When your computer is having trouble, seeing how things are running can help you troubleshoot. And when things are running smoothly, this information can also help you optimize your system. It's all in the Performance tab of Task Manager—as well as more advanced options.
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The Performance tab in Task Manager provides a comprehensive, real-time overview of your Windows computer's resource usage. It displays graphs and other useful data, allowing you to monitor system performance, identify bottlenecks, and effectively manage resource-intensive applications.
You can access the Performance tab by right-clicking an empty part of the taskbar and selecting Task Manager or by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc at any time. In Task Manager, click Performance on the left menu to access the tab.
The Performance tab is divided into several sections; which sections appear depends on your settings. Here's what you'll typically see, along with examples of common usage scenarios.
This section shows real-time CPU usage through graphs and percentages. This section shows detailed information about the processor, including name, cores, threads, and clock speed. You can also use this section to monitor system uptime and monitor running processes.
A common reason to visit the CPU tab is if you notice your PC slowing down while doing heavy work, such as gaming or video editing. If this section shows high usage (90 – 100%), that indicates a bottleneck. From there, you can learn how to fix high CPU usage on your Windows computer.
Random Access Memory (RAM), or simply "memory," is the fast, temporary memory that your PC uses to keep programs running. This section shows your computer's total RAM, including both in use and available.
Committed refers to the memory in question, while Paged pool shows how much of the storage drive Windows will use as a page file (a portion of the drive used as virtual RAM when physical memory runs low). Other useful information includes the memory speed and RAM slots used and available on the computer.
The memory section is most useful when you notice your computer slowing down when multitasking. When memory usage is around 90–100%, you need to do something to determine what is causing the high RAM usage and fix it. This usually means closing memory-intensive applications like Chrome and Blender.
If you have more than one storage drive on your computer, each drive will have its own section in Task Manager (for example, Disk 0 and Disk 1 ). This section shows the drive's activity, with separate graphs for uptime and transfer speeds. It also shows information like the capacity, drive type, read/write speeds, and whether it's a System disk (the drive where Windows is installed).
High disk usage can indicate bottlenecks, especially when transferring or loading files. The information in this section can also help you troubleshoot applications that are causing high disk usage. Studying this information will also help you make an informed decision about whether you need to upgrade your storage or switch to an SSD to speed things up.
The Wi-Fi or Ethernet section (depending on your connection type) shows you real-time network usage data, including data sending/receiving speeds. You also get useful information like adapter name, local IP address , and signal strength.
This network tab is useful when you're having connection issues or slow internet speeds - you can easily check if your connection is stable or running at the expected speed. You can also use this section to identify bandwidth-hungry applications. Additionally, it's useful as a way to monitor signal strength when optimizing your router placement .
Like Disk , you'll see multiple GPU tabs if you have more than one video card installed in your computer. Each tab shows GPU usage statistics across various processes, including 3D rendering, video processing, and video decoding. It also shows specific information about the GPU itself, such as model and dedicated/shared memory.
The GPU section is important for monitoring graphics performance, especially when gaming or editing videos. It also helps you check if your graphics card is working properly. Furthermore, it can help you understand your GPU usage patterns so you know if you need to upgrade your hardware or optimize your software.
The Performance tab is useful for getting a quick, comprehensive overview of how your computer is performing. If you want a detailed analysis that includes every running process, you should use the Resource Monitor. This monitor can help you dig deeper into the root cause of the problem you are experiencing than the Performance tab.
There's a shortcut to access Resource Manager from the Performance tab you just opened. Click the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner and select Resource Monitor from the menu. To open it separately, just type "resource monitor" into the Start menu.
Once opened, you'll see the more advanced Resource Monitor. To learn more, check out our guide on troubleshooting various issues with Resource Monitor.
Windows has a lot of tools to help you optimize performance or troubleshoot problems. Learning how to use these built-in utilities will help you avoid installing unnecessary third-party software. Mastering the Performance tab of Task Manager is a great first step to becoming more proficient with your Windows system.
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