Introduction: USB CPU and Memory Monitor
This little device shows you the CPU-load, how much physical and virtual memory is used. It shows this data per 10% on 3 ledbars. To do so it uses a VCP (Virtual COM Port), so that it can be connected to a PC via a USB connection to receive the data. Collecting the data and sending it to the device is done by a Python script.
By building my own onboard UART to USB converter and using SMD, I was able to make a relatively small device.
As always, comments and constructive criticisme are very much appreciated.
Step 1: What Do You Need?
- An attiny2313 (datasheet)
- A FT232RL Uart to USB converter (datasheet)
- A Mini USB B connector
- 3 x Kingbright DC-10EWA Ledbar(datasheet)
- 10 x 150Ohm resistor
- A ferrite bead
- 2 x 100nF capacitor
- A 10nF capacitor
- A 4.7uF capacitor
- A 6pin female header
- Materials to make a PCB or some veroboard
- A Programmer and compiler of your choice
To run the python script on your pc, you will need:
As always, you can use thru-hole components instead of smd parts.
Step 2: The Circuit
The circuit for this project is fairly easy. The USB part of the schematic can be found in the datasheet of the FT232RL as a USB-powered device with a microcontroller.
There are 2 connections from the FT232RL to the attiny2313: RX and TX (actually we need only The TX of the FT2313RL to the RX of attiny but connecting both lines makes debugging the microcontroller a lot easier).
The 3 ledbars are multiplexed. Their cathodes are connected to Port B, PortD.5 and PortD.6. The anodes are connected to Portd.2 - 4.
Miso, Mosi, SCK and Reset are connected to the header for programming together with VCC and GND.
Step 3: Programming
Once everything is soldered together and tested, you can load the actual code.
My code is written in BascomAVR so I added the original .bas-file here for other Bascom users and the code in a .txt-file as reference for C-programmers. I also added a .hex-file so that you can use it immediately.
The code receives the data via the USB and and multiplexes it into the 3 ledbars. The first one is the CPU-load, the second one is the physical memory and the last one is the virtual memory.
Step 4: The Python Script
'And now for something completely different...'
Indeed, a bit of Python.
I wrote the script in Python 2.7 while using PySerial and Psutil. You´ll need to download those 2 modules (links can be found in Step 1).
The script collects the CPU and Memory data via the Psutil-module and sends them over the virtual COM-port to the device.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
import sys
import serial
import psutil
ser = serial.Serial(2) #Change this according to your own COM-port. Remeber that the value you should add is one less than the
number of your COM-port.
while True:
q = psutil.cpu_percent(interval=1)
q = q/10
cpuload = '%.0f'%(q)
cpuload = 'a'+ cpuload
print cpuload
ser.write(cpuload)
q = psutil.phymem_usage()
mem = '%.0f'%(q.percent/10)
mem = 'b'+mem
print mem
ser.write(mem)
q = psutil.virtmem_usage()
virtmem = '%.0f'%(q.percent/10)
virtmem = 'c'+virtmem
print virtmem
ser.write(virtmem)
ser.close
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24 Comments
1 year ago on Introduction
That was cool can you tell me how you made it
Reply 1 year ago
i want to make one but i dont have the materials
11 years ago on Introduction
Can you run analog gauges from it in place of led bar graph.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
It is possible but you would need a totally different circuit. This ledbars have a connection for each led so the microcontroller chooses a led to light up according to the data. To drive analog gauges, you would need a digital to analog converter to drive the gauges.
11 years ago on Introduction
This looks like a really cool gadget but it would be even cooler if it were bluetooth making it wireless. Is that possible?
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
All kinds of wireless communication are possible but an USB cable is one of the easiest ways to communicate.
12 years ago on Introduction
It would be awesome if you could make something like this to show the available/used memory on like an external hardrive
12 years ago on Introduction
When you say "ferrite beads", do you mean this sort of thing: http://lairdtech.thomasnet.com/viewitems/ferrite-beads-on-wire/axial-lead-beads-power-filtering?forward=1
12 years ago on Introduction
I'm looking at building this, so I have to ask if it is possible to have 2 cores showing independently, and just the free physical memory, instead of the setup shown here? And if so, could you please show me the changes I need to make (I'm a Python newbie)?
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
I wrote you a code for the dual core setup. If you use this code with the same hex-file loaded in the microcontroller then the first bar is core1, the second is core2 and the last is your physical memory.
Good luck with your project.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
Thank you!
12 years ago on Introduction
Awesome work buddy.
You just inspired me, I was looking for something pretty to put on my computer, and be able to call it "mod".
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
Thanks!
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
I read through everything in detail, also the documentation for psutil, I couldn't spot a "function" to read the GPU usage, can you give me a few tips? perhaps another library, thanks in advance.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
There are indeed no functions to readout the graphic processing unit. Psutil workks only for CPU, memory and disks.
12 years ago on Introduction
was thinking,maybe you could add another 2 led bars onto it for Hard Driv(C drive) temperature and fan speed readings as well.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
I is very easy to do indeed as there are still 2 free I/O pins on the Attiny. It can also be reprogrammed so that it gives the CPU-load of the 2 separate cores instead of the total CPU-load.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
good idea!
12 years ago on Introduction
Interesting application. I use several Widgets on a 2 monitor setup to monitor system activity so I don't really need this, but I'm glad you showed how to do it. It reminds me of why people climb mountains - because they are there. In this case, it is because you can. Great job. Exposure to the code is enough for me.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
Great to see that there are people who understand that 'because I can' is a great motivation to build stuff. Most of my projects are not really original or pretty but build to see whether I can build it and to learn from it.