Windows has different mechanisms for presenting advanced information to the user. The problem is that these mechanisms are not always comfortable or easy to use. The alternative would be to implement a system of widgets, but Redmond didn't do a good job on that front. Now, if you are interested in an external solution, the small program Yale might be what you're looking for. Yale delivers real-time data about our network activity, as well as CPU usage, memory, and main processes.
I remember very well the widgets (read Sidebar Gadgets) of Windows Vista, and how they could annihilate performance on some computers. Being honest, the truth is that Vista itself did that, but the widgets added extra weight on an operating system that didn't come out working well from the factory. Over the years, Microsoft expanded the widget profile and then retired them for security reasons, although that didn't prevent third-party development that focused especially on presenting solid information without devouring resources.
And so we arrive at Yale, a very small widget that first presents network activity. Basically, what it does is detect the main adapters available on the computer along with the relevant connected processes, and report transfer rates. Needless to say, that is very useful for all those users who struggle daily with limited data plans and want to have a better idea about the amount of information they move.
At the same time, Yale indicates CPU usage, occupied RAM memory, and how active our hard drive is. In the options section we discover an alternative graphical style, a slider to modify the window transparency, and other details such as process names and the current IP address.
You can even expand network entries and have additional information, such as the bandwidth used by each protocol. This reduces a bit (VERY LITTLE) your bandwidth because packets need to be analyzed by Yale. If you want to extend the known protocols, just place the file 'service-names-port-numbers.txt' in the same directory as Yale.exe. As said, the widget does what it promises, it's lightweight and portable.
