The program can define thresholds for alerts and automatic actions, generate reports, and view past performance data.

The categories of information that can be monitored depend on which networking services are installed, but always include file system, kernel, and memory manager.

[7] However, some third-party publications referred to it as "Performance Monitor", even in Windows 2000[8] or XP contexts.

[12] Performance Monitor plots system CPU activity and offers the ability to add counters as a method of plotting performance, an option different from the ability to view CPU activity within Task Manager.

Also included are various options for monitoring; that is, Chart, Log, and Report: Whatever its version, the tool can be accessed by typing Performance Monitor into the search field on the Windows [[taskbar]], or by using the keyboard shortcut Windows + R and typing perfmon.