If you need a cool way of monitoring your computer performance this DIY Computer Performance Monitor which is based on the PIC18F2550 should fit the bill.
“The USB Performance monitor is a PIC18F2550 based device which shows the performance of your computer using two analogue meters and a RGB LED. The design is based around a stock Hi-Fi VU-meter which is controlled using PWM from the PIC18F microcontroller.”
