Computer test: Review of 6 programs for assessing PC performance

09.09.2016

The article provides programs that allow you to conduct both comprehensive testing of a computer and individual subsystems. All programs support modern hardware and software, including Windows 8.1.

In some cases, assessing PC performance, the results provided by the computer's built-in test tools are not enough. Then you need to use professional testing tools. They perform a more detailed assessment of the performance of the computer's hardware and allow you to obtain detailed information about the system.

Despite the similarity in purpose of such utilities, their significant diversity is hidden, differing in implementation, ease of use, set of diagnostic tools and program functionality. There are both highly specialized ones, designed for a detailed study of one of the computer subsystems, and those that make it possible to conduct a comprehensive diagnosis of the system and subsystems separately.

Test modules allow you to determine the composition of a computer system and make decisions on ways to improve its performance. Analysis of the systematized information displayed on the screen about the existing system can give the user a specific answer to the causes of problems that occur when working with the computer.

It offers today's most popular computer testing utilities, providing the user with information about the functioning of hardware and software. At the same time, the main requirements were accessibility, a high degree of information content and functionality.

These are the programs (to download the program, click on it):

AIDA64

A full test of the computer is carried out using the professional AIDA64 utility, which provides the user with system information, as well as configuration and diagnostic data for the equipment used. Modern versions of the program are produced by FinalWire Ltd, Budapest, Hungary. The latest product build 5.00.3300 dates back to December 2014. The company produces products on a commercial basis, but the AIDA64 Network Audit or AIDA64 Business version can be tested within a month on a computer with a free license by filling out the order form presented on the developer’s website and receiving a key for use and download link via email. The AIDA64 v5.00 utility is currently also available for smartphones and tablets.

The program allows you to check your computer completely; detailed information about the scan results is presented in a report that opens, which can be saved in html, csv or xml formats. The computer test results contain information about the hardware and the full composition of the software, namely the operating system, drivers, startup, installed and launched programs under the Microsoft Windows operating system. The AIDA64 utility shows all running processes, as well as hotfixes (patches) and licenses, and retrieves hardware information at a relatively low level using its own database, which contains information about approximately 21,000 devices. The program can collect information from remote computers over a TCP/IP network.

The utility's interface allows you to set the Russian language, which makes it accessible to the Russian-speaking population.

Start page AIDA64 v5.00
AIDA64 v5.00 Graphics Process Benchmark
AIDA64 v5.00 system stability test (click to enlarge)
AIDA64 v5.00 processor test (click to enlarge)

Hard drive testing

PC3000DiskAnalyzer

PC performance also depends on the performance of the hard drive. Testing a computer's hard drive can be done, for example, using the free PC3000DiskAnalyzer utility.

The program names of the executable files are PC3000DiskAnalyzer.exe, PrfChartView.exe and ReportViewer.exe.

The utility supports popular media, such as: HDD, SATA, SCSI, SSD, external USB HDD/Flash.

The utility is launched by the file PC3000DiskAnalyzer.exe, the window that opens asks you to select the type of hard drive that is supposed to be scanned. Next, the main program window appears.


PC3000DiskAnalyzer window for selecting disk type

Start testing the disk by pressing the “test/run” button, or by pressing the F9 key. Next, you are asked to select one of the testing options:

  • Verification;
  • Reading;
  • Record;
  • HDD RAM cache test.

Test window

The “verification” and “read” options are quite safe, while the “write” and “test HDD RAM cache” modes can lead to data loss. To check the disk in a gentle mode, “verification” is quite enough. The mode allows you to check the speed indicators of your hard drive, find bad sectors, and determine which of them respond quickly and which have errors. The output diagram shows the errors present on the disk and the sectors that are responding with a delay.

Testing RAM

MemTest

The MemTest utility tests the RAM of computers running on the x86 and x86-64 platforms. Two versions of the program are common: MemTest86 and MemTest86+. The versions were written by different authors, but the idea of ​​the test is the same: compare write and read data, this is done in two passes. The check is carried out from low to high ranks and vice versa.

The utility does not require an operating system and is carried out by its own bootloader. The utility is easy to use and has high operating speed. The program identifies deviations and instability of the computer and will help debug the system after changes made related to replacement or overclocking, introducing the equipment to its maximum operating mode. The latest version 5.01 was released in 2013, although the authors made changes a little later. The utility can be downloaded from the official website.

Monitor testing

Nokia Monitor Test

The most famous set of computer tests used to check the quality of TFT and CRT monitors is the Nokia Monitor Test. Tests allow you to check and configure:

  • Focus degree;
  • No geometric distortion;
  • Image saturation;
  • Brightness and contrast of the picture;
  • Presence of dead pixels;
  • And some other parameters.

The program is accompanied by reference information, the program is free, its most popular version is 2.0, you can download it from the website.


Nokia Monitor Test main window

Testing video cards

FurMark


Window for launching the FurMark program

The FurMark program is designed for testing personal computer video cards. It determines whether the overclocked video card is stable and how efficient the cooling system is. A distinctive feature of FurMark is the use of a stress test function that ensures the maximum load on the card.

Its features:

  • Free product;
  • Compact, fast tests;
  • Testing for the required resolution, up to 4K;
  • Measuring video card parameters and determining the load for the cooling system;
  • Almost all video cards are supported.

FurMark testing window

Graphics testing

3DMark

Computer tests 3DMark 11, developed by the Finnish company Futuremark, are aimed at determining the performance of graphic components and a comprehensive assessment of a personal computer when playing computer games. Its main purpose is to test stability and evaluate the performance of a personal computer video card. The program is developed for hardware and software platforms that support the MS Windows family of operating systems, in particular it supports Windows 8.1.

The latest versions of the program, in addition to the video card, also test the central processor for gaming artificial intelligence tasks and the physics engine. It is essentially a computer game that is non-interactive for the user.

Most releases of the program divide tests into two groups: gaming and specific synthetic ones. The first represent a non-interactive, almost full-fledged computer game that works in real time and uses a game engine. Unlike a full-fledged user, he does not influence the gameplay and does not control the progress of the game or the virtual camera; his task is to observe. The test measures the number of frames and the frame rate per second. The next type of test is calculation-based and evaluates only those GPU units that perform specific operations, such as shaders, texturing, rasterization, etc.

The latest version 1.0.5 of the program was released on April 19, 2013. The basic version of the program with unlimited test use time can be downloaded for free from the official website of the program.


3DMark 11 launch window

Bottom line

Having tested the computer using these means, the user is able to independently assess how efficient his computer is, whether his computer is capable of running powerful games, video editing, and working with 3D graphics.



RELATED ARTICLES