This paper describes a performance system that, by graceful degradation and reallocation of resources, attempts to maintain quality in desktop video conference (DVC) systems. The performance system is based on a distributed agent architecture, where agents cooperate to maintain the required quality of service (QoS) during the video conference session. This system adjusts its setting in real time to optimally respond to a set of changing conditions and parameters. The performance system comprises a set of performance enhancers to compensate for the hardware overloads and to maintain the conference throughput when external factors are changing the environment. The performance system uses quality evaluators to analyze the system behavior and to activate /deactivate a compensation loop.