For more advanced users, SpeedFan can also display customized hardware overheating warnings, provide S.M.A.R.T. This is helpful if you have an older and/or smaller form-factor computer that’s prone to overheating.
Using the program’s temperature interface, you can see the current temps for your hard drive, CPU, graphics card, and other external devices.Įven better, SpeedFan allows for manual adjusting of fan speeds in most cases. It’s true that SpeedFan can actively monitor the rotation speeds of your computer’s case fans, but it can also tap into your system’s component temperatures as well. SpeedFan is similar to CPU-Z in that it has a much longer list of features than its name would suggest.
CPU-Z can be downloaded as either an executable install or a portable zip file from CPUID’s website. Naturally, users who are already familiar with hardware abbreviations and lingo will get the most out of CPU-Z, but even the most casual of users can benefit from knowing what exactly is under their system’s hood. CPU-Z even goes the extra mile of displaying similar diagnostics information for a computer’s RAM, external graphics card, and motherboard. The application also includes more in-depth data like individual core speeds (if it’s a multi-core CPU), cache sizes, chipset details, and more. As its name infers, CPU-Z can help you monitor the performance of your computer’s central processing unit, but that’s just one of many roles it can fill.įor casual users, CPU-Z displays helpful information like the name of their computer’s CPU, the manufacturer, and other basic details. CPU-ZĬPU-Z is a freeware application developed and distributed by CPUID. Still, if you’re interested in knowing how your computer is holding up without physically opening the case, all of the following tools can help. All of the tools are free to download and install, though based on your particular setup, you may not need all of them. And if a problem does come up, being able to quickly pinpoint the cause of the problem right from your desktop can save you time and, in some cases, money.īelow, we’ve rounded up some of the most handy and easy-to-use digital tools for monitoring your PC’s performance and, if need be, diagnosing issues. Whether you’re an experienced PC repair technician or a casual PC gamer, it’s nice to know that everything is working as it should.