The Task Manager has long been a go-to tool for users to understand their computer’s performance. It provides a clear overview of CPU, GPU, HDD, Internet, and RAM usage, helping to identify bottlenecks. With the increasing integration of AI, Microsoft has updated the Task Manager to also display NPU (Neural Processing Unit) usage.
The classic Ctrl+Alt+Delete combination to access the Task Manager is a familiar way to check if a PC is running at its limits. Previously, users could easily pinpoint which component was being maxed out. Before SSDs became commonplace, it was common for PCs to freeze when the hard drive became saturated, and the Task Manager would quickly reveal the issue.
Experimental Windows 11 Build Updates Task Manager with NPU Usage
Another common use case for the Task Manager was monitoring RAM consumption by applications and games, a topic often highlighted by memes about Google Chrome. While PCs have become significantly faster, their requirements have also increased, meaning monitoring performance remains relevant. Now, Microsoft has updated the Windows 11 Task Manager to add optional NPU and NPU Engine columns within the Processes, Users, and Details tabs.
In the Details tab, users will also find optional columns for NPU Dedicated Memory and NPU Shared Memory. Additionally, an ‘Isolation‘ column has been added, allowing users to see which applications are running within an AppContainer.
NVIDIA Tensor Cores and Other Neural Processing Units Now Visible
This update enables users to monitor NPU usage in conjunction with programs and features that utilize AI. This monitoring capability extends to GPU neural cores, such as NVIDIA’s Tensor Cores. Microsoft’s intensified focus on AI is evident in Windows 11, with an increasing number of AI-driven features, including those exclusive to Copilot+ PCs which feature NPUs.
An NPU is an accelerator for AI tasks, and a requirement for Copilot+ PCs is an NPU capable of over 40 TOPS. These PCs offer AI features like enhanced Paint functionality and the controversial Recall feature. Recall constantly captures screenshots of user activity, allowing users to revisit past moments on their PC. However, it has raised significant security concerns and has not been widely well-received.
