CPU-Z

CPU-Z is a free system information tool by CPUID that tells you exactly what hardware is inside your computer. Open it and you immediately see your processor model, clock speed, core count, motherboard chipset, RAM type and speed, and basic GPU info. No installation required if you grab the portable ZIP version - run it from a USB drive on any Windows machine.

What it does

The CPU tab shows your processor name, codename, manufacturing process, number of cores and threads, and real-time clock speeds. The Mainboard tab identifies your motherboard manufacturer, model, chipset, and BIOS version - useful when you need to find a driver update or check BIOS compatibility before upgrading.

The Memory tab shows total RAM capacity, type (DDR4 or DDR5), current frequency, and timings. The SPD tab goes deeper with per-slot information - what each individual stick reports as its specifications. The Graphics tab gives basic GPU identification but is less detailed than GPU-Z (a separate tool by the same developer).

The Validate feature (Tools > Validate) submits your hardware specs to CPUID's website for verification. Overclockers use this to prove benchmark results are real.

Who it is for

CPU-Z is the first thing to run when you need to know what's inside a PC. Buying a used laptop and want to verify the specs? CPU-Z. Checking if your RAM is running at the right speed? CPU-Z. For temperature monitoring, pair it with HWMonitor. For detailed GPU info, add GPU-Z. Together they cover almost everything you'd need.