How to Get CPU Utilization in C# Using PerformanceCounter?

Monitoring System Resources (CPU and RAM) with C#

This article demonstrates how to efficiently monitor CPU and RAM usage within C# applications. This is crucial for performance analysis and optimization. The PerformanceCounter class from the System.Diagnostics namespace provides the necessary functionality.

To access CPU utilization, you'll need to instantiate a PerformanceCounter object. This involves specifying the category ("Processor"), the counter name ("% Processor Time"), and the instance name ("_Total") for overall CPU usage. Here's how:

PerformanceCounter cpuCounter = new PerformanceCounter("Processor", "% Processor Time", "_Total");

Retrieving the CPU usage percentage is done using the NextValue() method. However, the first call returns 0%. For accurate results, call it twice with a short delay (e.g., one second) between calls:

public string GetCurrentCpuUsage()
{
    cpuCounter.NextValue(); //Initial call, discard result
    System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(1000); //Wait one second
    return cpuCounter.NextValue() + "%";
}

This example also shows how to monitor available RAM using another PerformanceCounter targeting "Memory" and "Available MBytes". This provides a comprehensive view of system resource consumption.

In conclusion, the PerformanceCounter class offers a straightforward and effective way to monitor CPU and RAM usage in C#, enabling developers to fine-tune their applications for optimal performance.

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