Home-Windows-Testing computer hardware online. Visual inspection of power supply unit

Testing computer hardware online. Visual inspection of power supply unit

Hi all. In today's article we will talk about a complete diagnosis of all devices in your computer. I will show and tell you how to independently diagnose a computer and all its component devices:

  • Hard drive.
  • RAM.
  • Video card.
  • Motherboard.
  • CPU.
  • Power unit.

We will check all this in this article and for each of the computer devices I will make a video in which I will clearly show how to diagnose a particular device.

In addition, using diagnostics, you will be able to determine whether you should completely replace the device or whether you can repair it; we will also analyze the main problems of devices that can be determined without diagnostics. Well, let's start with the most important question that interests everyone - HDD/SSD disk diagnostics.

HDD and SSD disk diagnostics.

Disk diagnostics are done in two directions: they check the Smart system of a hard or solid-state drive and check the disk itself for bad or slow sectors. In order to check the SMART HDD and SSD, we will use the program. You can download it from our website in the download section.

Well, now let’s go directly to the disk diagnostics itself, after downloading the program, run the file of the required bit depth and look at the main window; if you see a blue icon with the caption good or in English good, then everything is in order with your SMART disk and you don’t need to carry out further diagnostics.

If you see a yellow or red icon with the words carefully, bad, then there are some problems with your disk. You can find the exact problem below in the list of essential SMART diagnostic items. Wherever there are yellow and red icons opposite the inscription, it will indicate that it is in this part that your disk was damaged.

If your disk has already exhausted its lifespan, then there is no point in repairing it. If you have several broken sectors, then there is still a possibility of repair. I will talk about repairing bad sectors further. If there are many bad sectors on the disk, more than 10, or many very slow sectors, then it is not worth restoring such a disk. After some time, it will still crumble further, it will need to be constantly restored/repaired.

Software disk repair.

By repair I mean the relocation of bad and slow sectors on the disk. This instruction is only suitable for HDDs, that is, only hard drives. For an SSD, this operation will not help in any way, but will only worsen the condition of the solid-state drive.

Repairing will help extend the life of your hard drive a little more. To restore bad sectors we will use the HDD regenerator program. Download and run this program, wait until the program collects data about your drives, after the data has been collected you will see a window in which you will need to click on the inscription - Click here to bad sectors on demaget drive surfase directly under Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 and 10. You need to click on the inscription quickly in OS 8 and 10, so the window will quickly disappear, in 7 everything is fine. Next, click NO. Then select your drive from the list. Click the start process button. A command line window will appear in which you will need to press 2, Enter, 1, Enter.

After the completed operations, the system will begin scanning for bad sectors and moving them to unreadable disk partitions. In fact, bad sectors do not disappear, but in the future they do not interfere with the operation of the system and you can continue to use the disk. The process of checking and restoring the disk may take a long time, depending on the size of your disk. When the program is finished, press button 5 and Enter. If you encounter any errors while testing and fixing bad sectors, it means that your disk cannot be recovered. If you have found more than 10 bads - bad sectors, then restoring such a disk does not make sense, there will always be problems with it.

The main signs of disk failure are:

  • blue screen crashes.
  • Windows interface freezes.
  • There may be other problems, but it is not possible to tell about them all.

    • Video on how to diagnose HDD/SSD:


    RAM diagnostics

    This time we will conduct diagnostics of RAM. There are several options in which you can check the RAM, this is when your computer is still turning on and working somehow, and when you can no longer turn on the computer, Only the BIOS loads.
    The main signs that the RAM is not working:

    • When loading resource-intensive applications, the computer freezes or restarts.
    • When using the computer for a long time, more than 2 hours, Windows begins to slow down, and as time increases, the slowdown increases.
    • When installing any programs, you cannot install them, the installation fails with errors.
    • Sound and video jamming.

    The first thing we will look at is how to check the RAM if your Windows boots. It’s very simple, in any operating system starting with Windows Vista you can type the Windows memory checker in the search. The shortcut that appears is launched as administrator and we see a message stating that you can reboot and start scanning right now or schedule a scan the next time you turn on the computer. Select the value you need. After the computer restarts, the RAM test will automatically start immediately. It will be carried out in standard mode, wait until the end of the test and you will find out if everything is okay with your RAM. In addition, after you have already loaded Windows, in the event viewer you can open the Windows logs, select the System item and find the memory diagnostic event in the list on the right. In this event you will see all the information about the diagnostics performed. Based on this information, you can find out whether the RAM is working.
    The next option for diagnosing RAM if you cannot boot Windows. To do this, you need to write the program to a disk or bootable USB flash drive and run it from the BIOS. In the window that appears, a test to check random access memory (RAM) will be automatically launched. Wait until the test is completed and if there are any problems with your memory, the test window will change from blue to red. This will indicate defects or failure of the RAM. That's all, you have learned how to diagnose RAM.

    Video on how to check the RAM:

    Video card diagnostics

    The main signs of a video card defect:

    • The computer hits the blue screen of death.
    • Artifacts appear on the screen - multi-colored dots, stripes or rectangles.
    • When loading games, the computer freezes or restarts.
    • When using a computer for a long time in a game, performance decreases and the game begins to lag.
    • Video jamming, video playback failure, problems with flash player.
    • No smoothing in text or when rewinding documents or web pages.
    • Changing the color scheme.

    All these are signs of some kind of video card defect. Testing a video card should be divided into two stages: checking the graphics chip and checking the video card memory.

    Checking the graphics chip of the video card (GPU)

    To check the graphics chip, you can use various programs that put a load on this chip and identify failures under critical load. We will use the program, and FurMark.
    Launch Aida at the bottom of the tray near the clock, right-click and select system stability test. In the window that appears, check the box next to GPU Stress Test. The test will be launched below and you will see a graph of temperature changes, fan speed, and current consumption. To check, a 20-minute test is enough; if at this time the lower field with the graph turns red or the computer reboots, then there are problems with your video card.
    Let's launch OCCT. Go to the GPU 3D tab, do not change the settings and press the ON button. Next, a window will appear with a furry donut, which is a visual test. The test will take 15-20 minutes. I recommend monitoring the temperature and monitoring the power readings; if multi-colored dots, stripes or rectangles appear on the screen, this will indicate that there is a problem with the video card. If the computer turns off spontaneously, this will also indicate a defect in the video card.
    Now we have analyzed the diagnostics of the video card processor, but sometimes there are also problems with the video card memory.

    Diagnostics of video card memory

    For this diagnostic we will use the program. Unpack the program and run it as administrator. In the window that appears, put a checkmark next to the inscription signal if there are errors and press the start button. A check of the video card's RAM will be launched; if any errors are detected with the memory, the program will emit a characteristic sound signal; on some computers the signal will be a system one.
    That's all, now you can diagnose the video card yourself. Check the GPU and video card memory.

    Video card testing video:

    Motherboard diagnostics

    The main signs of a motherboard malfunction:

    • The computer hits the blue screen of death, reboots and turns off.
    • The computer freezes without rebooting.
    • The cursor, music and video (freezes) get stuck.
    • Connected devices disappear - HDD/SSD, drive, USB drives.
    • Ports, USB and network connectors do not work.
    • The computer does not turn on, does not start, does not boot.
    • The computer works slowly, often slows down or freezes.
    • The motherboard makes various sounds.

    Visual inspection of the motherboard

    The first thing you need to do to diagnose a motherboard is to conduct a visual inspection of the motherboard. What you need to pay attention to:

    • Chips and cracks - if such damage is present, the motherboard will not turn on at all or will turn on only once.
    • Swollen capacitors - due to swollen capacitors, the computer can turn on after 3, 5, 10 attempts or after a certain time, it can also go out for no reason and slow down.
    • Oxidation - the computer may turn on every once in a while and slow down. It may not turn on at all if the tracks are completely oxidized.
    • Warmed up chips, there will be small burnt spots or holes on the microchips - because of this, the computer may not turn on or the ports, network cards, sound or USB will not work.
    • Scratches on paths are the same as with chips and cracks.
    • Burnt around chips and ports leads to complete inoperability of the motherboard or its individual parts.

    Software diagnostics of the motherboard

    If your computer turns on and boots into Windows, but there are strange glitches and slowdowns, it’s worth doing software diagnostics of the motherboard using the program. Download and install the program, launch it, right-click on its icon at the bottom of the tray near the clock and select “service” - “system stability test”. Check the boxes next to Stress CPU, Stress FPU, Stress cache, and uncheck the rest. Press the "Start" button, the computer will freeze, and the test will begin. During the test, monitor the temperature of the processor and motherboard, as well as power. We carry out the test for a minimum of 20 minutes and a maximum of 45 minutes. If during the test the bottom field turns red or the computer turns off, then the motherboard is faulty. Also, the shutdown may be due to the processor, uncheckStress CPU and check again. If you find overheating, then you need to check the cooling system of the motherboard and processor. If the power supply fluctuates, problems may occur with both the motherboard and the power supply.

    If the computer starts but Windows does not load, you can check the mainland through a boot test. It needs to be written to a disk or flash drive. I will show you in more detail how to use it in the video.


    Diagnostics of the power supply unit (PSU)

    The main signs of a faulty power supply:

    • The computer does not turn on at all.
    • The computer starts for 2-3 seconds and stops working.
    • The computer turns on 5-10-25 times.
    • When under load, the computer turns off, reboots, or displays a blue screen of death.
    • When under load, the computer slows down a lot.
    • Devices connected to the computer spontaneously disconnect and connect (screws, drives, USB devices).
    • Squeak (whistle) when the computer is running.
    • Unnatural noise from the power supply fan.

    Visual inspection of power supply unit

    The first thing to do if the power supply is faulty is to do a visual inspection. We disconnect the power supply from the case and disassemble the power supply itself. We check for:

    • Burnt, melted elements of the power supply unit - make sure that all the elements are intact; if you find burning or something clearly melted, we take the power supply unit for repair or replace it with a new one.
    • Swollen capacitors - replace swollen capacitors with new ones. Because of them, the computer may not turn on the first time or may die under load.
    • Dust - if dust is clogged in the fan and radiators, it must be cleaned, because of this the power supply under load may turn off due to overheating.
    • Burnt fuse - when there is a voltage drop, the fuse often burns and needs to be replaced.

    We checked everything but the power supply is behaving badly, let's see.

    Software diagnostics of power supply

    Software diagnostics of the power supply can be carried out using any test program that gives the maximum load on the power supply. Before doing such a check, you need to determine whether all elements of your PC have enough power from the power supply. You can check this like this: run the AIDA 64 program link above and go to the site for calculating the required power of the power supply. On the website, we transfer the data from Aida to the appropriate fields and click the Calculate button. This way we will be sure exactly how much power the power supply will be enough for the computer.

    Let's proceed to the diagnosis of PD itself. Download the program. We install and launch it. Go to the Power Supply tab. Check the box to use all logical cores (does not work on all computers) and press the ON button. The test lasts an hour, and if during this time the computer turns off, reboots, or hits a blue screen, there are problems with the power supply (Before checking the power supply, you must first check the video card and processor to avoid the test being incorrect).

    I won’t show you how to diagnose a power supply with a multimeter, because there is a ton of this information on the Internet, and it’s better for professionals to do such diagnostics. I will show you testing the power supply in more detail in the video below:


    Computer diagnostics today is becoming one of the most necessary processes in servicing not only the internal hardware, but also operating systems as a whole, and software components installed in the system. Computer diagnostic utilities, as a rule, are distributed completely freely, and you can download free programs for computer diagnostics on the World Wide Web. Actually, the question of downloading a computer diagnostic program may not be raised. This is primarily due to the fact that on the Internet you can find many online utilities for diagnosing your computer, which do not need to be downloaded.

    However, for now let’s talk about stationary and portable versions of computer diagnostic utilities, which are tools with which computer diagnostics are performed and which can be downloaded for free in the corresponding section of our website. You understand that portable releases of programs for computer diagnostics do not require installation and can be launched from any removable media such as regular flash drives; they just need to be downloaded first. Moreover, absolutely all portable versions can be downloaded for free on our website. By the way, we present the best computer diagnostic programs that can be downloaded for free.

    Fundamentally, the entire range of computer diagnostic utilities can be divided into several main areas. This includes anti-virus programs for diagnosing a computer, applications for monitoring the status and problems in the operating system (most often in the registry) when diagnosing a computer, utilities for obtaining complete information about the internal filling and software in the process of diagnosing a computer, which are more used by overlockers, specialized software packages for diagnosing computer RAM, hard drives or graphics cards, applications for monitoring the behavior of background services and processes, various testers for monitors and much more. By and large, you should just go to a specialized section on our website and download the utility you need for free. It’s worth noting right away that some software products that can be downloaded from us, in many cases, combine the capabilities of computer diagnostic systems and special tools for system optimization. However, optimizers basically work at the software level, and not at the hardware level. However, diagnosing a computer for problems in almost all cases allows you to obtain detailed information about the system and fix the problem, either programmatically or by replacing or repairing a hardware component. In order to find the software product you need and subsequently download it, in the search field of the Internet browser, many users enter queries like “download a program for computer diagnostics”, “download computer diagnostics for free”, “computer diagnostic program for free” or “ free programs for computer diagnostics.” It's just as you like. However, in any case, you can find a huge number of results, and then simply download the desired program for free.

    No less interesting is the use of testing software for overlocking, since it even controls the temperature of the processor, video card, fans, etc. For those who like to overclock processors or free up RAM, such applications are a godsend. Moreover, many of them will not allow exceeding the critical parameters for the normal operation of a particular “hardware” component.

    In general, for each case you can find and download specialized products for computer diagnostics for free. On our website you can download a fairly large number of free computer diagnostic utilities that will help you in the process of testing your computer. In addition, most of the computer diagnostic applications presented here, which can be downloaded for free, work automatically and allow you to get the most detailed reports on the state of the hardware and software of your computer or laptop. Carry out diagnostics of your computer with our software, which can be downloaded for free, at a professional level! After all, timely computer diagnostics will help optimize and significantly speed up the operation of the system; computer diagnostics and timely troubleshooting measures will significantly extend the life of your electronic friend! Choose from this section of the application and decide what exactly you want to download for free.

    Have you ever encountered such a situation - the computer starts to malfunction or turns off completely? What's the problem? It turns out that you don’t always need to contact a service center. Try using specialized software. The use of programs is useful not only in cases of malfunctions. Let's look at the best programs for identifying computer hardware and when to use them.

    Why do you need such software?

    Have you ever encountered situations where you need to know some PC specifications? And this is not the only reason to use such software. Iron detection software is useful if:

    1. Drivers are updated;
    2. To find out the temperature of the HDD or CPU;
    3. When the system slows down and freezes.

    Sometimes it is necessary to know the hardware model or version. Users do not remember such parameters. They may not be in the documentation. Let's consider what software is needed in such situations.

    Speccy

    Official website of the program: filehippo.com/download_speccy. On the main page there will be a link from which we download the “exe” file with the program. Installation is simple and will not cause any difficulties even for beginners. Shows information about RAM, sound devices, CPU and motherboard temperatures. Works on all versions of Windows.


    The utility window displays equipment models and small icons indicating the temperature. By double-clicking on them, see the changes that have occurred in five minutes. The utility will not be released by the developers as a professional monitoring tool, but you can find out when it’s time to change the thermal paste on your video card using the program.

    Speccy characteristics:

    1. Shows detailed information about the characteristics of the PC and its devices;
    2. Uses system tools for diagnostics.

    Program for determining computer hardware Aida64

    Download the program from the official Internet project: aida64.com/downloads/latesta64xe.


    Previously called Everest, but was renamed by the developers to AIDU. Shows detailed information about the system and what is installed. Aida64 is configured for advanced diagnostics of PC operation. Has tests for RAM, CPU, video, HDD.

    Important! When checking out your computer, or before purchasing a new one, take a stress test. If the device worked for at least fifteen minutes, and no blue screen appeared, everything is fine.

    Characteristics of AIDA 64:

    1. Shows information in real time;
    2. Generates a detailed report;
    3. Completely in Russian.

    Aida can:

    1. Edit programs in startup. It is because of them that the PC begins to work slower;
    2. A section displaying all connected devices. This will help determine its model and find the correct driver. Shows a link from where to download it.

    HWInfo

    Official website of the utility: www.hwinfo.com. Among the features, we note the ability to download the program installer, and the presence of a portable version. Once launched, HWInfo displays general information about the PC.


    Small but powerful program. If you look at the temperature sensors, then in addition to the current indicators, the program will show the maximum permissible parameters for the equipment. If they are close to the maximum, think about it. Works with all versions of Windows.

    Important! It is convenient to update drivers, since the utility publishes a link to the manufacturer's website.

    GPU-Z

    If your video card is malfunctioning, pay attention to this application. It supports most existing video adapters. Shows information about frequency, RAM resource usage, load. Determines memory timings and BIOS version of the motherboard. Download it from the site cpuz.ru/gpuz_download.htm


    Peculiarities:

    • Works only with a video card;
    • The main feature is monitoring of the main quantities of the device;
    • Minimum settings.

    CPU Thermometer

    Download it from cputhermometer.com


    Suitable for those who know what normal CPU temperature is. Performs one function - shows the percentage of processor cores loaded. Minimizes to the system tray and launches along with the OS.

    CPU-Z

    Official website of the program: cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html


    The utility will measure the CPU temperature, evaluate its efficiency and resistance to overloads. The creators have introduced many important features into the application. In addition to testing, the utility receives information about the motherboard, each stick of RAM and GPU. Creates a report exported to txt or html format.

    Peculiarities:

    1. Shows CPU temperature;
    2. Detailed information about hardware;
    3. Benchmark (solution to a problem to determine performance) CPU;
    4. Works on Windows and Android.

    Monitor your temperature with Core Temp

    Download the program from: alcpu.com/CoreTemp/

    Receives information from PC temperature sensors. Checks whether the system is using a lot of CPU. A special feature of the program is the overheat protection function. She will report this and take certain actions. Will put the PC into sleep mode, or turn it on (can be configured as desired).

    Shows CPU core values, frequency and voltage on the chip. It differs from similar programs in the ability to display the maximum heating temperature depending on the processor model. Even if you are a novice user, by looking at the minimum and maximum values ​​you will understand whether the temperature readings are normal.

    Advantages:

    1. Consumes few system resources;
    2. Clear interface;
    3. Protects the system from overheating;
    4. Ability to search for new drivers;
    5. BIOS update;
    6. Advanced diagnostic settings;
    7. Free.

    Open Hardware Monitor

    Located at: openhardwaremonitor.org/downloads/

    Dwaremonitor connects to sensors on the motherboard, so it shows accurate and detailed information. The window displays the current and maximum temperature readings. By looking at the values, it will become clear whether the equipment has a tendency to overheat.

    Key Features:

    1. Reports an increase in temperature;
    2. The results are recorded in a log;
    3. Support for all existing processors, information about which comes from special online databases;
    4. Compatible with all versions of Windows.

    SpeedFan

    The utility is located on the website speedfan.ru.softonic.com/


    Displays the temperature of the CPU, SMAPT drive and other parts of the PC. A distinctive feature is the regulation of the cooler rotation speed. This is what it will be used for. SpeedFan prevents overheating and helps reduce noise levels.

    Important! To get the settings right, try different options. The main thing is to monitor the temperature.

    Peculiarities:

    1. Information about the temperature is shown in the system tray (near the clock);
    2. The number of fan revolutions is set in the menu.

    Conclusion

    Of the programs listed above, use Core Temp and Hardware Monitor in combination. The first will protect against overheating. The second will show detailed information about other parameters. To reduce noise or optimize cooling, use SpeedFan. AIDA and CPU-Z are suitable for testing hardware. Compared to their analogues, they show the most truthful results. If you don't like complex software, use the minimalist CPU Thermometer.

    The main task that a computer diagnostic program performs is to obtain as much information as possible about the software and hardware of the device.

    It is used to determine whether there are enough resources to run a particular application, and to check the characteristics of the system, components and their condition.

    Such programs are especially important for a person who, for some reason, needs to know the parameters of someone else’s computer and to correct errors. Determine how much memory is installed on your computer, its type and number of slots. After this, it will be much easier to choose a new suitable RAM or conclude that it is worth replacing the entire motherboard or computer (laptop);

  • Understand exactly how to prepare for the release of the expected game - add memory, install a more powerful processor, purchase an additional hard drive or video card;
  • Determine the temperature of the graphics and central processor, identifying the need to replace thermal paste;
  • Find out why installed programs do not work and the computer freezes - due to incorrect drivers, insufficient video memory or hardware failure.

    • CPU-Z

    The free CPU-Z program has an unpretentious interface and allows you to obtain technical information about almost all elements of the computer:

    • Processor (including its model, architecture, socket, voltage, frequency, multiplier, cache size and number of cores);
    • Motherboard (brand, model, BIOS version, supported memory types);
    • RAM (volume, type and frequency);
    • Video card (name, size, capacity, type and frequency).

    The main advantages of the application are the ability to obtain detailed and accurate information in Russian about all components of the system, which can be useful for professional users and amateurs.

    Among the disadvantages is the inability to determine the temperature of the processors.

    Speccy

    Another free program allows you to obtain detailed information about all the main components and software, from the processor and board to RAM and optical drives.

    In addition, using Speccy, you can obtain data from temperature measurement sensors, finding ways to correct connection errors or installation of the ventilation system.

    Naturally, the application also determines the number of RAM slots, which can be an important factor in determining the need and possibilities for upgrading a computer.

    And when preparing a device for sale, Speccy can be used to quickly compile a list of components - after all, although the built-in utilities allow you to do almost the same thing, it will take more time, and some data will not be found out.

    It is worth noting that the program developers are the authors of such useful software as CCleaner and Defraggler.

    And among its advantages they note:

    • Clear and practical interface;
    • Quick access to important information;
    • There is no need to install the application, which may be necessary, for example, if you do not have access to the administrator account;
    • Ability to monitor the selected parameter in real time by setting it as a tray icon;
    • Launch simultaneously with the system;
    • Free access

    HWiNFO

    Thanks to the HWiNFO system application, you can get maximum useful information about the system, compare the performance of individual hardware components with standard parameters and indicators of popular analogues.

    In addition, the program allows you to create reports that can be used to compare the performance of individual PC elements.

    All the information is quite detailed, but only concerns the equipment - you won’t be able to find out about the drivers using it.

    However, this drawback is practically the only one, since the application is capable of collecting data about any devices, including even outdated equipment (for example, IDE and dial-up modems), old BIOS and video cards of any type.

    In addition, the application can also test processors, memory and disks. The data obtained as a result of the test can be stored in logs. And you can control individual parameters using tray icons, which change periodically.

    AIDA64 Extreme

    Using the AIDA64 Extreme application gives the user the opportunity to:

    • Receive information about hardware components;
    • Determine which drivers are installed on the computer and, if necessary, look for their latest versions;
    • Monitor the processor temperature, responding to faults and correcting them;
    • Test 64-bit operating systems (for 32-bit there is a special version - AIDA32) and equipment using unique utilities;
    • Diagnose and monitor fan blade rotation speed and voltage;
    • Save the received data as a document of any format.

    The advantages of the program are that it provides almost all useful information about the system and computer.

    Among the disadvantages are the limited demo version distributed free of charge and the high cost of the application, especially for domestic users.

    PassMark Performance Test

    The PerformanceTest application is a set of tests that can help you evaluate the performance of your computer by comparing it with other devices.

    The latest version of the utility has 27 built-in programs, each of which is responsible for determining its own category of data.

    These include tests for:

    • Processor (for encryption, information compression and calculation speed);
    • Video cards (possibility of bitmap display of two-dimensional and three-dimensional graphics, animation, compatibility with graphics packages such as DirectX);
    • Hard disk (for writing, reading and data retrieval speed);
    • Optical drives (reading speed, data storage;
    • RAM (data access, operating speed).

    The results are saved in most popular formats - from HTML to Word, after which they can be sent by email, inserted into website code, edited in a word processor or printed.

    And the tests themselves can be imported into the application, adding new features.

    The main tasks of PerformanceTest are:

    • Determining PC capabilities for comparison with the minimum or optimal gaming requirements;
    • Checking components to eliminate hardware faults;
    • Help in making decisions when updating your computer configuration or purchasing a new one;
    • Creating your own tests.

    Meanwhile, the program is not distributed free of charge. Some of its features, including improved graphics tests, are available only for the version that you have to buy.

    Although the application, which is freely available, is quite functional and allows you to use many settings. return to menu

    CrystalDiskMark

    The program, small in size and therefore quickly downloadable from the Internet, is designed to carry out tests with hard drives of any type (HDD or SSD) and with all types of interface.

    The main parameters that are determined by the utility are the writing and reading speed.

    The result is an advanced reading that is unlikely to be useful to a non-specialist, but for an experienced user and the person determining what problem your drive has, it is almost ideal.

    In this case, testing can be carried out several times in a row, automatically averaging the results.

    SpeedFan

    An application suitable for finding problems with your computer - malfunctions of motherboards and graphics boards, disks, processors and coolers with various types of interfaces.

    A minor drawback is the difficulty in reading data from some hard drives connected using an IDE connector.

    However, the functionality of this software is sufficient for:

    • Fan speed and voltage settings;
    • Setting the limit values ​​of processor temperatures, the exceeding of which the application informs the user;
    • Decoding memory of various types (from SDRAM to DDR4).

    The latest versions of the utility support Windows 10. The application is multilingual, including working in Russian.

    And its main advantages include not only a warning so that the user can respond to malfunctions (which not every similar program can do), but also displaying the controlled temperature in the tray.

    At the same time, SpeedFan is distributed free of charge.

    S.I.W.

    PC users who want to determine the parameters of the system and device components can also use an application such as SIW, the name of which can be deciphered as System Info for Windows.

    It has a small size and a simplified interface, reminiscent of standard Windows utilities and is capable of providing all the information most necessary for the user.

    So, for example, with the help of SIW you can find out about the latest system updates, get information about system files or folders, as well as about drivers, running processes and services - and in more detail than the “Task Manager” allows you to do.

    For commercial or enterprise use, a license must be purchased.

    Conclusions

    The number of programs for checking hardware and operating systems is quite large.

    New applications are almost constantly being created to help monitor computer parameters and hardware faults.

    But the programs presented in the list allow you to do this as efficiently as possible, installing only 2-3 applications, and not a whole dozen - saving time and not downloading unnecessary files from the network, risking accidentally introducing a virus onto your computer.

    In addition, if there is no access to the network, Windows has a number of utilities that will also allow you to find out some parameters.

    Video material:

    As practice shows, users are only satisfied with the capabilities of their own computer for the time being - sooner or later they have to resort to an upgrade. Everything is banally 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 hardware, which is not difficult if you have the money. However, this is not always reasonable - often to increase productivity 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 the computer lacks for faster operation - processor power, video system capabilities, memory capacity, hard drive 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 what was stated at the time of 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 works.

    Any professional assembler (and all overclocking enthusiasts) can easily solve the listed problems, since they have in their arsenal many diverse and highly specialized information and diagnostic tools. The average user has no need to acquire such solutions, but it is still necessary to install a simple comprehensive utility for obtaining information about the hardware and testing the computer. These are the programs we will consider in this article.

    Retrieving Hardware Data

    Theoretically, any information diagnostic utility is capable of recognizing the “stuffing” of a 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 the identified components can vary - 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 Intel 510 and 320 SSDs that have recently appeared on the market, AMD Radeon HD 6790 and NVIDIA GeForce GT 520M video cards, five new Quadro M series mobile video cards from NVIDIA, 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 (reading SMART information of controllers manufactured by Indilinx, Intel, JMicron, Samsung and SandForce is supported) and data transfer speed. Moreover, the utility recognizes USB 3.0 controllers and devices compatible with this new standard.

    The volume of data provided by AIDA64 is impressive - access to it is provided from a tree-like menu of sections that combine the main modules of the program. Yes, through the section Computer it is easy to obtain aggregate information about hardware components, the system and BIOS, as well as data on processor overclocking, power supply features, the state of system hardware monitoring sensors, etc. (Fig. 1).

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

    Other “hardware” sections provide more detailed information - so in the section System board there is detailed information about the central processor, motherboard, memory, BIOS, etc. In the section Display it is easy to obtain information related to the graphical interface of the system (in particular, information about 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 information (AIDA64)

    In the section 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 Net, and about buses, ports, keyboard, mouse, etc. - in the section Devices. In addition, from the menu Service panel opens AIDA64 CPUID(Fig. 3), which displays data 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 obtain 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. Summary information about the computer (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, mice, keyboard, sound card, etc. As for the readings of various types of monitoring sensors, then to obtain them you will need to launch not the information module, but the diagnostic module Environment Monitor(tab Tools). This module provides display of text and graphic information about processor temperature, fan speed, voltage, etc.

    Rice. 5. Video system information (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 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 will help you obtain more detailed information about components (Fig. 7); The amount of data provided is quite sufficient for the average user. In addition, through the menu Tools → Overclocking information you can find out whether any of the system components (processor, bus or memory) have been overclocked, and if so, to what limits, and also take readings from some sensors.

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

    Rice. 7. Graphics subsystem data (PC Wizard)

    Utility HWiNFO32 It will also allow you to learn a lot of interesting things about the hardware of the computer. Immediately after startup, it begins diagnostic tests and within seconds displays a window System Summary with compact display of data about the processor, motherboard, memory, chipset, disks, etc. (Fig. 8). This window can 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, etc. in the corresponding tabs - Central Processors, Motherboard, Memory, Video Adapter etc. Data on the processor, memory modules, motherboard, buses and disks is quite detailed, information on other devices is more modest. If necessary, it is easy to obtain readings from the touch sensors installed on the motherboard (temperature, voltage, etc.) by clicking on the button Sensors.

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

    Rice. 9. Video card information (HWiNFO32)

    Program Fresh Diagnosis allows you to find out information about any iron components, although not always detailed. For example, on 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 the section Multimedia combines 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 needs to be replaced immediately, and which components can wait until better times (after all, in a crisis, not everyone decides to completely upgrade). This is quite simple to do by conducting a couple of specific benchmark tests in the environment of a suitable diagnostic utility. After buying a new computer or upgrading an old one, it also doesn't hurt to test it to make sure that the computer has become more productive. Of course, you can feel the effect of the upgrade while working normally in applications, but to complete the picture, it is better to verify the performance improvement using tools specifically designed for this purpose.

    When conducting tests, to obtain a more objective assessment, it is better to close all applications, 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 is worth keeping 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 you shouldn’t take the results obtained literally, since they do not reflect real performance, but only indicate the level of performance when performing strictly specific tasks. Nevertheless, conducting such testing makes it possible to understand how outdated the hardware components installed in your computer are in comparison with reference samples, as well as to evaluate the level of performance before and after the upgrade, which is what interests us in this article.

    The programs of greatest interest from a testing point of view are AIDA64 and SiSoftware Sandra, some of whose benchmarks are used even by professionals in various hardware testing techniques. The capabilities of the other utilities discussed in the article are limited in this regard, although they also provide some test functionality.

    In the program AIDA64 a wide range of benchmark 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 rest of the tests in this section evaluate processor performance in integer and floating point operations, when creating ZIP archives, when performing encryption using the AES crypto algorithm, etc. (tests CPU Queen, CPU PhotoWorxx, CPU ZLib, CPU AES, CPU Hash, FPU VP8, FPU Julia, FPU Mandel, FPU SinJulia). All tests compare performance with other systems, including the latest ones.

    Rice. 11. CPU performance evaluation (CPU Queen test; AIDA64)

    Via the menu Service Three more benchmark tests are available: Disk 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 cache and memory (Figure 12). In the test Monitor diagnostics The display quality of LCD and CRT monitors is checked.

    Rice. 12. Cache & 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 to see if it needs an upgrade. Modules designed for testing the most important computer subsystems are combined on the tab Benchmarks. A whole group of synthetic tests is designed to test the processor - arithmetic and multimedia tests, multi-core efficiency tests, power efficiency tests, cryptographic performance and GPGPU cryptography. Several tests are responsible for testing physical drives - including a file system test, as well as modules for testing physical disks, removable/flash drives, CD-ROM/DVD and Blu-ray optical drives. Tests available to test memory include Memory Bandwidth Test, Memory Latency Test, and Cache and Memory Test. In addition, there are tests to evaluate visualization speed 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.), results are displayed in comparison with reference models that are more or less similar in characteristics. At the same time, it is possible to independently select 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 best to replace them with.

    Rice. 13. CPU performance evaluation
    (arithmetic test; SiSoftware Sandra)

    Two interesting test modules are presented on the tab Tools- these are modules Performance Index And Analysis and recommendations. Using the test Performance Index The overall performance of the computer is assessed during arithmetic and multimedia tests of the processor, determination of 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 the user. Module Analysis and recommendations provides a detailed analysis of the PC for possible upgrades. At the end of this analysis, the program produces a list of recommendations on which hardware components are best replaced in order to improve performance (Fig. 15), and draws attention to possible problems (for example, the difficulty of adding memory due to all slots being occupied, too high processor temperature (and suggests checking cooling), etc.).

    Rice. 14. Assessing overall computer performance (SiSoftware Sandra)

    Rice. 15. Computer analysis for upgrade (SiSoftware Sandra)

    Utility PC Wizard also includes certain functionality for testing hardware (tab Test). With its help, you can clearly 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 significantly fall short of the selected (from a preset list) reference sample - that is, they need to be updated, and which are quite on par (Fig. 16).

    Rice. 16. Assessing overall computer performance (PC Wizard)

    PC Wizard also has a number of synthetic tests that allow you to evaluate the performance of the processor, L1/L2/L3 caches and memory in general (evaluating bandwidth, timing), as well as the video subsystem, hard drive, optical drive, etc. In particular, for The processor is equipped with basic tests Dhrystone ALU, Whetstone FPU and Whetstone SSE2, which allow us to evaluate its performance in integer and floating point operations. 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. CPU testing (PC Wizard)

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

    Rice. 18. CPU performance evaluation (HWiNFO32)

    Program Fresh Diagnosis has tools for determining the performance of individual system components. These are seven synthetic test modules in the section Benchmarks. With their help, you can evaluate the performance of the processor (Whetstone, Dhrystone and multimedia tests), memory, video system, hard drives, optical drives and network adapter. Test results are presented in comparison with basic 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. CPU testing (Fresh Diagnosis)

    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 cope well with the increased load due to the replacement of the processor or video adapter with newer models.

    If such a picture occurs, 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 is overheating under load, and also evaluate how the computer generally behaves under stressful conditions. This can be done by conducting stress testing.

    Most stability tests place intense computational load on various units of the central processor, system memory, graphics processor and system logic set - that is, they force the computer to work under stressful conditions. Unfortunately, none of these tests by itself guarantees 100% system stability, but if the test reveals 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 (available through the menu Service) is intended for stress testing of the processor (testing cores separately is allowed), 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 processor load level (CPU Usage) and the CPU Throttling mode. Mode CPU Throttling is activated only if the processor overheats, and it should be understood that activating 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 continuously monitoring the temperature.

    Rice. 20. CPU stress testing (AIDA64)

    In addition to temperature, the graphs of which are displayed on the first tab during stress testing, on other tabs the program presents other useful information - about 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 normally (after 30 minutes), or when suspicious results are detected (for example, severe overheating of one of the components).

    Using stability test SiSoftware Sandra(tab Tools), stress testing can also be performed (Fig. 21). It will allow you to navigate the stability of the system and identify its weak points by analyzing the operation of the processor, memory, physical disks and optical drives, energy efficiency, etc. Testing lasts for a specified period of time or without taking it into account - in this case the number of times it is run is indicated selected test modules. During testing, the utility monitors the system state 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 system stability testing (test System Test Stability from the menu Tools) are limited to CPU and motherboard testing. During testing, the processor is maximally loaded and operates under such conditions for a long time, during which the temperatures of the processor and motherboard are measured at certain intervals, and the results are displayed on a graph (Fig. 22).

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

    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 diagnostic solution EVEREST, designed for diagnosing hardware and software computer resources and versatile computer testing. The utility can be launched from a hard drive, CD/DVD/BD disks, as well as from flash drives. The program is presented in two editions: AIDA64 Extreme Edition and AIDA64 Business Edition; the 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 of the free information diagnostic programs. 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 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: for free

    PC Wizard is an information diagnostic utility used to diagnose hardware and software components and conduct various testing. In the basic version, the program is launched from a hard drive; it can be loaded from portable devices, for example from a flash drive (a 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, we are not talking about new products).

    HWiNFO32 3.71

    Developer: Martin Malik

    Distribution size: 2.26 MB

    Price: for free

    HWiNFO32 is an information diagnostic utility that allows you to obtain 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 new products that appear on the market are included in its database in a timely manner. There is a special portable edition of the utility that can be launched 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 diagnostic utility designed to obtain information about all hardware and software components of a PC, as well as testing it. The program is regularly updated and supports many modern models, but its shortcomings include a poorly thought-out interface and poor-quality Russian-language localization (therefore, it is wiser to use it with an English-language interface).



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