home Medicines from A to Z A program for monitoring installed equipment in a PC. What programs will help determine the hardware of a computer?

A program for monitoring installed equipment in a PC. What programs will help determine the hardware of a computer?

A free program for diagnosing your computer, identifying installed devices and programs, and testing its performance.

I won’t say very often, but sometimes we need to find out all the data about our computer. For example, you are planning to shell out a certain amount of hard-earned money to purchase a new super-mega game. You bought it, but it flatly refuses to start because your system does not have enough RAM or video card power.

To avoid such misunderstandings from recurring, I advise you to always use programs to determine the computer configuration. Many people use such famous packages as Everest or SiSoftware Sandra Lite for this purpose.

But, since the first one is paid, and the second one has a rather large distribution size, we will look for an alternative. And she is there!

Meet the third player in the computer testing arena - PC-Wizard. The English company CPUID, also known for its product CPU-Z, tried to make a free, but quite competitive program. And she succeeded.

Advantages of PC-Wizard

small size installation distribution (zip archive 3 megabytes);
complete and in-depth PC analysis;
availability of tools for benchmarking (system tests);
clarity of information presentation;
simplicity and clarity of the interface;
ability to view hidden system files.

As they say, why pay more :). To better understand the functions and capabilities of PC-Wizard, let's download and install it on your computer. Installed? Now let's launch the program and wait a few seconds while it checks the configuration of your PC.

Before you is the main window where you can see general information about the system.

PC-Wizard interface

The program window is divided into several zones. On the left is the menu for selecting the components to be tested, on the right is the information window. The latter consists of two parts. The top section displays general information, but if you click on one of the list components, the bottom section displays detailed information about the selected item.

Interestingly, if you minimize PC-Wizard, it will display information about your processor.

There are several menu options on the left side. These are “Hardware”, “Configuration”, “System Files”, “Resources” and “Test”. Let's deal with everything in order.

Information about computer components

Using the “Hardware” menu you can find out everything about the hardware of your computer. This is general information about the system, motherboard, processor, video subsystem, input/output ports, CD/DVD drives, printers, connected devices, audio subsystem, network, power status and temperature conditions.

In order to view information about a particular component, select the section you are interested in and all the data about it will be displayed in the field on the right.

The “Configuration” menu allows you to view information about the software component of the computer.

Information about installed programs

There are already 21 points, so there is a lot to explore. Among the features, it is worth noting the ability to obtain information about Windows, control panel settings, running processes, startup and others. An interesting opportunity is also to look at the system load statistics (for some reason the name remains in English - UpTime statistics.

System File Information

In the “System Files” menu you will see information about all the files that are responsible for the operation of the system.

These include files such as Boot.ini, Config.nt, System.ini, Event Log and others. Another interesting item is “CMOS Values”. With its help you can view the CMOS settings of your PC (but, unfortunately, not configure it :).

Ports and other resources

The "Resources" menu displays highly specialized information about the involved ports and some properties of individual system components.

Computer Performance Testing Tools

And finally, the last menu is “Test”. This menu provides you with the opportunity to conduct some performance tests of the system and its individual components.

There are both standard tests (system performance, processor test, video subsystem test, memory tests...) and more exotic ones (processor computing ability test and mp3 compression speed test).

A plus is the ability to view test results in the form of a graph (it can be saved by pressing F11), as well as the ability to compare the results of your test with the results of testing other PCs (click the “Compare with...” button).

Additional functions

In addition, the program has a number of other functions. All data can be saved to a file (the “Save As” button), printed (the “Print” button, respectively), copied to the clipboard (“Copy”), or sent as a report to your email (for this Mailbox must be created in the MS Outlook mail agent).

PC-Wizard also has a function to search for the file you need (the “Find file” button). By clicking on the “Next” button, you will be able to see your network environment (unfortunately, you will not be able to view the contents of folders on other computers).

The Device Manager button displays brief information about all computer components, “Overclocking Information” will help you quickly get basic information about the timings, temperatures and frequencies of the processor, video card and memory.

There are two more points, without which our review would be incomplete. If you go to the “Tools” menu, you will see two untranslated items in English. You may not particularly need them, but we are obliged to consider them. The first is System Test Stability. It is another test of processor stability and motherboard.

Operating principle: the processor is maximally loaded and operates under such conditions for a long time. At the same time, measurements of its temperature and the temperature of the motherboard are taken. It should not exceed 100°C for the processor and 60°C for the motherboard.

The second item we will consider is Processor Monitoring. This is almost a standard Windows performance manager with a slightly modified interface. It allows you to track the processor core load history, operating frequency and voltage.

The program has practically no disadvantages, but it is worth paying attention to the shortcomings of the translators (not all points were translated into Russian), as well as some bugs (I found two - who has more :).

conclusions

Overall, I have a positive opinion about PC-Wizard. There is nothing superfluous here, the program consumes few resources, is quite easy to manage and undemanding to settings. Although its clearly rustic design may not be to everyone’s taste, there are no comrades in taste and color :).

P.S. Permission is granted to freely copy and quote this article, provided that an open active link to the source is indicated and the authorship of Ruslan Tertyshny is preserved.

Computer testing is necessary to quickly identify any problems in the system, both at the software and hardware levels.

If the test program shows a result that is different from normal, this indicates that one or more devices are not working correctly.

To get a more accurate diagnostic result, you should check your computer with several different programs.

Diagnostics using the Aida64 utility

This program is able to provide a report on the results of the work of all system components (hardware and programs). The utility is the most popular program for testing personal computers and laptops.

The application interface is very simple, so each user can conduct tests of the required component or the entire system as a whole.

The application interface is presented in Russian.

We will conduct a general scan of your computer for performance and possible problems using this application.

To begin the testing process, follow the instructions:

Open the program and click on the “Test” tab, which is located in the lower left corner of the program, as shown in the figure;

The testing tab presents all possible options scanning components such as memory. You can also diagnose the memory writing process and memory latency.
To test one of the elements, select it and then click on the “Start” button at the top of the toolbar;

Next, the program will show the processor power in comparison with other popular models and the main characteristics of the system, as well as possible problems;

Follow the instructions below to get a detailed system report:

Go to the main program window and click on the “Report” button, which is located on the main toolbar;

The Report Wizard will open. Click the next button to configure the outgoing report in more detail;

Select the report direction. It can be composed of software or hardware components. In this case, the hardware report will consist of diagnostic results of hardware partitions;

Then select the report format that is convenient for you and wait for the final document to be generated;
An example of the text format of the initial report on hardware partitions is shown in the figure below.

Processor testing. CPU Tester Program

Testing a processor can show its detailed parameters. This test can also be used to identify existing problems. central processor that slow down your computer.

Advice! If you have recently purchased a computer, it is advisable to test the processor and other hardware components to ensure that all hardware specifications provided by the manufacturer are correct.

You can test the processor using the CPU Tester program.

This utility has powerful functionality for testing the device’s processor and determining its basic parameters. The program is also able to identify problems and malfunctions and indicate their nature. The utility is also available online.

During testing, it is necessary to close all running programs and games, because they will additionally load the processor and the final test result will not correspond to reality.

After closing all running programs, click on the “Run Test” button to begin the process of conducting and generating testing of the central processor.

After the testing process is completed, the program will open a new user window, which will contain all the diagnostic results and processor parameters, as shown in the figure below. If desired, the report can be printed.

IN in this example The test shows that the processor operates stably, without any glitches.

Power supply testing

If your personal computer heats up too quickly, while all the fans are cleaned and working stably, you need to check the health of the power supply. It is necessary to check the voltage supply to the power supply.

Open the computer lid and disconnect the power supply from the case;

Computer power supply

Advice! To then fix the power supply in its original place, you can take a photo of its original position.

Connect the power supply to your network and test the switch.

To check the operation of the power supply at the software level, you can use the speedfan program, which can regulate the operation of the unit and control the operating modes of the computer fans.

Testing RAM. Memtest program

To test RAM, it is best to use the Memtest utility, which is designed to regulate the operation and identify faults in the computer's memory.

Testing is carried out as follows:

Testing software is downloaded and installed on the developer’s website www.memtest.org;
Then you need to create boot disk or flash drive. Disk testing will be carried out in RAM, so it will be possible to determine its performance;
You need to boot your computer from the newly created disk. You can configure the boot order of devices in the computer BIOS.
If the testing process lasts a very long time and does not stop, this indicates that the system is working normally and there are no malfunctions in the computer’s RAM.
If any problems are found, the testing process will be stopped and the user will be notified of the errors found. Then the process of starting the operating system of your personal computer or laptop will begin.

Monitor testing. IsMyLcdOK program

Monitor testing is carried out to find non-working or, as they are also called, “broken” pixels. Such pixels are unable to transmit color or information, so they will be visible on low-resolution screens.

A large number of such pixels indicates that the monitor is of poor quality or defective.

The best utility for checking your monitor image is IsMyLcdOK. This application allows the user to quickly determine the number of dead pixels on the display.

The testing process is as follows: the screen is completely painted in a certain color, the user needs to click on any place with the mouse so that the faucet is painted in new color.

This color change helps the naked eye identify bad pixels.

Testing your computer's performance in MAXON CINEBENCH R15

Testing Your Computer - Detailed Guide

The main task that a computer diagnostic program performs is to obtain as much information as possible about the software and hardware of the device.

It is used to determine whether there are enough resources to run a particular application, and to check the characteristics of the system, components and their condition.

Such programs are especially important for a person who, for some reason, needs to know the parameters of someone else’s computer and to correct errors. Determine how much memory is installed on your computer, its type and number of slots. After this, it will be much easier to choose a new suitable RAM or conclude that it is worth replacing the entire motherboard or computer (laptop);

Understand exactly how to prepare for the release of the expected game - add memory, install a more powerful processor, purchase an additional hard drive or video card;

Determine the temperature of the graphics and central processor, identifying the need to replace thermal paste;

Find out why installed programs do not work and the computer freezes - due to incorrect drivers, insufficient video memory or hardware failure.

CPU-Z

Distributed for free CPU-Z program has an unpretentious interface and allows you to obtain technical information about almost all elements of the computer:

Processor (including its model, architecture, socket, voltage, frequency, multiplier, cache size and number of cores);
Motherboard (brand, model, BIOS version, supported memory types);
RAM (volume, type and frequency);
Video card (name, size, capacity, type and frequency).

The main advantages of the application are the ability to obtain detailed and accurate information in Russian about all components of the system, which can be useful for professional users and amateurs.

Among the disadvantages is the inability to determine the temperature of the processors.

Speccy

Another one free program makes it possible to obtain detailed information about all the main components and software, from the processor and board to RAM and optical drives.

In addition, using Speccy, you can obtain data from temperature measurement sensors, finding ways to correct connection errors or installation of the ventilation system.

Naturally, the application also determines the number of RAM slots, which can be an important factor in determining the need and possibilities for upgrading a computer.

And when preparing a device for sale, Speccy can be used to quickly compile a list of components - after all, although the built-in utilities allow you to do almost the same thing, it will take more time, and some data will not be found out.

It is worth noting that the program developers are the authors of such useful software as CCleaner and Defraggler.

And among its advantages they note:

Clear and practical interface;
Quick access to important information;
No need to install an application, which may be necessary, for example, if you do not have access to account administrator;
Ability to monitor the selected parameter in real time by setting it as a tray icon;
Launch simultaneously with the system;
Free access

HWiNFO

Thanks to the HWiNFO system application, you can get maximum useful information about the system, compare the performance of individual hardware components with standard parameters and indicators of popular analogues.

In addition, the program allows you to create reports that can be used to compare the performance of individual PC elements.

All the information is quite detailed, but only concerns the equipment - you won’t be able to find out about the drivers using it.

However, this drawback is practically the only one, since the application is capable of collecting data about any devices, including even outdated equipment (for example, IDE and dial-up modems), old BIOS and video cards of any type.

In addition, the application can also test processors, memory and disks. The data obtained as a result of the test can be stored in logs. And you can control individual parameters using tray icons, which change periodically.

AIDA64 Extreme

Using the AIDA64 Extreme application gives the user the opportunity to:

Receive information about hardware components;
Determine which drivers are installed on the computer and, if necessary, look for their latest versions;
Monitor the processor temperature, responding to faults and correcting them;
Test 64-bit operating systems (for 32-bit there is a special version - AIDA32) and equipment using unique utilities;
Diagnose and monitor fan blade rotation speed and voltage;
Save the received data as a document of any format.

The benefits of the program are that you receive almost all useful information about the system and computer.

Disadvantages include the limited availability of the free demo version and high price applications, especially for domestic users.

PassMark Performance Test

The PerformanceTest application is a set of tests that can help you evaluate the performance of your computer by comparing it with other devices.

The latest version of the utility has 27 built-in programs, each of which is responsible for determining its own category of data.

These include tests for:

Processor (for encryption, information compression and calculation speed);
Video cards (for the ability to display bit-by-bit 2D and 3D graphics, animation, compatibility with graphics packages such as DirectX);
Hard disk (for writing, reading and data retrieval speed);
Optical drives (reading speed, data storage;
RAM (data access, operating speed).

The results are saved in most popular formats - from HTML to Word, after which they can be sent via e-mail, paste into website code, edit in a text editor, or print.

And the tests themselves can be imported into the application, adding new features.

The main tasks of PerformanceTest are:

Determining PC capabilities for comparison with the minimum or optimal gaming requirements;
Checking components to eliminate hardware faults;
Help in making a decision when updating your computer configuration or purchasing a new one;
Creating your own tests.

Meanwhile, the program is not distributed free of charge. Some of its features, including improved graphics tests, are available only for the version that you have to buy.

Although the application, which is freely available, is quite functional and allows you to use many settings. return to menu

CrystalDiskMark

The program, small in size and therefore quickly downloadable from the Internet, is designed to carry out tests with hard drives of any type (HDD or SSD) and with all types of interface.

The main parameters that are determined by the utility are the writing and reading speed.

The result is an advanced reading that is unlikely to be useful to a non-specialist, but for an experienced user and the person determining what problem your drive has, it is almost ideal.

In this case, testing can be carried out several times in a row, automatically averaging the results.

SpeedFan

An application suitable for finding problems with your computer - malfunctions of motherboards and graphics boards, disks, processors and coolers with various types of interfaces.

A minor drawback is the difficulty in reading data from some hard drives connected using an IDE connector.

However, the functionality of this software enough for:

Fan speed and voltage settings;
Settings limit values processor temperatures, which the application notifies the user about exceeding;
Decoding memory of various types (from SDRAM to DDR4).

The latest versions of the utility support Windows 10. The application is multilingual, including working in Russian.

And its main advantages include not only a warning so that the user can respond to malfunctions (which not every similar program can do), but also the display of a controlled temperature in the tray.

At the same time, SpeedFan is distributed free of charge.

S.I.W.

PC users who want to determine the parameters of the system and device components can also use an application such as SIW, the name of which can be deciphered as System Info for Windows.

It has a small size and a simplified interface, reminiscent of standard Windows utilities and is capable of providing all the information most necessary for the user.

For example, using SIW you can find out about latest updates system, obtain data about system files or folders, as well as about drivers, running processes and services - and in more detail than the “Task Manager” allows.

For commercial or enterprise use, a license must be purchased.

conclusions

The number of programs for checking hardware and operating systems is quite large.

New applications are almost constantly being created to help monitor computer parameters and hardware faults.

But the programs presented in the list allow you to do this as efficiently as possible, installing only 2-3 applications, and not a whole dozen - saving time and not downloading unnecessary files from the network, risking accidentally introducing a virus onto your computer.

In addition, if there is no access to the network, Windows has a number of utilities that will also allow you to find out some parameters.

Video material:

There are situations when you need to find out the exact model of a video card or any other component. Not all the necessary information can be found in the device manager or on the hardware itself. In this case, they come to the rescue special programs, which help not only to determine the model of components, but also to obtain a lot of additional useful information. In this article we will look at several representatives of such software.

Both advanced users and beginners can use this program. It helps not only to obtain information about the state of the system and hardware, but also allows you to carry out some configuration and check the system with various tests.

Everest is distributed absolutely free, does not take up much space on your hard drive, and has a simple and intuitive interface. You can get general information directly in one window, but more detailed data is located in special sections and tabs.

AIDA32

This representative is one of the oldest and is considered the progenitor of Everest and AIDA64. The program has not been supported by developers for a long time, and no updates have been released, but this does not prevent it from properly performing all its functions. Using this utility, you can instantly obtain basic data about the state of your PC and its components.

More detailed information is located in separate windows, which are conveniently sorted and have their own icons. You don’t have to pay anything for the program, and the Russian language is also present, which is good news.

AIDA64

This popular program is designed to help diagnose components and conduct performance tests. It combines all the best from Everest and AIDA32, improves it and adds several additional functions that are not available in most other similar software.

Of course, you will have to pay a little for such a set of functions, but this will only need to be done once; there are no annual or monthly subscriptions. If you can’t decide on a purchase, then a free trial version with a period of one month is available on the official website. Over such a period of use, the user will definitely be able to draw a conclusion about the usefulness of the software.

HWMonitor

This utility does not have such a wide range of functions as previous representatives, but it has something unique. Its main task is not to show the user all the most detailed information about its components, but to allow them to monitor the condition and temperatures of the hardware.

The voltage, loads and heating of a specific element are displayed. Everything is divided into segments to make it easier to navigate. The program can be downloaded absolutely free from the official website, but there is no Russian version, but even without it everything is intuitive.

Speccy

Perhaps one of the most extensive programs presented in this article in terms of functionality. It combines a lot of different information and ergonomic placement of all elements. Separately, I would like to touch upon the function of creating a system snapshot. Other software also has the ability to save test or monitoring results, but most often this is only in TXT format.

It’s simply impossible to list all the features of Speccy, there are really a lot of them, it’s easier to download the program and look through each tab yourself, we assure you that learning more and more new things about your system is a very interesting thing.

CPU-Z

CPU-Z is a narrowly focused software that is focused only on providing the user with data about the processor and its state, conducting various tests with it and showing information about RAM. However, if you need to get exactly this information, then additional functions are simply not needed.

The developer of the program is the CPUID company, whose representatives will be described in this article. CPU-Z is available for free and does not require a lot of resources and hard drive space.

GPU-Z

Using this program, the user will be able to get the maximum detailed information about installed graphics adapters. The interface is designed as compactly as possible, but at the same time all the necessary data fits in one window.

GPU-Z is perfect for those who want to know everything about their graphics chip. This software is distributed absolutely free of charge and supports the Russian language, however, not all parts are translated, but this is not a significant drawback.

System Spec

System Spec - developed by one person, freely distributed, but there were not enough updates for a long time. This program does not require installation after downloading to your computer; you can use it immediately after downloading. She provides a large number of useful information not only about the hardware, but also about the state of the system as a whole.

PC Wizard

Currently this program is not supported by developers, and therefore no updates are being released. However, the latest version can be used comfortably. PC Wizard allows you to find out detailed information about components, track their condition and conduct several performance tests.

The interface is quite simple and clear, and the presence of the Russian language helps you quickly understand all the functions of the program. You can download and use it absolutely free.

SiSoftware Sandra

SiSoftware Sandra is distributed for a fee, but for its money it provides the user with a wide range of functions and capabilities. What’s unique about this program is that you can connect to your computer remotely, you just need to have access to do so. In addition, it is possible to connect to servers or simply to a local computer.

This software allows you to monitor the state of the system as a whole and find out detailed information about the hardware. You can also find partitions with installed programs, various files and drivers. All this can be edited. Downloading the latest version in Russian is available on the official website.

BatteryInfoView

A narrowly focused utility whose purpose is to display data about the installed battery and monitor its condition. Unfortunately, she can’t do anything else, but she completely fulfills her task. Flexible configuration and a number of additional functionality are available.

All detailed information can be opened with one click, and the Russian language allows you to master the software even faster. You can download BatteryInfoView from the official website for free, and there is also a crack with installation instructions.

Is not full list all programs that provide information about PC components, however, during testing they showed themselves to be quite good, and even a few of them will be quite enough to receive all possible detailed information not only about components, but also about operating system.

TOP programs for computer diagnostics

Your computer has become faulty again, but you don't know what the problem is? Maybe you are thinking about selling your hardware, but collecting information with built-in applications takes a lot of time, and you would like to find a solution faster and easier? Then you can pay attention to computer diagnostic programs. We have compiled a small rating, all of them have already proven themselves to be reliable and quick help, so we can recommend them for work.

Pivot table

Name	Purpose	Version/Year	Spreading	Website
	A system utility that allows you to obtain information about all computer components	v1.32.740	Free / Paid PRO version	DOWNLOAD
	A system utility that allows you to obtain information about all computer components. As well as readings from the system’s temperature sensors	v5.86/2018	Free	DOWNLOAD
	A system utility that contains all the necessary information about your computer. As well as a large number of PC performance and stability tests	v5.97.4600/2018	Shareware 30 days License ($39.95 for 3 PCs)	DOWNLOAD
	View characteristics of the processor, motherboard, memory (RAM), Benchmark and stress test of the processor.	v1.85.0 / 2018	Free	DOWNLOAD
PerformanceTest	The system utility contains general information about the PC, as well as a large list of performance tests for both the system and individual elements	v9.0 (Build 1025) / 2018		DOWNLOAD
HWMONITOR	Convenient utility for monitoring temperature sensors, fan speeds and system voltage	v1.35/2018	Free	DOWNLOAD
SpeedFan	The utility monitors system temperature sensors and controls speed active system PC cooling	v4.52/2017	Free	DOWNLOAD
	A comprehensive utility with great functionality. Contains information about system hardware, as well as installed software	v8.3.0710/2018	Shareware 30 days License ($19.00)	DOWNLOAD
Memtest86+	Utility for testing the performance of random access memory (RAM)	v5.01/2013	Free	DOWNLOAD
CrystalDiskInfo	Utility for testing hard drives (HDD/SSD)	v7.6.1/2018	Free	DOWNLOAD
Passmark Keyboard Test	Utility for testing the functionality of the data input device (keyboard)	v3.2 (Build 1002) / 2017	Shareware 30 days License ($29.00)	DOWNLOAD
Monitor Test	Computer screen testing utility	v3.2 (Build 1006) / 2018	Shareware 30 days License ($29.00)	DOWNLOAD

Why is it necessary to monitor your PC system?

Any computer and laptop is a complex machine that every second performs many processes from displaying a picture on the screen to writing a letter pressed on the keyboard. That is why it is important to constantly monitor the condition of your device, noticing problems that arise in the operation in time, because one incorrectly functioning element can break the operation of the entire machine.

Programs that conduct a complete diagnostic of the entire PC help to track incorrect operation.. As an example, they can determine how much memory is installed on your laptop, as well as the type of memory and the number of slots. Why do you need this information?

The computer technician will tell you that this will help you find a new, more suitable RAM. With new data, you will be able to understand whether you need to change the motherboard, whether to add memory, whether to install a more powerful processor, whether to buy an additional HDD. Some utilities will monitor the temperature of the processors to tell you if the thermal paste needs to be replaced to avoid overheating. In general, all diagnostic type applications will help you find out why your PC or a specific installed program is not working. To understand which utility to install for you, it remains to learn more about each of our ratings.

Diagnostic highlights

Inexperienced PC users are sure that they will not be able to cope with the problems that have arisen, and immediately run to computer specialists and service centers without trying to figure it out yourself. However, it is enough to find out what problems may occur with your computer in order to find out what the problem is and solve it on your own.

The following may interfere with the operation of your computer or laptop:

Overheating of chips and connectors due to dust
Severe oxidation of contacts
Incorrect grounding
Unstable operation of the power supply
Overheating of PC components due to excessive cooling
Burnout of components due to overvoltage or power surge

The reports that any utility will produce will tell you exactly where non-standard parameters are observed. Also, if the situation is clearly beyond your capabilities, you can take the diagnostic result to the specialist or send it by email.

If you experience incorrect operation of only one element, then you should download a utility whose work is aimed at analyzing its performance. For example, for graphics cards, it is important that the benchmark still evaluates the PC's performance. And to analyze the performance of hard drives, you will have to compare the results with the characteristics of drives on other devices.

Description of diagnostic programs: top 12 leaders

We have selected all the necessary tools available on the Internet. The programs have different purposes and a variety of functionality, you just have to find the best option for you. Remember that sometimes it is necessary to install several programs at once in order to carry out not only a general scan of the computer, but testing and comparison with analogues.