If you want to get to know your PC in detail, the specification papers included in the package by the hardware manufacturer won't help you that much, that's for sure. Instead you can use one of the many dedicated software solutions out there, and HWiNFO is one of the best picks.
As its name suggests (an abbreviation for "hardware info"), HWiNFO is capable of getting in touch with all pieces of hardware in order to provide detailed information about each one.
One of the niftiest features we've discovered while testing the application was the summary report displayed every time HWiNFO is opened, thus immediately making available the most important details regarding our machine.
Of course, for a deeper investigation there's the main window that enables you to browse through all the possible of details regarding the CPU, motherboard, RAM, video adapters, monitors, drives, audio and network devices, ports and pretty much every other single piece of hardware bundled in the system.
Another interesting feature is the sensor reading tool that provides you with information on the temperature of your components in a single clean window. A benchmark function is also present in the feature set, but keep in mind that all the tests are going to take a while to complete.
All in all, it's safe to say that HWiNFO is the kind of tool that has pretty good chances to come in handy on every computer out there, especially since it can be used by beginners and power users alike.
What's New in This Release:
· Added option to disable flushing of file buffers during start.
· Added several new Intel CPU models and SSPEC codes.
· Added reporting of SATA HIPM and DIPM.
· Fixed crash on some Windows 8.1 systems.
· Added support of ITE IT8790E.
· Enhanced sensor monitoring on Gigabyte Z87-OC and Z87X-UD5H.
· Rewritten drive detection method for more flexibility.
· Drive sensors order change on many systems, so a layout order reset and reconfiguration of plugins might be required.
· Added ability to detect current SATA transfer rate for certain controllers.
· Fixed showing of nonsense sensor values on some systems.
· Enhanced sensor monitoring on Foxconn H77 series.
· Improved Auto Start via TaskScheduler.