The best benchmarking software makes it easy to compare hardware specifications and their performance.
Best Performance Measurement Software: Quick Menu
This is especially useful if you’re looking to buy a new computer or even simply upgrade your existing computer, as it allows you to compare hardware components and their specifications, such as processors.
A typical benchmarking application evaluates three key factors: clock speeds, temperatures, and voltage. It also records the displayed frames per second and compares them to these parameters to evaluate the average performance of your desktop.
Running a proper benchmark can help you assess your desktop’s overall productivity, diagnose problems with hardware components, and even overclock your rig for the best results. If you’re having trouble choosing the best benchmark software for your computer, our expert guide is here to help.
Below we list the best performance measurement software options currently available.
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The best benchmark software in its entirety:
The best hardware monitoring
HWMonitor presents itself as a hardware monitoring solution, not a benchmarking application. However, it is one of the most widely used tools among gamers. The software has a simple interface that clearly displays your computer’s voltage, power consumption, temperature, clock speeds and fan speeds.
HWMonitor is especially useful if you’re trying to figure out why your desktop is heating up. High temperatures are one of the most common reasons for frequent shutdowns, and HWMonitor can help you diagnose the problem by recording CPU and GPU temperatures under different settings and loads.
The classic version of HWMonitor is the most popular and is available for free. However, there is also a more powerful paid version that can remotely monitor devices and has an improved interface for advanced users. It allows up to 20 remote connections and comes with 2 years of free updates.
The best benchmark for gaming
3DMark is one of the best benchmarking packages out there when it comes to putting your PC through its paces in terms of gaming performance. The package includes many gaming benchmarks whose names you will probably recognize, including 3DMark Fire Strike (an older DX11 test), Time Spy (DX12), and Port Royal (air search) among others.
All of these benchmarks will give you a score and allow you to compare that score to other PCs using the same (or indeed different) hardware components, letting you know how you’re doing compared to other 3DMark users – of which there are many – and maybe you gives you an opportunity to see if your system needs to be adjusted. Furthermore, you get some estimated frame rate performance figures for a selection of popular games also provided by 3DMark.
And of course, these benchmarks will be useful for anyone looking to overclock their rig – plus 3DMark gives you the ability to stress test the stability of your overclock (by running the benchmark in a loop over and over again).
3DMark offers a free demo (downloadable on Steam) to check out its benchmarking capabilities for yourself.
The best comprehensive benchmarking
UserBenchmark offers a free comprehensive suite that can be used to benchmark your CPU, GPU, SSD, HDD, RAM, and even USB to help you choose the best hardware for your needs. The software was built by a team of engineers as a passion project, not a corporate offering.
In addition to generating a wealth of data in addition to a net rating of your hardware, it offers suggestions on how to improve performance. Each individual hardware component is scored separately based on its performance in tests, allowing you to pinpoint exactly where your desktop is underperforming.
However, users should note that there are many controversies involving this software. The team has repeatedly come under heavy criticism for personal attacks on tech journalists, while the benchmarks themselves have been accused of rigging tests to put one hardware company ahead of another.
Best for processors
If you’re looking for a comprehensive performance evaluation for your CPU and GPU, CineBench has you covered. The free software is available on most platforms and uses image rendering tasks to evaluate your device’s capabilities.
Cinebench evaluates CPU and OpenGL performance using 4D image rendering tests. It is particularly useful for high-end systems that scale beyond the scope of typical benchmarking software. The reports it generates are actionable and based on real-world performance, aimed at people involved in the content creation market.
The best part about Cinebench’s comprehensive 4D rendering evaluation is that it uses all available cores of your CPU, pushing it to the very limit of its hardware. The product is very useful when you are trying to build a high-end computer and need recommendations on which components to use.
Best for overclocking
MSI Afterburner is a must-have software for anyone looking to overclock their graphics card. It’s completely GPU focused, with no CPU support, but the amount of control it provides is what makes it truly outstanding.
MSI Afterburner works with any GPU regardless of its brand. Not only does it give you detailed hardware specifications for your graphics card, but it also gives you full control over your GPU, including aspects like fan speed, voltage, and clock speed. The software also has an FPS counter that allows you to measure GPU performance in real time.
MSI Afterburner is a free utility. If you’re looking for the gold standard software for safe GPU overclocking, this is the only tool you’ll need.
Best for Windows
Geekbench is one of the best benchmarking apps for Windows, but it’s also available on Android, iOS, macOS, and Linux.
It checks your CPU through a variety of different tests, including several that rely on newer applications such as augmented reality and machine learning. For GPUs, Geekbench lets you use a number of APIs, including OpenCL, CUDA, Metal, and even Vulkan. The benchmarking app also boasts the unique ability to perform cross-platform benchmark comparisons, which you can use to compare your Apple iPhone with an Android device or your Windows PC with a Mac.
Geekbench is available for Windows, macOS or Linux. You can purchase a license that will allow you to run the software on any of the three platforms for a single user. Geekbench Pro is a professional-grade solution that allows you to use the software commercially and features command-line tools and standalone mode.
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FAQ
Which performance measurement software is best for you?
When deciding which performance measurement software to use, consider your actual needs first, as sometimes free platforms can only provide basic options, so if you need to use advanced tools, you may find that a paid platform is much more worthwhile. Additionally, your choice may also depend on whether you are just curious about your hardware options and choices or have a professional need to compare different aspects of your hardware.
How we test
How we tested the best comparison software
In order to test the best comparison software, we first set up an account with the relevant platform and then tested the service on a number of different hardware devices in different situations. The goal was to push each performance measurement software platform to see how useful its basic tools are and how easy it is to get to grips with more advanced tools.
Read how we test, rate and review products on TechRadar.
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