.net - C# performance counter data is "all over the map" -

i need calculate cpu , ram usage overall system specific process. i've never done in c#. able come following code (that took samples on web site):

try {     process proc = process.getcurrentprocess();     string strprocname = proc.processname;     console.writeline("process: " + strprocname);      using (performancecounter total_cpu = new performancecounter("process", "% processor time", "_total", true))     {         using (performancecounter process_cpu = new performancecounter("process", "% processor time", strprocname, true))         {             (; ; )             {                 console.cursortop = 1;                 console.cursorleft = 0;                  float t = total_cpu.nextvalue() / environment.processorcount;                 float p = process_cpu.nextvalue() / environment.processorcount;                 console.writeline(string.format("total cpu (%) = {0}\t\t\napp cpu (%) = {1}\t\t\napp ram (kb) = {2}",                     t, p, process.getcurrentprocess().workingset64 / (1024)                     ));                  system.threading.thread.sleep(100);             }         }     } } catch(exception ex) {     console.writeline("exception: " + ex); } 

but gives me data "all on map". take look:

so can answer these points:

1. it seems running such performance counter pretty costly operation -- raises cpu usage 5%. did ton of cpu counters c++ , take pretty no cpu time run.

2. besides said above, first time loop above runs 2 second delay! literally hangs 2 seconds. normal? if is, can't believe had audacity call performance counter :)

3. even though ram reading pretty close 1 reported task manager, cpu output totally off. can tell me doing wrong here?

4. moreover, can't seem find documentation performancecounter class, can explain of these: % processor time, _total, etc? , importantly, english only? supposed localized?

5. the process there specified name. if have more 1 process under same name running. then?

here's came with, using unmanaged apis:

[dllimport("kernel32.dll")] [return: marshalas(unmanagedtype.bool)] static extern bool getprocesstimes(intptr hprocess, out system.runtime.interopservices.comtypes.filetime     lpcreationtime, out system.runtime.interopservices.comtypes.filetime lpexittime, out system.runtime.interopservices.comtypes.filetime lpkerneltime,     out system.runtime.interopservices.comtypes.filetime lpusertime);  [dllimport("kernel32.dll")] [return: marshalas(unmanagedtype.u4)] static extern uint32 gettickcount();  static bool gbsetolddata = false; static uint32 gmsoldtickcount = 0; static ulong gnsoldkerneltime = 0; static ulong gnsoldusertime = 0;  public static double getcpuusageforprocess(int nprocid = 0) {     //get cpu usage process in id in 'nprocid'     //'nprocid' = process id, or 0 current process     //return:     //      = cpu usage: [0.0 - 1.0]     //      = negative if error     double fcpuusage = -1.0;     try     {         intptr hprocess = nprocid != 0 ? process.getprocessbyid(nprocid).handle : process.getcurrentprocess().handle;          system.runtime.interopservices.comtypes.filetime ftcreated, ftexit, ftkernel, ftuser;         if (getprocesstimes(hprocess, out ftcreated, out ftexit, out ftkernel, out ftuser))         {             uint32 dwmsnewtickcount = gettickcount();              ulong nsnewkerneltime = (ulong)ftkernel.dwhighdatetime;             nsnewkerneltime <<= 32;             nsnewkerneltime |= (ulong)(uint)ftkernel.dwlowdatetime;              ulong nsnewusertime = (ulong)ftuser.dwhighdatetime;             nsnewusertime <<= 32;             nsnewusertime |= (ulong)(uint)ftuser.dwlowdatetime;              if (gbsetolddata)             {                 //adjust 100-nanosecond intervals milliseconds                 //100-nanosecond intervals = 100 * 10^-9 = 10^-7                 //1ms = 10^-3                 fcpuusage = (double)((nsnewkerneltime - gnsoldkerneltime) + (nsnewusertime - gnsoldusertime)) /                     (double)((dwmsnewtickcount - gmsoldtickcount) * 10000);                  //account multiprocessor architecture                 fcpuusage /= environment.processorcount;                  //in case timer api report inaccurate                 if (fcpuusage > 1.0)                     fcpuusage = 1.0;             }             else             {                 //for first run, assume no cpu usage                 fcpuusage = 0.0;             }              //remember data             gnsoldkerneltime = nsnewkerneltime;             gnsoldusertime = nsnewusertime;             gmsoldtickcount = dwmsnewtickcount;             gbsetolddata = true;         }     }     catch     {         //failed         fcpuusage = -1.0;     }      return fcpuusage; } 

and how you'd call it:

int ndummy = 1;  (; ; ) {     double fcpu = getcpuusageforprocess();      console.cursortop = 1;     console.cursorleft = 0;      int ncpu = (int)(fcpu * 100);     console.writeline("cpu%: {0}\t\t", ncpu);      //time filler     long j = 0;     (; j < 1000000; j++)     {         ndummy += (int)math.cos(1 / (j + 1));     }      //don't hog cpu time!     system.threading.thread.sleep(500); } 

i'm not sure if .net has similar method. if there's 1 (that doesn't have limitations posted above) i'd hear it?