Free Utilities from CPUID Describe System Details
by Ira Wilsker

WEBSITES:
http://www.cpuid.com
http://www.cpuid.com/softwares.html

	As regular readers of this column know, I am a fan of utilities, especially if they are free!  Frequently, situations arise where it is necessary to know the details of a computer, including specifics about its software, hardware, drivers, and other components in order to diagnose a problem and make recommendations.  There are several fine utilities that can perform these functions, but several that I have been using recently come from the historical city of Dunkerque, France, courtesy of their publisher CPUID Software.
	CPUID software is best known for its namesake product, CPUID, which is as it says, a utility to identify the details of the CPU chip installed in a computer.  This is often necessary to know if the computer is being benchmarked (performance measured), upgraded, or undergoing major repairs.  The latest CPUID software is named CPU-Z, version 1.55.  This small utility displays the processor brand and model number, the type of socket it uses (necessary to know for replacement or upgrades), speeds, and other details about the CPU chip, which is the central "brains" of the computer.  Sometimes it is desirable or necessary to replace a motherboard, or determine the BIOS on the motherboard.  The motherboard is the central platform on which most of the other internal components are either directly attached to, or otherwise connected to, and provides much of the internal communication between the components.  While generally very reliable and long lived, sometimes it is necessary to replace a motherboard.  The BIOS, an acronym for "Basic Input - Output System" is typically attached to the motherboard, and contains the first code run by a PC when it is initially powered on.  The BIOS identifies and initializes the video card, keyboard, mouse, hard drive, CD/DVD drive, and other key components.  The BIOS contains software in a non-volatile ROM chip, and is typically firmly attached to the motherboard.  Most BIOS chips can be updated and upgraded with software provided either by the BIOS manufacturer, motherboard maker, or computer manufacturer.  CPU-Z identifies the brand of BIOS, the version of its software, and the date of the software stored in it; with this information, it is somewhat easy to determine if the BIOS contains the latest software.  Keeping the BIOS updated is not a critical task if everything appears to be working OK, but for those of us always trying to tweak our computers and capitalize in the latest offerings, this is good information to have.  One warning is appropriate here; if the user is considering updating the BIOS, be absolutely sure to explicitly follow the manufacturer's directions to the letter!  In a worst case scenario, failure to do so will result in an expensive paperweight, but in many cases, there is a procedure to "roll back" or restore the BIOS to its earlier status.
	When I ask people how much memory they have in their computer, they are often clueless, or erroneously confuse the memory with the storage capacity of their hard drives.  Clicking on the "Memory" tab of CPU-Z displays the type of memory, the amount of memory, speed, and other characteristics.  The "SPD" tap allows the user to cycle through the memory stick installed in his computer, displaying the capacity of each stick, the type, manufacturer, part number, and other information.  This information may be necessary if the user wants to add or replace memory in the computer.
	The "Graphics" tab displays information about the display device, including the brand, model number, chipset, speed, and memory.  Since the video card makers often release updates, enhancements, and new features, this information could be very useful.
	CPUID also publishes several other utilities, and another one that I found useful is PC Wizard 2010.  PC Wizard was first published in 1996, and is considered one of the most comprehensive system information utilities available.  Since the hardware industry is very dynamic, with new hardware being introduced on a daily basis, PC Wizard is frequently updated, typically monthly.  In addition to identifying and displaying the details of the hardware and software on the computer, PC Wizard can also benchmark the performance of the individual computer components, as well as the entire computer.  By noting which components and software are the performance laggards, the user can then determine what, if any, practical solutions may improve performance.  PC Wizard utilizes a series of icons representing each of the components or software titles installed on the computer, and can determine the hardware, configuration, system files, and resources used by the computer.  The benchmark selection can test and display the performance of the entire computer, the CPU (processor chip), memory, video, hard drive, external storage devices (like CD/DVD and USB drives), and other hardware components.  In addition to displaying the performance of the hardware itself, a "Compare Results" shows how the user's computer compares to others.  The results are also displayed and announced (audio) using the wizard avatar and voice synthesis similar to the "Vox Proxy" PowerPoint accessory.  PC Wizard provides the user with a wealth of information.
	While CPUID has several utilities available for free download, one of those that I also found very useful is HWMonitor, which is a shortened "Hardware Monitor".  This utility is also available in an enhanced commercial version, HWMonitor Pro, which adds additional features and functionality.  HWMonitor (the free version) can identify the power supply in the computer, and display the real-time voltages, temperatures, and fans in the power supply.  This is important to monitor the health of the power supply, and consider a replacement or upgrade if necessary.  Many users are unaware that their computers report the temperatures of various components in the computer, which is important in that heat is one of the big killers of components.  Being somewhat colonial, I selected to display the temperatures in Fahrenheit (F) rather than Celsius (C).   Usually there are some fans in each computer which are critical in exhausting the heat from the components, and bring in cool outside air.  HWMonitor tracks and reports the performance of the fans, which can enable the user to easily and quickly see if a fan is failing; a dead fan can lead to overheating and damage or destruction of the computer's components.  This utility can also track and report on the temperatures of the motherboard, CPU chip, video card, and hard drive.
	Most of these utilities are available for 32 and 64 bit Windows PCs using recent versions of Windows such as XP, Vista, and Windows 7, although some of the utilities also have builds that are explicitly for Windows 98.  The files are relatively small and fast to download, and consume minimal system resources, such that they do not noticeably degrade system performance.  These utilities could be a useful asset to anyone who wants to keep up with the performance, condition, and health of his system.