An important stage of computer repair is its diagnostics. After all, before making a correct diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct an examination. And this should be done by qualified specialists, for whom the provision of computer assistance is a core service.
Fault detection consists of the following steps:
1. Primary diagnosis.
This type of computer performance assessment is carried out at the customer's home. Primary diagnosis cannot be complete and is suitable only in some cases. Basically, this includes an external inspection of the computer and its components.
2. Hardware diagnostics.
This stage is aimed at identifying damaged computer parts. Failures in the operation of the system can be observed if a defective component is installed on the equipment. In addition, incorrect functioning may be caused by worn parts. Another option that affects performance is overheating.
3. Software diagnostics.
At this stage, errors in the operation of the software are detected. The stability of the system is evaluated. The operating system of a computer falls under close scrutiny, with an analysis of the causes of a software failure.
4. Complete diagnostics.
Based on the results of all types of diagnostics, the service engineer issues a verdict - the cause of the breakdown. After agreeing with the customer on the cost of repairs, the necessary computer assistance is provided.
If you have any problems with your computer, do not try to solve the issue yourself. Qualified diagnostics and professional repairs can only be performed by an experienced specialist.
Primary diagnosis
A complex electronic computing device, which is a computer, is based on a lot of microcircuits and printed circuit boards. It follows that the repair of computers by "amateurs" can be performed only in a limited number of cases. Even standard repairs require theoretical and practical knowledge, as well as extensive experience. Before proceeding with the execution of the order, the masters carry out primary, and in difficult cases - hardware and software diagnostics.
Primary computer diagnostics consists of the following steps:
1. Surface inspection of the software part of the equipment.
Surface software diagnostics aims to check the performance of the operating system, the correct functioning of programs. It is carried out at the customer's home by a service engineer, without the use of diagnostic equipment.
2. Surface inspection of the hardware of the equipment.
This is a visual check of the computer configuration and evaluation:
Disk type;
The amount of memory and the possibility of its use;
The performance of computer devices (primarily hard drives).
With the help of a superficial inspection, a number of simple equipment malfunctions can be identified.
Hardware diagnostics
The first step in computer maintenance and repair is diagnostics. As practice shows, the majority of malfunctions and equipment failures are caused by the neglect of regular preventive maintenance and diagnostics.
The purpose of diagnostic work is:
Determination of malfunctions of computer equipment;
elucidation of their nature.
Hardware diagnostics is aimed at identifying mechanical (albeit invisible externally) damage to computer components.
Computer hardware diagnostics includes checking the temperature regime of computer components and the stability of operation:
Central processor;
Random access memory;
hard drive;
Video adapter;
Chipset.
After this type of diagnostics, the client receives:
Report on the state of the hardware of computer equipment;
Preliminary calculation of the price for troubleshooting work;
Proposals for modernization.
Timely computer hardware diagnostics can significantly reduce system failures. If hidden problems are not identified at an early stage, your technique can be completely paralyzed at any time.
In the event that the service engineer detects damage to the components of your computer, replacement parts and repairs will be required to restore it to working order.
Measures for hardware diagnostics will make it possible to carry out the necessary repairs in time, increase the efficiency of equipment, and increase its speed. This is exactly the case when timely action will prevent serious problems.
Software diagnostics of a computer is the detection of a defect and the causes of its occurrence. Wherein:
The operating system is viewed taking into account the stability of the computer equipment;
The load resistance of individual components and the computer as a whole is checked;
The performance of the motherboard is tested using special modules.
The amateurish approach to this process is fraught with a number of dangers. For example, when a motherboard malfunction is detected, the user changes it without thinking about the causes of the failure.
Computer diagnostics at the program level will be required if:
1. The equipment does not turn on.
2. Turns off by itself.
3. Computer freezes.
4. Reloads for no reason.
5. Works slowly.
Software diagnostics of computer equipment includes:
1. Surface inspection of the software part of the equipment.
2. Computer software testing, which includes:
Checking the file system for errors;
Checking the registry of the operating system and its status;
Check for critical OS updates.
Complete diagnostics
Computer diagnostics or determination of the reasons for its poor performance should be carried out by qualified specialists. As practice shows, only professionals can eliminate a number of typical problems in the operation of computer equipment.
With the help of complete diagnostics of computers, you can identify problems and establish opportunities for upgrading equipment.
This type of diagnostic work is performed only by experienced service engineers using specialized equipment and includes several stages:
1. Superficial inspection by the master of the software part of computer equipment.
2. Testing computer software using special utilities.
3. Superficial inspection by the master of the hardware of the equipment.
4. Testing additional components of a computer hardware device.
5. Testing the main components of a computer hardware device.
Full PC diagnostics includes testing activities:
Software and operating system;
motherboard;
Processor;
hard drive;
memory slots;
Information reading devices (floppy disks, drives, card readers);
TV tuners, network and Wi-Fi equipment, modems;
Video cards;
Circuits, block and power controller;
Monitor.
All owners of personal computers should remember: full diagnostics should be carried out regularly, without waiting for the equipment to fail. In this case, your PC will serve you for a long time, and there will be no need to repair your computer and replace components.
Every computer user at least once in his life had to turn to software whose task is to diagnose a computer and troubleshoot. However, on the Internet you can find dozens, if not hundreds of different programs for this purpose. Which of them is worth paying attention to?
In today's article, we will look at eight of the best programs that will undoubtedly come in handy when identifying problems with your PC. Let's get started.
CPU-Z is free software whose function is to display technical information about the hardware of the user's computer. This program was developed by the CPUID company, which also has other interesting programs in its assortment, but CPU-Z is perhaps the most useful for many users.
With CPU-Z you can get a complete list of information about:
- central processing unit;
- motherboard;
- random access memory;
- graphics accelerator.
When we talk about a complete list of information, we mean information such as CPU architecture, motherboard model, BIOS / UEFI version, amount of RAM and its frequency, and so on and so forth. With CPU-Z, you can get a really huge amount of really useful information.
Moreover, this program is even fully translated into Russian. However, we cannot fail to mention one extremely big minus, which can be found out almost immediately after examining all the functionality. And this minus is the lack of a function for reading the temperature of the CPU, GPU and motherboard elements.
If CPU-Z had such functionality, then it would not have a price. However, for temperature measurement, you will need to resort to other programs, some of which we will consider later in this article.
Speccy
Speccy is another free and quite functional program with which users can get various technical information about their computer. It is worth noting that the well-known company Piriform is behind the development of the Speccy utility, which also developed such popular programs as CCleaner, Defraggler and Recuva.
By opening the Speccy program, you can access a number of information on:
- operating system;
- the central processor;
- random access memory;
- system board (i.e. motherboard);
- graphics devices (discrete and integrated video cards);
- storage devices (HDD, SSD, etc.);
- optical drives;
- sound devices;
- peripheral devices;
- network devices.
In general, using the Speccy program, you can get a fairly wide range of information about your computer. Also, do not forget that Speccy has a function to read the temperature from various sensors installed in the computer. You can see the temperature of your PC, motherboard, video card and even HDD/SSD drives.
A couple more advantages of the Speccy program - it is completely localized into Russian and has an extremely simple user interface. We click on the desired tab on the left side of the window and look at the available information on the right - there is simply nowhere easier.
HWiNFO
The next program on our list is already somewhat more difficult to use than the previous two, but it can provide users with even more detailed information about the computer. As soon as you start scanning the system using HWiNFO, several windows will immediately appear in front of you: general information about the entire system, the main HWiNFO window, where you can find specific information on various components of your computer, as well as a small window for monitoring processor activity (multiplier, frequency, number of cores, etc.).
Among other things, the HWiNFO program can also read information from various sensors located on the computer. Virtual and physical memory, paging file usage, voltage on each of the CPU cores, frequency of each CPU core, northbridge, system bus, RAM, data from temperature sensors in the system - whatever you want. However, it's worth noting that the user interface in HWiNFO can be a little confusing for inexperienced PC users, so you may have to sit in front of the program for a while to understand what it has to offer.
AIDA64
AIDA64 is an extremely powerful tool from FinalWire Ltd. for diagnosing and performing various checks on the hardware of the user's computer. Quite an interesting fact: AIDA64 is a direct successor of the Everest software from the company, which in turn is a successor of the AIDA32 program.
Here is such an unusual origin of this program. She knows how to do everything that previous programs can, plus a set of stress tests with which you can identify various problems with your computer. It is worth noting that AIDA64 has an extremely rich set of functions, but, unlike the same HDiNFO, the user interface is much simpler, which is definitely a huge plus. Well, here's the downside: the program is not free.
Pass Mark Performance Test
If previous programs could offer the user similar functionality, then the PassMark Performance Test utility is a slightly different tool. The task of this program is to evaluate the performance of a computer using a set of various specialized tests, after which the user can compare the results with the results of other computers.
With the PassMark Performance Test utility, you can perform various tests for:
- central processor;
- graphics accelerator;
- hard disk;
- optical drives;
- random access memory.
With PassMark Performance Test, you can easily understand whether your computer provides the appropriate performance or not. And if not, then through multiple tests you will understand what the problem is. Unfortunately, this utility is not free: in order to access certain functionality, you will need to buy it.
CrystalDiskMark
CrystalDiskMark comes in handy when you need to test your hard drive (HDD) or solid state drive (SSD). The program is able to work with all currently available interfaces for connecting disks. For the most part, with CrystalDiskMark, many users will find out the write and read settings of their discs. Nevertheless, at the end of the program, you will see an extensive report on the tests performed, which, unfortunately, will tell little about unprepared users, but experienced users will understand a lot if they are looking for some problems.
speedfan
SpeedFan is a rather interesting program created by a developer named Alfredo Milani Comparetti, which is designed to read information from sensors on the motherboard, HDD and SSD drives, CPU, RAM and video card, and also has functions for adjusting the rotation speed (RPM) coolers present in the computer. Fortunately, the user interface of the SpeedFan application is extremely simple and even translated into Russian, and it is also distributed completely free of charge.
System Information for Windows
And the last program on our list is System Information for Windows (SIW). This program was also developed by one person - and his Gabriel Topala. The utility is an extremely powerful tool with which you can get detailed information about the hardware configuration of your computer.
Among other things, with the help of SIW you can find out network information, information about installed software, including drivers, as well as system components. The interface of the system is a little intricate, but you can still get used to it, after which you will have access to the extremely wide functionality of the program, for which, by the way, there is no need to pay.
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If your computer has broken down or started to malfunction, then it's time to make an independent diagnosis! How to produce computer diagnostics on your own? Necessary knowledge!You have probably already encountered failures, lags more than once and used the services of a service center! It would be easier if you yourself could correctly recognize the malfunction of your PC. In order to identify a malfunction, sometimes you do not need specific education and deep PC skills. It is enough to know the basic concepts, have information about the hardware and understand a little about the programs!
Self-diagnosis of a personal computer!
All of us, when we were at the doctor, and went through the stage of a pre-medical check, this check can be called a diagnosis. You will not be given an accurate diagnosis in the pre-medical office, but they will perform an examination and perform those procedures that will help the doctor make the correct diagnosis. A correct diagnosis is more than half the battle! So why don't you acquire the knowledge that will help you diagnose a computer problem. So you can protect yourself from unnecessary expenses and it will be more difficult to deceive you! Do you want to learn the basics of diagnostics? Take 10 minutes of your precious time!
10 minutes to the honorary title of "Computer Doctor"
The starting point for PC diagnostics is the condition of your PC. Your computer even ? There is a high probability that the problem lies in the hardware of the computer! In general, all computer malfunctions are usually divided into groups. The first such group will be software malfunctions, the second group is considered to be hardware malfunctions.
Finding the source of a software malfunction will be quite difficult. What it will be: non-working, the absence of one small Windows file, and of course the work may well cause the failure of your entire system. The only reason that most people find it difficult to identify a software malfunction is not knowing how and where to look for it. Strange as it may seem, diagnosing such a malfunction is best done using programs, both built-in (task manager) and special ones (AIDA, PC Wizard). Study the task manager, download some diagnostic programs, having studied them, you will make a leap towards knowing and understanding your computer.
Diagnostics of the software part is worth making if you have:
- unstable PC operation;
- slow PC performance;
- ;
- several programs do not work correctly;
- lost settings;
- critical BSOD errors.
Computer hardware diagnostics
Software diagnostics is complicated by the lack of basic knowledge, but hardware diagnostics often come down to visual observation, and logic where you do not need to have special knowledge. When conducting such diagnostics, basic knowledge of computer architecture will be enough!
PC hardware failures:
The computer does not turn on and the display does not even light up:
no power or defective
a short circuit has occurred
motherboard problem
possibly out of order
computer randomly shuts down:
motherboard failure
accumulated dust
no image on monitor:
out of order
Faulty monitor or power adapter
USB ports not working
strayed
there is a problem with the motherboard
operating system stopped loading:
bad hard drive
corrupted files appeared
LAN, wifi not working
defective wifi module
broken driver
If you cannot identify the problem yourself. You can always turn to a friend or acquaintance, in addition, you can always count on getting a free professional consultation in one of the!
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 tritely simple - new versions of the OS and applications used, as a rule, require more and more resources. The easiest way to upgrade your PC is to purchase a new system unit with a modern “stuffing”, which, if you have money, is not difficult. However, this is not always reasonable - often, to improve performance, it is enough to resort to replacing individual components.
To choose an upgrade strategy, you need to find out what hardware is installed and understand what your computer lacks for faster operation - processor power, video system capabilities, memory sizes, hard disk read / write data speed, etc. But this is only one side of the coin. After acquiring a new system unit or upgrading an old one, you will need to quickly find out whether the “stuffing” of the system unit corresponds to the one declared upon purchase (without opening the unit itself, since there may be a seal on it), evaluate how much the performance has increased, and understand whether the computer is really stable working.
Any professional assembler (and all fans of overclocking) can easily solve the above tasks, since he has a lot of various and highly specialized information and diagnostic tools in his arsenal. An ordinary user does not need to acquire such solutions, however, it is still necessary to install a simple comprehensive utility to obtain information about the hardware and test the computer. It is these programs that we will consider in this article.
Get hardware information
Theoretically, any information and diagnostic utility is able to recognize 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 updates), and the amount of information on identified components can be different - from minimal to exhaustive.
Among the considered solutions, 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 the recently released Intel 510 and 320 SSDs, AMD Radeon HD 6790 and NVIDIA GeForce GT 520M graphics cards, NVIDIA's five new Quadro M series mobile graphics cards, etc.
Using AIDA64, you can easily find out everything about the processor, motherboard, video card, network adapter, drives (including the latest 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 from controllers manufactured by Indilinx, Intel, JMicron, Samsung and SandForce) and data transfer rate. Moreover, the utility recognizes USB 3.0 controllers and devices 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 sections that unite the main modules of the program. Yes, through the section Computer it is easy to get aggregate information about hardware components, system and BIOS, as well as data on processor overclocking, power supply features, the status of system hardware monitoring sensors, etc. (Fig. 1).
Rice. 1. Computer Summary Information (AIDA64)
Other "iron" sections provide more detailed information - so in the section Motherboard provides detailed information about the CPU, motherboard, memory, BIOS, and more. 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, values and statuses of SMART parameters. You can find information about network adapters in the section Net, but about tires, ports, keyboard, mouse, etc. - in the section Devices. In addition, from the menu Service panel opens AIDA64 CPUID(Fig. 3), which displays information about the processor, motherboard, memory and chipset in a compact form.
Rice. 3.AIDA64 CPUID panel
Program SiSoftware Sandra It is also very informative and allows you to get comprehensive information about almost all the hardware components of a computer system. In particular, the utility displays summary information 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, disks, ports, mouse, keyboard, sound card, etc. As for the readings of various kinds of monitoring sensors, then to receive them, you will need to run not the information, but the diagnostic module Environmental Monitor(tab Tools). This module provides display of textual and graphical 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 icon 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 will help to get more detailed information about the components (Fig. 7); the provided amount of data is quite sufficient for the average user. In addition, through the menu Tools → Overclocking Information you can find out if any 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. Information about 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 about the processor, motherboard, memory, chipset, disks, etc. (Fig. 8). This window can also be called up 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, mother board, Memory, Video Adapter etc. Data on the processor, memory modules, motherboard, tires and disks are quite detailed, information on other devices is more modest. If necessary, it is easy to get readings of the sensor sensors installed on the motherboard (temperature, voltage, etc.) by clicking on the button Sensors.
Rice. 8. Computer Summary Information (HWiNFO32)
Rice. 9. Video card data (HWiNFO32)
Program fresh diagnosis allows you to find out information about any iron components, however, not always detailed. For example, on the tab Hardware System You can learn about the motherboard, processor, cache, 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 evaluate the performance of the computer and its individual components in order to understand which hardware is subject to immediate replacement, and which components can wait until better times (after all, in a crisis, not everyone decides on a complete upgrade). It is quite simple to do this by running 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 test to make sure that the computer has become more productive. Of course, you can feel the effect of the upgrade in the course of normal work in applications, but for the sake of completeness, it is better to verify the performance increase using tools specially designed 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, you should keep 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, such testing makes it possible to understand how outdated the iron components installed in your computer are compared to reference samples, as well as to assess the level of performance before and after the upgrade, which is what we are interested in in this article.
From the point of view of testing, AIDA64 and SiSoftware Sandra programs are of the greatest interest, some of whose benchmarks are used even by professionals in various hardware testing methods. The capabilities of other utilities discussed in the article are limited in this regard, although they also provide some test functionality.
In a programme AIDA64 a wide range of benchmarking tests is presented. Yes, 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 latency (testing the average time the processor reads data from RAM). The remaining tests in this section evaluate processor performance in integer and floating point operations, when creating ZIP archives, when performing AES encryption, etc. (tests CPU Queen, CPU PhotoWorxx, CPU ZLib, CPU AES, CPU Hash, FPU VP8, FPU Julia, FPU Mandel, FPU SinJulia). All tests compare performance to other systems, including the latest.
Rice. 11. CPU performance evaluation (CPU Queen test; AIDA64)
Through the menu Service Three more benchmark tests are available: Disk Test, Cache and memory test and Monitor Diagnostics. The drive test measures the performance of hard drives, solid state drives, optical drives, and more. The cache and memory test provides a measure of the bandwidth and latency of the processor and memory cache (Figure 12). In the test Monitor Diagnostics the display quality of LCD and CRT monitors is checked.
Rice. 12. Cache and 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 your PC in comparison with other reference computer configurations, but also test your computer for the need to upgrade it. Modules designed to test the most important computer subsystems are grouped on the tab Benchmarks. A whole group of synthetic tests is designed to test the processor - arithmetic and multimedia tests, tests of multi-core efficiency, power efficiency, cryptographic performance and GPGPU cryptography. Several tests are responsible for testing physical drives - including the file system test, as well as test modules for physical disks, removable / flash drives, CD-ROM / DVD and Blu-ray optical drives. Memory tests are provided: memory bandwidth test, memory latency test, and cache and memory test. In addition, there are tests to evaluate the speed of rendering and video memory performance, an audio/video encoding/decoding test, a network bandwidth test, an Internet connection speed test, etc. When testing a number of components (processor, RAM, etc.), the results are given in comparison with more or less similar reference models in terms of 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 iron components installed in the computer are and which models are better to replace them with.
Rice. 13. Processor Performance Evaluation
(arithmetic test; SiSoftware Sandra)
Two interesting test modules are presented on the tab Tools are modules performance index and Analysis and recommendations. With the test performance index the overall performance of the computer is evaluated during the arithmetic and multimedia tests of the processor, determining the memory bandwidth, as well as testing the physical disks and 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 issues a list of recommendations on which of the hardware components are best replaced 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 processor temperature (and offers to check the cooling), etc.).
Rice. 14. Evaluate the overall performance of the computer (SiSoftware Sandra)
Rice. 15. Analysis of a computer for an upgrade (SiSoftware Sandra)
Utility PC Wizard also includes certain functionality for testing hardware (tab Test). With its help, you can visually evaluate the overall performance of your computer (icon global performance) in comparison with other configurations and based on the test results, understand which of the subsystems in terms of performance do not significantly reach the selected (from the pre-installed list) reference sample - that is, they need to be updated, and which are quite on the level (Fig. 16).
Rice. 16. Evaluate the overall performance of the computer (PC Wizard)
There are also a number of synthetic tests in the PC Wizard arsenal that allow you to evaluate the performance of the processor, L1/L2/L3 caches and memory in general (bandwidth, timing), as well as the video subsystem, hard drive, optical drive, etc. In particular, for The processor provides for basic tests Dhrystone ALU, Whetstone FPU and Whetstone SSE2, allowing you to evaluate its performance in integer and floating point operations. The test results are displayed in textual 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. Processor Test (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). The 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 Evaluation (HWiNFO32)
Program fresh diagnosis has tools for determining the speed of individual components of the system. These are the seven synthetic test modules in the section Benchmarks. With their help, you can evaluate the performance of the processor (tests Whetstone, Dhrystone and multimedia), 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, in our opinion, there is not much benefit from them, since outdated reference systems are selected for comparison (Fig. 19).
Rice. 19. Testing the processor (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 may not be able to cope 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 obvious signs of instability appear 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, as well as evaluate how the computer generally behaves under stressful conditions. You can do this by doing stress testing.
Most stability tests create an intensive computational load on various blocks of the CPU, system memory, GPU, and chipset - that is, they force the computer to work under stressful conditions. Unfortunately, none of these tests alone guarantee 100% stability of the system, but if the test revealed a failure in the system or was not completed, then this is a clear signal that you need to pay attention to the hardware.
Provided in AIDA64 system stability test (accessible via the menu Service) is intended for stress testing of the processor (it is allowed to test the cores separately), memory, local disks, etc. (Fig. 20). The test results are displayed on two graphs: the upper one shows the temperature of the selected components, the lower one shows the CPU usage level (CPU Usage) and the clock skipping mode (CPU Throttling). Mode CPU Throttling is activated only in case of processor overheating, and it should be understood that the activation of this mode during testing is an alarm signal calling for attention to the operation of the cooling system. During testing, system heating is controlled by continuous temperature monitoring.
Rice. 20. CPU stress testing (AIDA64)
In addition to the temperature, the graphs of which are displayed on the first tab during stress testing, on the other tabs the program provides other useful information - 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 is working 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 Tools), stress testing can also be performed (Fig. 21). It will allow you to orient yourself in relation to the stability of the system and identify its weaknesses by analyzing the operation of the processor, memory, physical disks and optical drives, power supply efficiency, etc. Testing lasts for a specified period of time or without taking it into account - in this case, the number of run times is indicated selected test modules. During testing, the utility monitors the state of the system and stops the process if errors occur 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 Tools) are limited to CPU and motherboard testing. During testing, the processor is loaded to the maximum and in such conditions it works for a long time, during which temperature measurements of the processor and motherboard are taken at regular intervals, and the results are displayed on the graph (Fig. 22).
Rice. 22. Testing the processor for stability (PC Wizard)
A Brief Overview of Utilities
AIDA64 (Extreme Edition) 1.60
Developer: FinalWire Ltd
Distribution size: 11.7 MB
Price:$39.95
The AIDA64 program is an updated version of the well-known information and diagnostic solution EVEREST, designed for diagnosing hardware and software computer resources and versatile testing of a computer. 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 information and diagnostic software. It provides detailed information about the computer and any of its hardware and software components, and also allows you to test your 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 available in several editions; for home use, the free edition of SiSoftware Sandra Lite is sufficient. The utility is updated quite regularly 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 various tests. In the basic version, the program is launched from the hard drive, it can be loaded from portable devices - for example, from a flash drive (special version of Portable PC Wizard). The utility is not updated 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 and diagnostic utility that allows you to get detailed information about PC hardware and test the performance of the processor, memory and hard drives. The program is updated monthly - as a result, all novelties 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 Diagnosis 8.52
Developer: FreshDevices.com
Distribution size: 2.08 MB
Distribution method: freeware (http://www.freshdiagnose.com/download.html)
Price: free (registration required; tests cannot be used in the unregistered version)
Fresh Diagnose is an information and 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 more reasonable to use it with an English-language interface).
Even the weakest personal computer is a complex digital system, often failing for a number of reasons. Like any other technique, a PC is subject to diagnostics, the main part of which is to check it with special programs. Some of them come with drivers for system components, but the bulk of this kind of software is unified with most device models, detects several diagnostic parameters at once, and is distributed on a free or shareware basis.
Today we will talk about 10 computer diagnostic programs that are available to every user.
The first program in the review in this article, Speccy, is the creation of the British IT company Piriform, which created the popular utility for cleaning your computer of garbage CCleaner. Speccy will help you diagnose your computer's hardware, displaying basic information about each device installed on board: processor, video card, motherboard, hard drive and other components. The software is distributed by the company free of charge for private use, and can run on legacy and new Windows operating systems, including XP.
After installation and the first launch of Speccy, without additional greetings, it immediately goes to business - the analysis of installed equipment. The main indicators are instantly displayed on the screen in the General Information tab. In the left panel of tabs, the user selects the device of interest. In addition to the component data embedded in the firmware, Speccy displays the current temperature of the device, and can warn the owner of critically high values. For the convenience of exchanging diagnostic data, the program implements the function of snapshotting data in the form of an image or saving them in XML and TXT formats.
Advantages:
- displays information about the type, manufacturer, batch number, year of manufacture, firmware version, etc.;
- takes readings from temperature sensors;
- displays nominal and current frequency indicators;
- saves the received information in the form of a document or image;
- has a simple interface without frills;
- full-fledged free software in Russian.
Flaws:
- no diagnostic tools (tests) to check system stability;
- displays an incomplete list of component parameters.
CPU-Z
The CPU-Z program can be safely called the most popular Windows-based system analyzer in the world. It gives comprehensive information about the processor, RAM and its subsystem, and graphics adapter. CPU-Z is completely free and compatible with all current versions of Windows.
CPU-Zet favorably stands out among competitors in two qualities: a great depth of computer analysis and the simplicity of the shell. With its help, you will learn about such parameters of your processor as the type and technical process of the chip, its heat dissipation, core voltage, revision and stepping, as well as the level and capacity of the cache. The same detailed report is available for RAM and motherboard chipset. This data is indispensable for both overclocking enthusiasts and ordinary users who are fond of upgrading and customizing their computer. However, information about the video system is presented here in a compressed form, and the hard drive is not affected at all.
In addition to a dry text layout in CPU-Z, you can conduct simple stress tests of the system to check its stability under load. Test reports and PC status reports are saved as a TXT and HTML document.
The appearance of the utility is extremely simple and has not changed since the beginning of its development. Items are navigated through the tabs on the top panel. There is also a portable version to run from a flash drive or other media.
Advantages:
- maximum information about the CPU, RAM and chipset;
- works on a computer with any version of Windows;
- undemanding to resources;
- has the simplest interface (including in Russian);
- saves reports in text form;
- free software.
Flaws:
- does not display information about the status of the hard disk;
- meager video card report.
- Does not show the temperature of the system components.
GPU-Z
The video card is almost a full-fledged "computer in a computer" with its own subsystems and modes of operation. Therefore, the developers from TECHPOWERUP have developed a separate program for checking the video system of a computer - GPU-Z. Its basic principles are the same as those of CPU-Z - complete information content and ease of use. It is available online for free.
GPU-Z is an indispensable and necessary tool for anyone who is interested in what their computer consists of. The utility will report to you about all the parameters of the video core, video memory and power subsystem, up to the device identification code and BIOS version. In addition, GPU-Z scans the current readings of the temperature and frequency of the chip, the frequency of memory chips, the speed of the cooling fan, the load and voltage on the core, etc. All these values are fixed at the request of the owner in a text file or a screenshot.
The utility has earned special recognition for its ability to identify "fake" video cards that do not meet the specifications stated in the BIOS. Near the name of such a card, you will notice the status "", and instead of the image of the vendor, an exclamation mark will appear.
Advantages:
- a full report on the characteristics of the video card and its current state;
- simple interface shell;
- saving the report as a document or screenshot;
- the ability to send a problem report;
- a large site database for checking your adapter and comparing it with similar cards;
- does not require payment.
Flaws:
- the interface is not fully translated into Russian;
- no built-in stress tests and performance tests;
HWMonitor
The HWMonitor program from CPUID is used for complete computer diagnostics, determining its operating parameters and operating modes. Unlike the well-known CPU-Z product from the same company, Hardware Monitor provides a comprehensive real-time check of the hardware status, but without providing data on the characteristics and firmware. The software is available in free and paid PRO versions.
HWMonitor is a single table that displays the devices installed in the system, and indicates their voltage and operating frequency, heat pack, cooler rotation speed, temperature on the sensors and the percentage of workload (work) or occupied memory. Since the utility does not display firmware data, it is better to use it in conjunction with other products, for example, CPU-Z, for overclocking and tuning. Available readings can be written by the user to a TXT notepad file at any time.
The HWMonitor PRO version is equipped with additional functions for remotely checking the readings of the computer's sensors via a smartphone or other PC. It also has a temperature panel folded into a tray for working in the "background" during overclocking and controlling the heating of electronic components.
The interface of the program is minimalistic and does not have additional functions and decorations.
Advantages:
- full PC scan, including video system and hard drive;
- taking all available readings from device sensors;
- extremely simple and intuitive interface;
- remote check of the computer status from a smartphone (on the PRO version);
- free product.
Flaws:
- there is no official localization in Russian;
- characteristics of components are not provided;
- there is no detailed information about the performance of the hard drive according to S.M.A.R.T .;
furmark
The FurMark utility has been the unspoken "benchmark" for testing high-performance graphics cards and integrated computer video systems for many years. It is a set of stress tests for testing the graphics subsystem for stability and maximum performance in 3D with support for the OpenGL API. FurMark receives regular updates and is free.
Fur Mark consists of a settings dialog box and a test window, in which a complex render of a toroidal object rotates (or, in popular terms, “hairy donut”). Before starting testing, you must select the graphics level and operating mode. In addition to resolution and anti-aliasing, the user can enable full screen instead of windowed mode. An important point is the indication of the time of the test, since a long stay of the video accelerator under 100% load can disable the device.
After pressing the button « GPU stress test» a rotating object appears on the screen, the drawing of which consumes the entire resource of the video card. The upper part shows a graph of the temperature of the video core. Depending on the set parameters, the test is terminated automatically after a certain time or manually by the user.
Advantages:
- checking the video card under the maximum allowable load for stability, performance, power consumption;
- several modes of "running" the test;
- simple interface without unnecessary elements;
- includes GPU-Z and GPU Shark utilities;
- free software.
Flaws:
- FurMark gives the maximum load on the video adapter, which can lead to the failure of the graphics chip, memory chips and other "unpleasant" consequences;
- The interface is not Russified in the official version.
Warning! We do not recommend downloading this program for those who have just begun to get acquainted with the device of the computer. FurMark has caused many computer breakdowns due to incorrect testing and overheating of radio components. Before starting Fur Mark, make sure that your video card has a powerful cooling system. We do not recommend testing for more than 5 minutes.
speedfan
A simple and undemanding SpeedFan utility will help you monitor the main indicators of computer devices, such as cooler rotation speed, voltage, frequency on the CPU core, component temperature, etc. For almost 20 years, this software has been the favorite tool of many overclocking enthusiasts and ordinary users. SpeedFan can be downloaded for free from the developer's website.
Speed Fun is a universal tool for real-time computer control. With it, you can change the speed of the fan impellers, control the processor frequencies, monitor the temperature sensors and check the voltage at the power supply outputs along the 3.3V, 5V and 12V lines. In addition, it displays the S.M.A.R.T. about the status of the hard drive. Knowing these indicators, the user can increase the heat dissipation or vice versa, reduce the noise of the system unit.
The program interface, in addition to the standard Windows shell, includes many graphs for a visual representation of changes in indicators. There is also a warning function when the temperature thresholds are exceeded, and the “CPU Usage” scale will tell you about the load on each CPU core.
Advantages:
- takes readings from temperature sensors, voltage, frequency, etc.;
- control of the state of the hard drive;
- displays the voltage on the PSU supply lines;
- the simplest interface in the style of Windows 2000;
- support for most modern microcontrollers;
- free software with localization.
Flaws:
- there is no presentation of the characteristics of RAM, chipset and other equally important information.
AIDA64 Extreme
As the heir to the famous EVEREST, AIDA64 is the most powerful utility for comprehensive computer diagnostics today. In addition to the information stored in the BIOS memory, Aida provides statistics from the Internet and other useful information regarding the selected device. It contains many different tests to test performance and stability under load, and to compare with other models. AIDA64 Extreme is a shareware product, as the user is given only 30 days for trial use with limited features.
The usefulness of AIDA64 Extreme is difficult to overestimate, because it is one of the few programs that provides comprehensive information about all the characteristics of each component device, and even each microcircuit on the board. By installing it on your PC, you will learn about all available frequency and temperature indicators, device pin voltage, cooler rotation speed, power consumption, etc. In addition to the hardware component, Aida 64 displays information about the operating system and installed components (for example, DirectX).
In mode "Test" AIDA64 Extreme tests and compares your configuration with other devices from its own database, thus creating a rating. It is worth noting the ability to check network devices and connections over a local and global network.
Advantages:
- provides the maximum possible list of characteristics about the computer;
- comparison with other systems from the database;
- takes readings from all available sensors of the system;
- checks RAM for errors;
- there are tests for video cards;
- at the same time simple and beautiful design in classic Windows style.
Flaws:
- the program is not free - only a 30-day trial version is available.
3DMark
At the moment, it's hard to find a better and more beautiful tester than 3DMark from Futuremark (now UL Benchmark). Its tasks include checking the performance of the bundle of the central processor + video card. The developer offers several versions of the benchmark: a free Basic Edition with limited features, an Advanced Edition with a large number of tests and settings, and a Professional Edition (available for commercial use).
The main feature of this tester is the increased requirements for the computer hardware, so even on mid-range systems, the user may be surprised at the small number of points received. The second "visiting card" of 3DMark is colorful, well-designed three-dimensional scenes that simulate games during the test. The tests are carried out not only by qualitative, but also by quantitative scenes, which load the CPU more. 3DMark supports all modern graphics processing technologies, including DirectX 12 and NVIDIA RTX and DLSS.
At the end of the test, you will see the result in the form of points scored for the system as a whole and for each device separately. You can publish your result and compare it with others in a rating created by other users.
Advantages:
- the benchmark loads the system at 100% without causing breakdowns;
- reference tester for high performance systems;
- beautiful 3D models and scenes;
- there is a free version of 3DMark Basic Edition;
- intuitive interface.
Flaws:
- no Russian language in the demo version settings;
PCMark
Another product from the Finnish company Futuremark, focused on checking the performance of the system as a whole. It differs from 3DMark in a wider coverage of subsystems to be tested. With its help, the user will determine the capabilities of his PC in rendering and editing video, complex calculations, storing and transferring data from ROM and other tasks. Free Basic and paid Advanced Edition are available for download.
Computer performance analysis follows the same principle as in 3DMark, but now taking into account all the main components. For example, PCMark checks the speed of reading and writing RAM and permanent memory (hard HDD or solid-state SSD drive), the performance of each processor core, the speed of drawing objects on the screen by a video card. It also performs performance tests while browsing, watching videos, and while talking through VoIP voice clients, as well as during Windows startup. To determine the suitability of a PC for games, the developers have implemented some tests from 3DMark here.
At the end of the test run, the user will see the result on the screen in points, which can be used to judge the performance of the PC, based on the rating. If problematic slow devices are identified, the tester will report the need to upgrade them.
Advantages:
- general performance test of the entire computer with explanations of problems;
- analysis of the state of the operating system;
- reconciliation of the result with the “live” rating of other users;
- very convenient and beautiful interface;
- there is a free version.
Flaws:
- there is no Russian-language interface (in the Basic version).
HWiNFO
A small HWiNFO utility is able to display all the main parameters of the computer and its components, as well as monitor temperature and voltage from device sensors in real time. According to the developers, it is distinguished by increased stability of operation and high accuracy of measurements of diagnostic parameters. It is not necessary to pay for the utility, the developer accepts only donations.
The main quality of HWiNFO is the stability of work on weak systems with outdated versions of Windows. This software will run even on Win XP, not to mention the modern "dozens". The second advantage is detailed reporting on the state of the PC at the time of the check and the provision of detailed information about its parameters. A simple search for each device is provided by a hierarchical structure of icons with descriptions on the left side of the window. The available data can be easily saved to a test file by clicking the "Save Report" button. In addition to checking the computer, HWiNFO has a routine for updating the BIOS of the motherboard and device drivers.
The interface of the HWiNFO software is made in the usual Windows style and is easy to use. At the top of the window is a panel with icons of the most frequently used functions. The “Program” tab has a large number of settings for checking and managing driver modes.
Advantages:
- simplicity and detail of the report;
- convenient management and configuration;
- high measurement accuracy of sensor readings;
- updating BIOS and drivers;
- completely free software.
Flaws:
- there are no tests to check the stability and performance of the system.
Conclusion
Among the ten programs we have considered for diagnosing a computer, there is no ideal option - each has its own set of pros and cons. However, we can advise you to make a choice in a given situation for specific tasks set by the user himself.
For a standard and comprehensive computer check, we would choose Speccy, HWMonitor, HWiNFO and PCMark. They provide detailed data on the characteristics and current state of the hardware and operating system, and PCMark will help you safely load and test your PC for performance.
For more demanding users, overclockers and gamers, AIDA64 Extreme, 3DMark and FurMark will do. The first program displays data about the PC at the highest possible level, and the other two are great for testing video adapters.
CPU-Z, GPU-Z and SpeedFan will fit any of the groups, but they are more similar in features to the above options.