Computer diagnostics programs. Diagnose and troubleshoot your PC (best programs). Power supply software diagnostics

In order to measure the performance of a computer using tests, it is not necessary to download any third-party applications and utilities.

It is enough to use the resources already built into the operating system.

Although, for more detailed information, the user will have to find a suitable program.

Based on the test results, it is possible to draw conclusions which of the parts of a PC or laptop needs to be replaced before the rest - and sometimes just understand about the need to buy a new computer.

The need to check

Testing the speed of the computer is available to any user. Verification does not require any specialized knowledge or experience with certain versions of Windows. And the process itself is unlikely to take more than an hour.

Reasons to use the built-in utility or third-party application include:

unreasonable slowdown of the computer. Moreover, not necessarily the old one - a check is needed to identify problems with new PCs. So, for example, the minimum results and indicators of a good video card indicate incorrectly installed drivers;
checking the device when choosing several similar configurations in a computer store. This is usually done before buying laptops - running a test on 2-3 devices that are practically the same in terms of parameters helps to find out which one suits the buyer better;

the need to compare the capabilities of various components of a gradually upgraded computer. So, if the HDD has the least performance value, then it should be replaced first (for example, with an SSD).

According to the test results, which revealed the speed at which the computer performs various tasks, you can find driver problems and incompatibility of installed devices. And sometimes even poorly functioning and broken parts - for this, however, you will need more functional utilities than those that are built into Windows by default. Standard tests show a minimum of information.

Checking by means of the system

You can check the performance of individual components of your computer using the built-in capabilities of the Windows operating system. The principle of operation and information content are approximately the same for all versions of the platform from Microsoft. And the differences are only in the way of starting and reading information.

Windows Vista, 7 and 8

For the 7th and 8th versions of the platform, as well as Windows Vista, the performance counter of computer elements can be found in the list of basic information about the operating system. To display them on the screen, just right-click on the "My Computer" icon and select properties.

If testing has already been carried out, information on its results will be available immediately. If this is the first time the test is being performed, you will have to run it by going to the performance check menu.

The maximum score that Windows 7 and 8 can get is 7.9. It is worth thinking about the need to replace parts if at least one of the indicators is below 4. The gamer is more suitable for values above 6. Windows Vista has the best indicator of 5.9, and the "critical" indicator is about 3.

Important: To speed up performance calculations, almost all programs should be turned off during the test. When testing a laptop, it is advisable to plug it in - the process consumes battery power noticeably.

Windows 8.1 and 10

For more modern operating systems, it is no longer so easy to find information about computer performance and start calculating it. To run the utility that estimates system parameters, you should follow these steps:

1Go to the operating system command prompt(cmd via menu "Run" rollover Win + R);

2Include an assessment process by leading the team winsat formal –restart clean;

3Wait for work to finish;

4 Go to folder Performance \ WinSAT \ DataStore located in the Windows system directory on the computer's system drive;

5 Find and open a file in a text editor "Formal.Assessment (Recent) .WinSAT.xml".

Among the set of text, the user must find the WinSPR block, where approximately the same data is located that are displayed on the screen and systems Windows 7 and 8 - only in a different form.

So, under the title SystemScore hides the general index calculated by the minimum value, and MemoryScore, CpuScore and GraphicsScore denote the metrics for memory, processor, and graphics card, respectively. GamingScore and DiskScore- performance for the game and for reading / writing the hard disk.

The maximum value of the indicator for Windows 10 and version 8.1 is 9.9. This means that the owner of an office computer can still afford to have a system with numbers less than 6, but for a full-fledged PC and laptop, it must reach at least 7. And for a gaming device - at least 8.

Universal way

There is a method that is the same for any operating system. It consists in launching the Task Manager after pressing the Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys. A similar effect can be achieved by right-clicking on the taskbar - there you can find an item that launches the same utility.

You can see several graphs on the screen - for the processor (for each thread separately) and RAM. For more details, go to the Resource Monitor menu.

From this information, you can determine how heavily loaded the individual components of the PC. First of all, this can be done by the percentage of loading, secondly - by the color of the line ( green means the component is working normally, yellow- moderate, Red- the need to replace a component).

Third Party Programs

It's even easier to check your computer's performance with third-party apps.

Some of them are paid or shareware (that is, requiring payment after the trial period or to improve functionality).

However, testing of these applications is carried out in more detail - and quite often they also give out many other useful information for the user.

1. AIDA64

AIDA64 contains benchmarks for memory, cache, HDDs, SSDs and flash drives. And when testing a processor, 32 threads can be checked at once. Among all these advantages, there is also a small drawback - you can use the program for free only for a "trial period" of 30 days. And then you have to either switch to another application, or pay 2265 rubles. for a license.

2. SiSoftware Sandra Lite

3. 3DMark

4. PCMark 10

The application allows not only to test the operation of computer elements, but also to save the test results for future use. The app's only drawback is its relatively high cost. You will have to pay $ 30 for it.

5. CINEBENCH

Test images consist of 300 thousand polygonal images, which are combined into more than 2000 objects. And the results are displayed in the form PTS indicator - the larger it is, the more powerful the computer... The program is distributed free of charge, which makes it easy to find and download it on the net.

6. ExperienceIndexOK

Information is displayed on the screen in points. The maximum number is 9.9, as for the latest versions of Windows. It is for them that ExperienceIndexOK is designed to work. It is much easier to use such a program than to enter commands and search the system directory for files with results.

7. CrystalDiskMark

To test the disk, select the disk and set the test parameters. That is, the number of runs and the size of the file that will be used for diagnostics. After a few minutes, the screen will display information about the average read and write speed for the HDD.

8. PC Benchmark

After receiving the test results, the program offers to optimize the system. And after improving the work in the browser, a page opens where you can compare the performance indicators of your PC with other systems. On the same page, you can check if the computer can run some modern games.

9. Metro Experience Index

10. PassMark PerformanceTest

conclusions

Using various methods to check the performance of your computer allows you to check how your system is performing. And, if necessary, compare the speed of individual elements with those of other models. For a preliminary assessment, such a test can also be carried out using the built-in utilities. Although it is much more convenient to download special applications for this, especially since among them you can find several quite functional and free ones.

Video:

And ending with the expansion or replacement of components.

Photo source: Jeff Hester / CC BY-NC-SA

Diagnostic software useful, for example, if you need to expand memory - this is one of the simplest and most common computer upgrades. If you don't know what memory do I need to buy, then the advice is simple - the same as you already have, and this will be prompted by the programs presented below.

For example, Speccy will tell you, in addition to how many free slots for additional memory are in the computer, and if all of them are already occupied, in which case we will have to replace the current memory with modules of higher capacity.

The programs from this section will be of invaluable help if we are waiting for the release of our favorite game with stunning graphics and want to check if the computer will meet its technical requirements. The applications presented here display detailed information about the components of the computer.

Some measure the temperatures of devices during operation and are capable of displaying information in the tray. Some of them are testing programs that allow you to check the operation of computer components under a certain load.

Possibility monitoring the status of your computer and getting information about its configuration without resorting to paper instructions, this is a tremendous advantage of modern electronics. When we only need to monitor the temperature and fan speeds, it is enough to use SpeedFan, which, by the way, will help in diagnosing the hard drive and SSD.

CPU-Z and GPU-Z are simple applications that will provide comprehensive information about the processor, video card and memory - this data will be appreciated by people planning to replace hardware or want to compare their computer with other machines.

To find out all the secrets of your computer: Not only the main components, but also the peripherals, operating system and software, use programs such as Speccy, AIDA64 Extreme or HWiNFO. The latter is also a great alternative to SpeedFan, so you don't have to install multiple tools at the same time.

The last group of diagnostic applications, to which we refer to Passmark Performance Test and CrystalDisk Info, allows you to check the performance of components of our computer.

Diagnostics CPU-Z / GPU-Z

Diagnostic programs that display additional information about the components of your computer.

pros:

Accurate information about processor, memory, motherboard BIOS.
The current clock speed of the processor and memory.
Useful for beginners and advanced overclockers.
Exact GPU specification.

Minuses:

Lack of temperature measurements

English language

Price: free

Speccy - component details

pros:

Accurate node information.
Elegant and intuitive interface.
The selected variable can be displayed as a tray icon.
Available in portable version.
Bypasses the UAC window, can start with the system.

Russian language
Distribution Type: freeware
Price: free

Information about computer nodes in HWiNFO

A program that displays information about nodes. Generates reports and allows you to check and compare the performance of computer components.

pros:

Shows a lot of data.
Supports temperature sensors.
Displays operating parameters as dynamically changing icons in the system tray.
Supports old and new hardware versions, including server configurations.

English language
Distribution Type: freeware
Price: free

AIDA64 Extreme is a powerful diagnostic tool

AIDA64 Extreme has long been known as a powerful computer diagnostic tool. Displays information about components, programs and drivers, temperature. Allows you to run tests.

pros:

Complete information about the entire hardware and software configuration of the computer.
Convenient wizard for creating reports.
Allows you to test stability under heavy load.
Basic set of tests.

Minuses:

In the demo version, some of the results are hidden.

Russian language
Distribution Type: trial
Price: approx. 40 $

PassMark Performance Test - Component Testing

A program for testing computer components. You can get a detailed analysis of them. The test results can be compared with the results of other users.

pros:

Shows the basic facts.
Extensive comparison of test results.
Lots of tests for various components.
The ability to customize tests.
You can copy the equipment summary to the clipboard.

English language
Distribution Type: trial
Price: approx. 27 $

CrystalDiskMark - Simple Disk Testing Tool

CrystalDiskMark is a compact and easy-to-use hard drive testing tool. Checks in a short test the speed of writing and reading data. Presents measurement results in a convenient and attractive way.

pros:

Takes measurements for various sizes of test pieces.
You can set the number of test passes, the results are average.
Tests read and write speed: continuous, sequential.

English language
Distribution Type: freeware
Price: free

SpeedFan - Monitoring Legend

Legendary application, the main task of which is to monitor voltages, component temperatures and fan speeds, as well as monitor the operation of the cooling system.

pros:

Displays component temperatures in the system tray.
Signals visually exceeding the permitted operating parameters.
Knows how to control the fan speed when the equipment allows such adjustment.
Equipped with a tool to monitor SMART hard disk data.

Russian language
Distribution Type: freeware
Price: free

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

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

In order not to repeat such misunderstandings, I advise you to always use programs to determine the configuration of your computer. Many people use for this purpose such famous packages as Everest or SiSoftware Sandra Lite.

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

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

Benefits of PC-Wizard

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

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

In front of you is the main window, which displays general information about the system.

PC-Wizard interface

The program window is divided into several zones. On the left - the menu for selecting the tested components, on the right - the details window. The latter consists of two parts. The upper part displays general information, but if you click on one of the components of the list, the lower part displays detailed information about the selected item.

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

There are several menu items on the left. These are Hardware, Configuration, System Files, Resources, and Test. Let's deal with all of them in order.

Information about computer components

With the help of the "Hardware" menu you can find out everything about the hardware of your computer. It provides general information about the system, motherboard, processor, video subsystem, I / O 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 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 your computer.

Information about installed programs

There are as many as 21 points here, so there is a lot to explore. Among the possibilities, 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 statistics of system loads (for some reason the name remained in English - UpTime statistics.

Information about system files

In the "System files" menu, you will see information about all the files that are responsible for the operation of the system.

Among them are files such as Boot.ini, Config.nt, System.ini, Event Log and others. An interesting point is also "CMOS Values". With it, you can view the CMOS settings of your PC (but, unfortunately, not set them up :).

Ports and other resources

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

Computer Performance Testing Tools

And finally, the last menu is "Test". This menu gives you the opportunity to carry out some performance tests of the system and its individual components.

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

The advantage is the ability to view the test results in the form of a graph (you can save it by pressing F11), as well as the ability to compare the results of your test with the test results of 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 a mailbox must be created in the mail MS Outlook agent).

The PC-Wizard also has a function to find 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 components of the computer, "Overclocking Information" will help you quickly get basic information about the timings, temperature 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. Especially you may not need them, but we are obliged to consider them. The first is System Test Stability. It is another test of the stability of the processor and motherboard.

Principle of operation: the processor is loaded as much as possible and in such conditions it works for a long time. In this case, measurements are made of its temperature and the temperature of the motherboard. It should not exceed 100 ° C for the processor and 60 ° C for the motherboard.

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

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

conclusions

On the whole, I have a positive opinion about PC-Wizard. There is nothing superfluous here, the program consumes few resources, is quite simple to operate 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. It is allowed to freely copy and cite this article, provided that an open active link to the source is indicated and the authorship of Ruslan Tertyshny is preserved.

As practice shows, the capabilities of their own computer suit users only for the time being - sooner or later they have to resort to an upgrade. Everything is trite and simple - new versions of the OS and applications used, as a rule, require more and more resources. The easiest way to update your PC is to purchase a new system unit with modern "stuffing", which, if you have money, is not difficult. However, this is not always wise - often it is enough to resort to replacing individual components to increase productivity.

To choose an upgrade strategy, you need to find out what hardware is installed and understand what the computer lacks for faster operation - processor power, video system capabilities, memory size, hard disk read / write speed, etc. But this is only one side of the coin. After purchasing a new system unit or upgrading an old one, you will need to quickly find out whether the “filling” of the system unit corresponds to the one declared at the time of purchase (without opening the unit itself, since there may be a seal on it), assess how much the performance has increased, and understand whether the computer is really stable works.

Any professional collector (and all overclocking enthusiasts) can easily solve the listed tasks, since he has in his arsenal a lot of various and highly specialized information and diagnostic tools. An ordinary user does not need to acquire such solutions, however, it is still necessary to install a simple complex utility to obtain information about the hardware and test the computer. It is these programs that we will consider in this article.

Retrieving hardware data

Theoretically, any information and diagnostic utility is capable of recognizing the "stuffing" of the system unit. However, not every program is able to identify new models of processors, video cards and other hardware (it all depends on the completeness of the database and the regularity of its updating), and the amount of information on the identified components can be different - from minimal to exhaustive.

Among the solutions considered, the program has the most detailed information. AIDA64, which knows almost everything about any hardware, including the latest innovations. For example, this utility will be able to recognize recently appeared on the market solid-state drives Intel 510 and 320, video cards AMD Radeon HD 6790 and NVIDIA GeForce GT 520M, five new mobile video cards of the Quadro M series from NVIDIA, etc.

Using AIDA64, you can easily find out everything about the processor, motherboard, video card, network adapter, storage devices (including the most modern SSDs) and input devices, multimedia, as well as ports, external connected devices and power management. The program is able to determine the type of flash memory, controller model (it supports reading SMART-information of controllers manufactured by Indilinx, Intel, JMicron, Samsung and SandForce) and baud rate. Moreover, the utility recognizes USB 3.0 controllers and devices that are compatible with this new standard.

The amount of data provided by AIDA64 is impressive - access to them is provided from the tree-like menu of the sections that unite the main modules of the program. So, through the section A computer It is easy to get aggregate information about hardware components, the system and BIOS, as well as data on processor overclocking, power supply features, the state of hardware monitoring system sensors, etc. (Fig. 1).

Rice. 1. Summary information about the computer (AIDA64)

In other "iron" sections, more detailed information is provided - so in the section Motherboard there is detailed information about the central processor, motherboard, memory, BIOS, etc. Display it is easy to get information related to the graphical interface of the system (in particular, data on the video adapter and monitor - Fig. 2), and in the section Multimedia learn about the multimedia capabilities of the system (multimedia devices and installed audio and video codecs).

Rice. 2. Video card data (AIDA64)

In chapter Data storage provides information about hard drives and optical drives, as well as the logical and physical structure of hard drives, the values and statuses of SMART parameters. You can find information about network adapters in the section Network, and about buses, ports, keyboard, mouse, etc. - in the section Devices... Also from the menu Service the panel opens AIDA64 CPUID(Fig. 3), which displays data on the processor, motherboard, memory and chipset in a compact form.

Rice. 3. Panel AIDA64 CPUID

Program SiSoftware Sandra It is also very informative and allows you to get comprehensive information about almost all hardware components of a computer system. In particular, the utility displays summary data about the computer as a whole (Fig. 4) - that is, basic information about the processor, motherboard, chipset, memory modules, video system, etc. (tab Devices, pictogram System information).

Rice. 4. Computer Summary (SiSoftware Sandra)

Along with summary information, in the tab Devices The utility also provides more detailed information about the motherboard and processor, display and video adapter (Fig. 5), memory, buses and devices installed in them, about disks, ports, mouse, keyboard, sound card, etc. sensors, then to obtain them, you will need to run not an information, but a diagnostic module Environment Monitor(tab Instruments). This module provides display of text and graphic information about processor temperature, fan speed, voltage, etc.

Rice. 5. Video System Data (SiSoftware Sandra)

Utility PC Wizard provides access to information about the main hardware modules installed in the computer: motherboard, processor, video card, memory, I / O ports, drives, printers, multimedia devices, printers, etc. All this data is available on the tab Iron... By activating the pictogram on it General information about the system, you can determine in one click what exactly is in the system unit (Fig. 6) - which motherboard, which processor, etc. Other tab icons Iron help you get more detailed information about the components (Fig. 7); the amount of data provided is quite sufficient for the average user. Also, through the menu Instruments → Overclocking information you can find out if some of the system components (processor, bus or memory) were overclocked, and if so, to what limits, and also take readings from some sensors.

Rice. 6. Aggregate information about the computer (PC Wizard)

Rice. 7. Data on the graphics subsystem (PC Wizard)

Utility HWiNFO32 will also allow you to learn a lot of interesting things about the iron "stuffing" of the computer. Immediately after launch, it starts diagnostic studies and in a matter of seconds displays a window System Summary with a compact display of data on the processor, motherboard, memory, chipset, disks, etc. (Fig. 8). This window can be called on the screen while working with the utility - by clicking on the button Summary... In addition, HWiNFO32 displays detailed information about the processor, motherboard (Fig. 9), memory, video adapter and more in the appropriate tabs - Central Processors, Motherboard, Memory, Video Adapter etc. The data on the processor, memory modules, motherboard, buses and disks are quite detailed, information on other devices is more modest. If necessary, it is easy to get the readings of the sensor sensors installed on the motherboard (temperature, voltage, etc.) by clicking on the button Sensors.

Rice. 8. Summary information about the computer (HWiNFO32)

Rice. 9. Graphics card data (HWiNFO32)

Program Fresh diagnose allows you to find out information about any iron components, however, not always detailed. For example, in the tab Hardware System you can find out about the motherboard, processor, cache memory, buses, BIOS, CMOS memory, etc. Section Device contains information about the video card (Fig. 10), peripheral devices (keyboard, printer, monitor, optical drives, etc.) and ports. In chapter Multimedia combined data on various multimedia devices, DirectX, audio and video codecs.

Rice. 10.Video card data (Fresh Diagnose)

Performance evaluation

Before upgrading, you need to assess the performance of the computer and its individual components in order to understand which hardware must be replaced immediately, and which components can wait until better times (after all, in times of crisis, not everyone decides on a complete modernization). It is quite easy to do this by performing a couple of specific benchmarking tests in the environment of a suitable diagnostic utility. After buying a new computer or upgrading an old one, it also does not hurt to conduct testing to make sure that the computer has become more productive. Of course, you can feel the result of the upgrade in the course of normal work in applications, but for the sake of completeness, it is better to make sure that the performance is improved with the help of specially designed tools for this purpose.

When conducting tests, in order to obtain a more objective assessment, it is better to close all applications, do not use the mouse and keyboard, run the same test (in the same version of the utility) several times and focus on the average result. In addition, it should be borne in mind that the same synthetic tests in different utilities are implemented in a far from identical way, so the programs show different results. And the results obtained should not be taken literally, since they do not reflect real performance, but only indicate the level of performance when performing strictly specific tasks. Nevertheless, carrying out such testing allows you to understand how outdated the hardware components installed in your computer are in comparison with the reference samples, as well as evaluate the level of performance before and after the upgrade, which we are interested in within the framework of this article.

Of greatest interest from the testing point of view are the AIDA64 and SiSoftware Sandra programs, some benchmakers of which are used even by professionals in different hardware testing methods. The capabilities of the other utilities considered in this article are limited in this regard, although some test functionality is also provided in them.

In a programme AIDA64 a wide range of benchmarking tests are presented. So, in the section Test 13 synthetic tests are combined, the first four of which evaluate memory performance - read / write / copy speed (Fig. 11), and also measure delays (testing the average time the processor reads data from RAM). The rest of the tests from this section evaluate the processor performance in integer and floating point operations, when creating ZIP archives, when performing encryption using the AES encryption algorithm, etc. (CPU Queen, CPU PhotoWorxx, CPU ZLib, CPU AES, CPU Hash, FPU VP8, FPU Julia, FPU Mandel, FPU SinJulia). All benchmarks compare performance against other systems, including the newest ones.

Rice. 11. Assessment of processor performance (CPU Queen test; AIDA64)

Through the menu Service three more benchmarking tests are available: Disc test, Cache and memory test and Monitor diagnostics... The Disk Test measures the performance of hard drives, solid state drives, optical drives, and more. The Cache and Memory Test measures the bandwidth and latency of the processor and memory caches (Figure 12). In the test Monitor diagnostics the quality of display of LCD and CRT monitors is being checked.

Rice. 12. Test cache and memory (Cashe & Memory Benchmark; AIDA64)

In terms of testing for a wide range of users, the program is even more interesting. SiSoftware Sandra, with which you can not only evaluate the performance of the PC in comparison with other reference computer configurations, but also test the computer for the need to upgrade it. Modules designed for testing the most important computer subsystems are grouped under the tab Benchmark tests... A whole group of synthetic benchmarks are designed to test the processor - arithmetic and multimedia benchmarks, multi-core efficiency benchmarks, power efficiency benchmarks, cryptographic performance, and GPGPU cryptography. Several tests are responsible for testing physical drives - including the file system test, and modules for testing physical drives, removable / flash drives, CD-ROM / DVD, and Blu-ray optical drives. Tests for testing memory are provided: memory bandwidth test, memory latency test, and cache and memory test. In addition, there are tests to assess the rendering speed and video memory performance, audio / video encoding / decoding test, network bandwidth test, Internet connection speed assessment test, etc. When testing a number of components (processor, RAM, etc.), the results are given in comparison with reference models that are more similar in characteristics. At the same time, it is possible to independently choose standards for comparison, including the most modern ones (Fig. 13), which is very convenient and allows you to quickly understand how outdated the hardware components installed in the computer are and which models are better to replace them with.

Rice. 13. Evaluation of processor performance
(arithmetic test; SiSoftware Sandra)

Two interesting test modules are presented in the tab Instruments are modules Performance index and Analysis and recommendations... Using a test Performance index the overall performance of the computer is assessed during the arithmetic and multimedia tests of the processor, the determination of the memory bandwidth, as well as testing of physical disks and a video card (Fig. 14). Reference models of components for comparison are selected by the program or by the user. Module Analysis and recommendations provides a detailed analysis of the PC for a possible upgrade. At the end of this analysis, the program gives a list of recommendations on which of the hardware components is best to replace in order to improve performance (Fig. 15), and draws attention to possible problems (for example, the complexity of adding memory due to the occupancy of all slots, too high temperature of the processor (and suggests checking the cooling), etc.).

Rice. 14. Assessment of the overall performance of the computer (SiSoftware Sandra)

Rice. 15. Analysis of the computer for an upgrade (SiSoftware Sandra)

Utility PC Wizard also includes certain functionality for testing hardware (tab Test). With its help, you can visually assess the overall performance of your computer (icon Global Performance) in comparison with other configurations and based on the test results, to understand which of the subsystems in terms of performance significantly falls short of the selected (from the pre-installed list) reference sample - that is, they need updating, and which ones turn out to be quite at the level (Fig. 16).

Rice. 16. Assessment of the overall performance of the computer (PC Wizard)

There is also a number of synthetic tests in the arsenal of PC Wizard, which allow evaluating the performance of the processor, L1 / L2 / L3 caches and memory in general (bandwidth, timing), as well as the video subsystem, hard disk, optical drive, etc. The processor provides baseline tests for Dhrystone ALU, Whetstone FPU and Whetstone SSE2 to evaluate its performance in integer and floating point operations. The test results are displayed in text and graphical form, in a number of tests it is possible to compare the results obtained with the test results of the selected reference subsystem (Fig. 17).

Rice. 17. Testing the processor (PC Wizard)

Utility HWiNFO32 is able to evaluate the performance of the processor (CPU, FPU, MMX), memory and hard disk during express testing (button Benchmark). Test results are presented in two versions - in numerical form and in the form of a comparative diagram. The diagram contains many reference components, including modern ones, so it is easy to understand how much the processor (or other component) installed in the computer is inferior in performance to modern models (Fig. 18).

Rice. 18. Processor Performance Assessment (HWiNFO32)

Program Fresh diagnose has a toolkit for determining the performance of individual components of the system. These are seven synthetic test modules in the section Benchmarks... They can be used to evaluate the performance of the processor (Whetstone, Dhrystone and multimedia tests), memory, video system, hard drives, optical drives and network adapter. The test results are compared with the base systems and presented in the form of visual histograms. True, they are not very useful, in our opinion, since outdated reference systems are selected for comparison (Fig. 19).

Rice. 19. Processor Testing (Fresh Diagnose)

Checking your computer for stability

Unfortunately, it is not a fact that the updated computer will be stable in operation. Why? There are many reasons - for example, the power supply unit may not cope well with the increased load due to the replacement of the processor or video adapter with newer models.

If such a picture takes place, then the situation should be dealt with as soon as possible - that is, before there are obvious signs of instability in the form of a blue screen of "death", etc. This means that you need to find out the temperature of the processor, motherboard and other important hardware and understand whether any component overheats under load, and also evaluate how the computer behaves in general under stress conditions. This can be done by stress testing.

Most stability tests place an intense computational load on various blocks of the CPU, system memory, GPU, and system logic set - that is, they make the computer work under stressful conditions. Unfortunately, none of these tests by themselves guarantee 100% system stability, but if the test detects a failure in the system or has not been completed, then this is a clear signal that you need to pay attention to the hardware.

Provided in AIDA64 system stability test (available through the menu Service) is intended for stress testing the processor (testing of cores separately is allowed), memory, local disks, etc. (Fig. 20). The test results are displayed on two graphs: the upper one records the temperature of the selected components, the lower one - the processor load level (CPU Usage) and the skip clock mode (CPU Throttling). Mode CPU Throttling it is activated only in case of overheating of the processor, and it should be understood that activating this mode during testing is an alarm signal calling to pay attention to the operation of the cooling system. During testing, the heating of the system is monitored by continuously monitoring the temperature.

Rice. 20. Processor stress testing (AIDA64)

In addition to the temperature, the graphs of which are displayed on the first tab during stress testing, the program provides other useful information on other tabs - about the fan speed, voltage, etc. It should be borne in mind that the system stability test in AIDA64 can last indefinitely, so it is stopped manually, making sure that everything works fine (after 30 minutes), or when suspicious results are detected (for example, severe overheating of one of the components).

Using the stability test SiSoftware Sandra(tab Instruments), you can also stress testing (Fig. 21). It will allow you to orient yourself regarding the stability of the system and identify its weaknesses by analyzing the operation of the processor, memory, physical disks and optical drives, power efficiency, etc. selected test modules. During testing, the utility monitors the state of the system and stops the process when errors appear or in case of overheating (critical temperatures are set by default or manually).

Rice. 21. Stability test (SiSoftware Sandra)

Utility features PC Wizard in terms of testing the system for stability (test System Test Stability from the menu Instruments) are limited to testing the processor and motherboard. During testing, the processor is maximally loaded and in such conditions it works for a long time, during which the temperatures of the processor and motherboard are measured at certain intervals, and the results are displayed on the graph (Fig. 22).

Rice. 22. Testing the processor for stability (PC Wizard)

A quick tour of the utilities

AIDA64 (Extreme Edition) 1.60

Developer: FinalWire Ltd

Distribution size: 11.7 MB

Price: US $ 39.95

The AIDA64 program is an updated version of the well-known information and diagnostic solution EVEREST, designed for diagnostics of hardware and software computer resources and versatile computer testing. The utility can be run from a hard disk, CD / DVD / BD disks, and also from flash drives. The program is presented in two editions: AIDA64 Extreme Edition and AIDA64 Business Edition, AIDA64 Extreme Edition is designed for home users. The utility is regularly updated and supports the vast majority of modern models.

SiSoftware Sandra 2011 (Lite)

Developer: SiSoftware

Distribution size: 53.3 MB

Price: free (for personal and educational use)

SiSoftware Sandra Lite is the best free diagnostic information software. It provides detailed information about the computer and any of its hardware and software components, and also allows you to test the PC for performance, the need for an upgrade, etc. The utility can be used to analyze, diagnose and test a PDA or smartphone. The program is released in several editions; for home use, the capabilities of the free edition of SiSoftware Sandra Lite are sufficient. The utility is updated regularly enough and supports the vast majority of modern models.

PC Wizard 2010.1.961

Developer: CPUID

Distribution size: 5.02 MB

Price: is free

PC Wizard is an information and diagnostic utility used to diagnose hardware and software components and conduct versatile testing. In the basic version, the program is launched from a hard disk; it can be loaded from portable devices - for example, from a flash drive (a special version of the Portable PC Wizard). The utility is updated not as often as we would like (the last update was from August 2010), although it supports many modern models (of course, there is no talk of new products).

HWiNFO32 3.71

Developer: Martin Malik

Distribution size: 2.26 MB

Price: is free

HWiNFO32 is an information diagnostic utility that allows you to get detailed information about the PC hardware and test the performance of the processor, memory and hard drives. The program is updated monthly - as a result, all new items that have appeared on the market are included in its database in a timely manner. There is a special portable edition of the utility that can be run from a removable USB drive or other portable device.

Fresh Diagnose 8.52

Developer: FreshDevices.com

Distribution size: 2.08 MB

Distribution method: freeware (http://www.freshdiagnose.com/download.html)

Price: free (registration is required; in the unregistered version, the use of tests is impossible)

Fresh Diagnose is an information diagnostic utility designed to obtain information about all hardware and software components of a PC, as well as to test it. The program is regularly updated and supports many modern models, however, among its shortcomings are a poorly thought-out interface and poor-quality Russian-language localization (therefore, it is wiser to use it with an English-language interface).

EVEREST HOME EDITION... Free. The language of the program is Russian. Operating systems: Windows 7, Vista, XP. PURPOSE - collection of information about computer, motherboard, display, multimedia, data storage, network, Dirrect X, devices. Tests memory read and write as well as memory latency.

Archive size - 4Mb. DOWNLOAD disk from Yandex

Computer diagnostic program EVEREST ULTIMATE EDITION... Trial version. The language of the program is Russian. Operating systems: Windows 7, Vista, XP. PURPOSE - collection of information about the computer and software. It has a significantly more advanced set of diagnostic and testing functions for hardware and software than the previous version.

Archive size - 10Mb DOWNLOAD

Computer diagnostic program PC Wizard... Free. The language of the program is Russian. Operating systems: Windows 7, Vista, XP. PURPOSE - collection of information about the computer and software. Has a large set of tests for memory, processor, monitor, multimedia, floppy drive and many other useful functions!

Archive size - 5Mb DOWNLOAD disk from Yandex

Computer diagnostic program HW INFO 32... Free. English language. Operating systems: Windows 7, Vista, XP. PURPOSE - collection of information about the computer and software. The asset of this program is a set of functions such as temperature measurement, information about the state of the battery, the ability to search for drivers and update the BIOS.

Archive size - 2.5Mb DOWNLOAD disk from Yandex

Computer diagnostic program HDD Scan... Free. English language. Operating systems: Windows 7, Vista, XP. PURPOSE - testing hard drives (as well as USB flash drives connected to a PC). The asset is the function of collecting information and conducting various tests.

Archive size - 3.7Mb DOWNLOAD disk from Yandex

Laptop testing software Imtec battery mark... Battery testing of old laptops, a test that can display the current battery status and maximum power.

Archive size - 621kb Language Russian. Free. DOWNLOAD

Program Flash Doctor... Flash Doctor is designed to work with flash drives and HDD. Checks for the presence of "bad" sectors, restores these devices in cases of impossibility to format them. Creates images (Flash and HDD) of disks and writes them to media with the subsequent possibility of recovery from these images.

Archive size - 682Kb. Russian language. Free of charge. DOWNLOAD

Computer diagnostics program GPU-Z. Convenient and free program for displaying all kinds of information about the video card and its graphics processor. Supports work with NVIDIA and ATI cards. Provides information about the video card model, connection interface, graphics processor (BIOS version, chip revision number, frequency in 2D, 3D and overclocking modes, information about DirectX support), information about video memory, namely its type, size, bus width.

Archive size - 1.47Mb. Russian language. Free. DOWNLOAD.

Computer diagnostic program Speed Fan. It is used to control the temperature of the CPU and the rotational speed of the cooler.
The program controls the temperature and fan speed. With its help, the speed of their rotation is regulated in manual and automatic modes.

Archive size - 2.03Mb. English. Free. DOWNLOAD.

Program Acronis Disk Director 11 Home with key.

Program Acronis Disk Director 11 Home is designed to work with hard disks of a PC or laptop. It is used to edit (create, delete, combine, divide, rename, format, defragment, etc.) partitions and volumes on the hard drive.

To enter the license key, start the installation of the application. In the window that appears, click on "Serial Namber". Copy this key and click on "Install" to continue the installation, during which you will need to enter the copied key.

File size - 130 Mb. Russian language.Download from Deposit Files

Computer diagnostic program Ashampoo HDD Control. Used to monitor the status of hard drives.

Supports hard drives such as IDE and serial ATA as well as various flash drives. Performs full diagnostics of hard drives and flash drives: serial numbers, manufacturers, cache, bad sectors, temperature, performance, total operating time, number of starts, speed, warns of overheating and possible failure.

Produces high-quality defragmentation of disks and flash drives, cleans up unnecessary files.

Installation: start installation. After the program is installed, run the Registration registry file from the archive.

Russian language. The medicine is in the archive. Archive size - 14.6Mb Download from Deposit Files

Program Power Watts PC 2.1. Applicable to calculate the power of the computer power supply.

Calculates the power consumption of your computer based on installed devices and their settings. Including their type, number and overclocking.

Russian language. Archive size - 1.19Mb DOWNLOAD disk from Yandex

Unknown Divice Identifier - a tool for detecting unknown devices and searching for drivers for them. The utility is designed to identify devices defined in Windows as Unknown Divice (unknown device). Provides a detailed report about the device: manufacturer, OEM manufacturer, type, model, name. Using this information, you can search for drivers for the device on the manufacturer's website or on the Internet.

Installation: unpack the downloaded archive to any place on your PC, go to the program folder, start the program by clicking on the Unknown Divice file (application).

English language. Archive size - 1.10Mb DOWNLOAD disk from Yandex

Computer test program OCCT Perestroika 4.4.0 (Over Clock Cheking Tol). Performs a test to verify the stability of the CPU and RAM. The test results are displayed in the form of informative graphs. Testing of modern multi-core processors is supported.

Language - Russian File size - 6.57Mb DOWNLOAD from Deposit Files

Note: most programs are updated to the latest version manually or automatically after installation on a PC.