Process usage statistics
Process usage statistics
CPU activity is usually shown as a straightforward percentage of time dedicated to non-idle operations. However, this is only a rough estimate. In contemporary operating systems, the CPU operates in two main states: Kernel Mode and User Mode. In kernel mode, the program runs with full access to hardware resources, allowing it to perform any instruction and use any memory address. This mode is typically used for essential, core functions of the OS; crashes here can bring down the entire system. User mode restricts the code to interact through system interfaces, making crashes easier to recover from. The majority of your computer's tasks run in user mode. Source.