
+
+    MultiEffect {
+        source: shadowSource
+        anchors.fill: shadowSource
+        shadowEnabled: true
+        shadowColor: root.borderColor
+        shadowBlur: 1.0
+        shadowVerticalOffset: 0
+        shadowHorizontalOffset: 0
     }
 
     // Frosted base — semi-transparent so the bar background bleeds through
@@ -85,7 +104,7 @@ Item {
         }
     }
 
-    // Visible border — glow on hover only
+    // Visible border
     Rectangle {
         anchors.fill: parent
         color: "transparent"
@@ -95,15 +114,6 @@ Item {
         topRightRadius: root._trr
         bottomLeftRadius: root._blr
         bottomRightRadius: root._brr
-
-        layer.enabled: root._hovered
-        layer.effect: MultiEffect {
-            shadowEnabled: true
-            shadowColor: root.borderColor
-            shadowBlur: 1.0
-            shadowVerticalOffset: 0
-            shadowHorizontalOffset: 0
-        }
     }
 
     Row {
diff --git a/stats-daemon/src/main.rs b/stats-daemon/src/main.rs
index 838d32f..b206397 100644
--- a/stats-daemon/src/main.rs
+++ b/stats-daemon/src/main.rs
@@ -201,21 +201,18 @@ fn main() {
     let stdout = io::stdout();
     let mut out = io::BufWriter::new(stdout.lock());
     let mut prev: Vec<Sample> = vec![];
-    let mut freqs: Vec<f64> = vec![];
     let mut tick = 0u64;
 
     loop {
         let t0 = Instant::now();
 
         let curr = read_stat();
-        if tick.is_multiple_of(2) {
-            freqs = read_core_freqs();
-            emit_mem(&mut out);
-        }
+        let freqs = read_core_freqs();
         emit_cpu(&mut out, &prev, &curr, &freqs);
         prev = curr;
 
-        if tick.is_multiple_of(4) {
+        if tick.is_multiple_of(2) {
+            emit_mem(&mut out);
             emit_temp(&mut out);
         }