MKN TaskExplorer

MKN TaskExplorer is an advanced task manager that offers more features than the Windows Task Manager for overviewing and controlling currently running processes. It shows detailed information, such as performance and memory graphs, loaded DLLs, threads, and the access token.

Wrapped up in a classical interface, the utility displays all running processes at startup in a hierarchical view, so you can also find out the processes which depend on each other.

Process details include CPU and RAM usage, I/O rate, process ID and description, full path, start time, user name and handles, user and GDI objects, in addition to a graph that monitors performance history. The list can be sorted by any of these columns.

Extended process properties reveal general data (e.g. copyright, file version, timestamp, architecture type), starting conditions about the program which started the process, performance statistics on CPU usage, I/O operations and other factors, memory and system resources consumption, network connections established by the process, together with threads which run in the process' context.

It's possible to pause or page out processes, modify their priority or refresh rate, bring their window to the front or close it, open containing folders, keep MKN TaskExplorer running in the background, as well as to terminate, restart or run a new process. The PC can be turned off or restarted, or the user can be logged off.

MKN TaskExplorer features two extra tools that run independent from the software: a performance monitor which has graphs dedicated to the I/O history and each processor's activity, along with a memory monitor that performs one-click optimization after configuring settings (e.g. when the system is idle, when less than x size of physical memory is available).

The application can be integrated into Windows by replacing the built-in Task Manager. Alternatively, you can set a different combination of hotkeys for launching MKN TaskExplorer. It can be minimized to the systray and asked to show the system performance graph when hovering over the tray icon.

We haven't found any programs in our tests as far as stability is concerned, as the tool didn't hang, crash or prompt error dialogs. It left a small footprint on system resources consumption. MKN TaskExplorer brings to the table advanced and approachable options for viewing extensive information and controlling processes. Too bad that it hasn't been updated for a long time.