When it comes down to whether or not a system is hot, brand names alone don't cut it. What's important is how well these brands are able to perform and work with each other. Here are a few pieces of free software that can execute the benchmarking of computer components, and then you can compare your scores with others and obtain ultimate bragging rights.
Windows Experience Index
If you're running Vista, there's a spankin' new feature which allows you to measure the capability of your computer's hardware configuration. It's called the Windows Experience Index and can be found by clicking on Control Panel, and then Performance Information and Tools. The scale of the Windows Experience Index ranges from 1.0 to 5.9. A higher base score generally means that your computer will perform better and faster than a computer with a lower base score, especially when performing more advanced and resource-intensive tasks.
The base score of your computer is determined by reviewing a collection of "subscores" assigned to various hardware components within your computer. Subscores are assigned to the following components:
Your computer's base score is determined by the lowest subscore. For example, if the lowest subscore of a hardware component in your computer is 2.6, then the base score of your computer will be 2.6. The base score is not an average of the combined subscores.
More information here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/get/experience-index.aspx
NovaBench
Test the speed of your computer with NovaBench. NovaBench is a computer benchmark program available for windows. It allows you to easily test many aspects of your computer's speed, such as CPU speed and graphics card speed. After all tests are completed, an overall system score will be given to your computer. Features include:
Download here: http://novabench.com/
Fresh Diagnose
Fresh Diagnose is a utility designed to analyze and benchmark your computer system. It can analyze and benchmark many kinds of hardware, such as CPU performance, hard disk performance, video system information, mainboard / motherboard information, and much more...
Key features of Fresh Diagnose:
System Information: Scanning your system and give a complete report about your computer's hardware and software, for examples: mainboard information, video system information, PCI / AGP buses information, peripheral (keyboard, mouse, printer, etc.) information, Windows registry settings, and network information.
System Benchmarks: Testing your system performance, such as CPU, hard disk, CD/DVD ROM, and compare it with other systems.
Use this free software to learn more about your computer and its components, detect / diagnose problems or errors in your computer, and increase your computer's overall performance.
Download here: http://www.freshdevices.com/freshdiag.html
Note: Free registration is required first
Have fun testing!
Windows Experience Index
If you're running Vista, there's a spankin' new feature which allows you to measure the capability of your computer's hardware configuration. It's called the Windows Experience Index and can be found by clicking on Control Panel, and then Performance Information and Tools. The scale of the Windows Experience Index ranges from 1.0 to 5.9. A higher base score generally means that your computer will perform better and faster than a computer with a lower base score, especially when performing more advanced and resource-intensive tasks.
The base score of your computer is determined by reviewing a collection of "subscores" assigned to various hardware components within your computer. Subscores are assigned to the following components:
Code:
RAM random access memory
CPU central processing unit
Hard disk
General graphics performance on the desktop
3D graphics capability
Your computer's base score is determined by the lowest subscore. For example, if the lowest subscore of a hardware component in your computer is 2.6, then the base score of your computer will be 2.6. The base score is not an average of the combined subscores.
More information here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/get/experience-index.aspx
NovaBench
Test the speed of your computer with NovaBench. NovaBench is a computer benchmark program available for windows. It allows you to easily test many aspects of your computer's speed, such as CPU speed and graphics card speed. After all tests are completed, an overall system score will be given to your computer. Features include:
Code:
Extensive CPU speed tests
Multi-threaded tests take advantage of multiple cores/procesors
Hardware accelerated graphics tests
Hard drive write speed test
CPU temperature monitor
Tabbed interface for benchmark results
Outputs overall system score
Online score comparison system
Download here: http://novabench.com/
Fresh Diagnose
Fresh Diagnose is a utility designed to analyze and benchmark your computer system. It can analyze and benchmark many kinds of hardware, such as CPU performance, hard disk performance, video system information, mainboard / motherboard information, and much more...
Key features of Fresh Diagnose:
System Information: Scanning your system and give a complete report about your computer's hardware and software, for examples: mainboard information, video system information, PCI / AGP buses information, peripheral (keyboard, mouse, printer, etc.) information, Windows registry settings, and network information.
System Benchmarks: Testing your system performance, such as CPU, hard disk, CD/DVD ROM, and compare it with other systems.
Use this free software to learn more about your computer and its components, detect / diagnose problems or errors in your computer, and increase your computer's overall performance.
Download here: http://www.freshdevices.com/freshdiag.html
Note: Free registration is required first
Have fun testing!