Suggestions for a cpu memory meter

[FOM]

With only 1 gig of ram and minimal cpu I need to watch what I'm doing carefully. The task manager progress graphs and % reports do the job, except it is using 10% to 20% of cpu itself. I'd like to find a low resource cpu/memory tool for desktop use. Truly a little meter in the taskbar would be best.
Anybody know of such a tool?
Thanks

[LL-user]

Hi FOM,

If nobody comes up with the "best" recommendation (meter in taskbar), I would suggest having a look at conky.
I monitor all my (old) systems with it. Very powerful, very flexible. But it will show it's information on the desktop, not in the taskbar.
More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conky_%28software%29
It's part of the standard repository.

Hope that helps

[FOM]

Conky looks interesting, but for now I'm still hoping for a taskbar meter. I tried one from symantic called 'asmon' but it didn't come close to agreeing with task manager, and it was locked in the upper left hand corner and I couldn't find any controls or settings. I removed it and am still looking.

BTW I reduced task managers cpu usage from 10 to 20% down to 2 to 3% by reducing the update timing from 750ms to 5 sec. and unchecking  'show values with more precision'.

Will appreciate any other suggestions.
Thanks

[nomko]

The Xfce desktop environment comes with a CPU graph meter. Just install it from Xfce-goodies. Else a conky would be nice but the problem with a conky is, it is placed on the desktop and when opening any application, the application window will cover the conky so it's not visible any more (when using a small screen) while a taskbar add-on is always visible.

[FOM]

Thanks nomko. Xfce goodies rocks. Found in Synaptic and installed easily. I added cpu graph and the memory part of System load monitor w/o text to achieve a serviceable taskbar meter  of cpu and memory, now handily resting at the lower right-hand corner of my panel so I can quickly and easily glance down and keep track of whats happening. Very nifty. I also noticed that all the other goodies' links are also to be found within the main menu/'start button' menus, so they don't have to be added to the panel to access them. I'll be having fun with many of them.
Thanks again.