How to keep an eye on CPU and GPU usage on Windows
Short answer
Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) shows CPU, GPU, memory, disk and network on its Performance tab, and the Xbox Game Bar (Win+G) has a performance widget you can pin over a game. For a monitor that sits in view while you work, AppRig's System Monitor shows live CPU, GPU, memory, VRAM, disk and network readouts, and it only samples while it is open.
The manual way
Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) already covers a lot: its Performance tab graphs CPU, memory, disk, network and each GPU, and Resource Monitor goes deeper on per-process detail. For gaming, the Xbox Game Bar (Win+G) has a Performance widget you can pin on top of the game. All of it is built into Windows.
The catch is that these are things you open, check and close. Task Manager is a full window, and the Game Bar is designed around games rather than a desktop you work in all day. Third-party monitoring suites fix that, but many bring logging, sensors, alerts and background services that a quick glance does not need.
The faster way with AppRig
AppRig’s System Monitor shows live CPU, GPU, memory, VRAM, disk activity, disk space and network throughput, plus your busiest processes and each display’s refresh rate, in a compact panel docked in AppRig or popped out into its own window that you can pin on top. CPU, GPU, memory, VRAM and network each draw a small live graph, and on a PC with two GPUs each one is listed by name so you can see which a game is using.
Every metric can be shown or hidden, in a compact rows layout or a cards layout. It only samples while it is open: collapse or hide it and monitoring stops, so it does no background work when you are not looking. Nothing is logged or sent anywhere.
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Common questions
How do I see GPU usage on Windows?
Open Task Manager with Ctrl+Shift+Esc and go to the Performance tab, where each GPU has its own graph. The Processes tab can also show a GPU column per app; right-click a column header to add it if it is hidden. On a laptop with two GPUs, check both entries, because a game may be running on the separate graphics card rather than the built-in one.
Can I keep CPU and GPU usage on screen while gaming?
Yes. Press Win+G to open the Xbox Game Bar, open the Performance widget and pin it, and it stays on top of the game showing CPU, GPU, VRAM and RAM. Graphics drivers from NVIDIA and AMD also have their own performance overlays. Task Manager can be kept on top too, via its Always on top setting.
Why does Task Manager show different GPU usage than my GPU tool?
Tools measure different things. Task Manager reports the busiest engine on each GPU, such as 3D, video decode or copy, while some tools report only 3D load or an average. A video playing can show high usage on a video engine while 3D sits near zero. Compare like with like before assuming one reading is wrong.
Do system monitors slow down your PC?
A well-built one uses very little, but it is not zero. Reading counters once a second costs a small amount of CPU, and some suites also log history, run background services or poll sensors constantly. If you only want a glance now and then, choose a monitor that stops sampling when it is hidden.
Related questions
AppRig does this and more, all in one local-first Windows app. See what AppRig does →