CPU-Z is used by serious PC enthusiasts as well as curious computer users. CPU-Z takes virtually no space on your computer and includes all the hardware information you need. You get details such as your CPU’s name and number, internal and external clocks, and cache information. For the motherboard, you’ll find the manufacturer, model, BIOS version and date, chipset, and more. Finally, there’s also information about memory and the Windows system in general.
This is the Windows version of CPU-Z available on this page. CPU-Z is also available for Android, which you can download using this link.
Benefits
There are several advantages to using CPU-Z. If you built your PC yourself, it’s essential to check that everything works correctly at first boot. If not, CPU-Z can help you see what’s wrong with the hardware. Manufacturing defects can occur, so if you’re at a loss, you can check whether that’s the issue. CPU-Z gives you all the information you need, focusing on specific hardware components.
CPU-Z isn’t limited to CPU information, but can tell you everything about almost every part of your hardware. Above, you can see which components you can review. Any missing components can usually be found in your operating system’s tools.
Overclocking
If you have components that you — or the manufacturer — have overclocked, you can quickly check that everything is as it should be with CPU-Z. You should also ensure your CPU is getting the power it needs. Most importantly, keep an eye on temperature. If temps are low, your CPU may be overclocked further; if they’re too high, your CPU can throttle or shut down under demanding tasks. You can also verify whether the clock speed is correct or if changes are needed. The program’s information is displayed in real time, so you can start something CPU-intensive (or involving other hardware) and directly watch how the hardware handles different tasks.
Unfortunately, it isn’t possible to monitor CPU temperature in CPU-Z, but the developer of CPU-Z also created HWMonitor, and with this software you can see temperatures, fan speeds, and more.
Comprehensive information
As we’ve already concluded, CPU-Z gives you an overview not only of your CPU but also other hardware.
As shown above, CPU-Z offers a wealth of information across different hardware components. The benefit is that you can easily keep track of most parts. All information tabs display data in real time, just like the CPU tab.
Test your CPU
Under the Bench tab you can stress test your CPU. That means you can quickly see what your processor can handle without having to open CPU-intensive games or programs. During the stress test, you can monitor how your CPU performs, as shown below.
After testing, you can compare your results with people who have the same CPU as you. The advantage is that you don’t need deep expertise to get a clear picture of how your CPU performs.
No design award
CPU-Z probably won’t win a design award, but it doesn’t need to. The program presents information in a clear way, and it does that well. The many tabs are easy to navigate, and the additional details are readily available. The developer understands this is a utility for your PC, and it looks like one. The design is simple, but it works.
Extras for your CPU
Now that your CPU has been thoroughly tested and you’re sure everything works as it should, you might as well enjoy it too.
For example, you could download Steam, a gaming platform with a huge online catalog of games. Some games are demanding on your CPU, while others are less so — making it easy to find titles your CPU can handle. Steam also lists the hardware requirements for each game, so you can quickly check if you meet them with the help of CPU-Z.
If you’re more interested in Blizzard Entertainment’s large selection of fantasy games, you can also check out Battle.net. It’s free to create a Battle.net account, and when you do, you get access to a range of award-winning free games such as: Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm. These games aren’t the most demanding, so most computers can handle them.
If you already have enough games, we can move on to optimizing and testing your operating system. Even if the hardware looks perfect on paper, software can still hold it back. DriverFinder helps you update drivers for your CPU, motherboard, graphics card, and other components. If they aren’t up to date, you risk missing out on the best performance — making your CPU-Z results less meaningful.
Additionally, it’s always important to keep your computer protected against security threats. We therefore recommend trying BullGuard Antivirus free for 15 days. With BullGuard Antivirus on your PC, you can quickly run a scan to see if there are threats hidden on your drive. BullGuard Antivirus is developed in Denmark and is easy to use even if you’re not particularly strong in English.
Conclusion
CPU-Z is the perfect tool for anyone who cares about their computer’s health. CPU-Z takes virtually no space on your PC and opens lightning fast. Installation is nothing to complain about either, as it only takes a few seconds. Once everything is set up, you have all the information about your hardware you’ll ever need — perhaps except temperatures.
All in all, a great program for hardware information that we highly recommend to PC enthusiasts and general users alike.
Download CPU-Z here. CPU-Z is a small, free program that retrieves information about your hardware.
Download CPU-Z
