Question:

How can I resolve the CPU usage discrepancy between Task Manager and other system monitoring applications after upgrading from Windows 10 to 11?

I have recently upgraded my operating system from Windows 10 to 11 and noticed that some of the applications that I use to monitor my system performance, such as Rainmeter and Open Hardware Monitor, display incorrect CPU usage values compared to Task Manager. For example, Task Manager reports 8% CPU usage while Rainmeter shows 1%. This happens even when the CPU is under heavy load. These applications worked fine on Windows 10 and I rely on them to show me various system metrics on my second screen. The CPU usage is the only metric that is affected by this issue. What could be the cause of this problem and how can I fix it?

Answer:

If you have recently upgraded your operating system from Windows 10 to 11, you may have encountered a problem with some of the applications that you use to monitor your system performance, such as Rainmeter and Open Hardware Monitor. These applications may display incorrect CPU usage values compared to Task Manager, the built-in tool that shows you how much of your computer’s resources are being used. For example, Task Manager may report 8% CPU usage while Rainmeter shows 1%. This happens even when the CPU is under heavy load, such as when you are running multiple programs or playing games. This can be frustrating and confusing, especially if you rely on these applications to show you various system metrics on your second screen. The CPU usage is the only metric that is affected by this issue. What could be the cause of this problem and how can you fix it?

The most likely cause of this problem is that Windows 11 uses a different method to measure CPU usage than Windows 10. Windows 11 uses a new algorithm that takes into account the average CPU usage over a longer period of time, rather than the instantaneous CPU usage at a given moment. This is done to provide a more accurate and consistent representation of the CPU load and to avoid fluctuations that may occur due to background processes or spikes in demand. However, this also means that some of the third-party applications that monitor CPU usage may not be compatible with Windows 11’s new algorithm and may report lower or higher values than Task Manager.

The solution to this problem is to update the applications that you use to monitor CPU usage to the latest versions that support Windows 11’s new algorithm. You can check the official websites of the applications or use the built-in update features to see if there are any updates available. Alternatively, you can also try to adjust the settings of the applications to match the CPU usage measurement method of Windows 11. For example, in Rainmeter, you can change the Update value in the [Rainmeter] section of the Rainmeter.ini file to a higher number, such as 1000, which means that the CPU usage will be updated every second. This may make the CPU usage values more similar to those of Task Manager. However, this may also affect the performance and responsiveness of Rainmeter and other skins, so you may need to experiment with different values to find the optimal balance.

By following these steps, you should be able to fix the CPU usage discrepancy between Task Manager and other system monitoring applications on Windows 11. However, keep in mind that different applications may use different methods to measure CPU usage and may not always agree with each other or with Task Manager. Therefore, you should not rely on a single application or tool to monitor your system performance, but rather use a combination of tools and your own judgment to assess the health and efficiency of your computer.