CPU utilization is reported differently by 2 apps

[ExalyThor]

I've always been using MSI afterburner to check my system stats while gaming for years, but now I noticed something strange, it doesn't match up with task manager! Which one is to be trusted? GPU and memory usage is similar.

[aisle9]

Task Manager is like Accuweather. Great at giving you numbers, bad at getting them right.

[iMxmo]

Task man is infamous for incorrect readouts. 

[ExalyThor]

So you say tm is the one reporting false values? I loaded up another game and it was the same story:

[Mark Kaine]

Fun fact: if you use 2 apps to measure something you're running into something called "observer effect" as both apps will effect each other,  so don't do that.

 

PS: Afterburner is the one you should trust.

 

 

[SkilledRebuilds]

2 apps can sample at different intervals within each second.

Say one at 333ms of the 1000ms and another at 666ms out of each 1000ms.

Differing values happen due to interval sample rate and timing.

 

Thats outside of 1 app affecting the others...

Easy to misread as weird