Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

HWiNFO VS CPU-Z

Compare HWiNFO VS CPU-Z and see what are their differences

HWiNFO logo HWiNFO

Professional System Information and Diagnostics. Comprehensive Hardware Analysis, Monitoring and Reporting for Windows and DOS. FREEWARE. download. Advertisements.

CPU-Z logo CPU-Z

CPU-Z is a freeware that gathers information on some of the main devices of your system : Processor name and number, codename, process, package, cache levels.
  • HWiNFO Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-25
  • CPU-Z Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-13

HWiNFO features and specs

  • Comprehensive Hardware Monitoring
    HWiNFO provides detailed information about system hardware, including CPU, GPU, motherboard, RAM, and more, which helps users monitor and diagnose hardware components easily.
  • Real-Time Monitoring
    The software offers real-time monitoring of system sensors, such as temperature, voltage, and fan speeds, allowing users to keep an eye on critical system parameters.
  • Custom Alerts
    HWiNFO allows users to set custom alerts for various hardware parameters, ensuring they are informed of any abnormal conditions promptly.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The interface is intuitive and provides detailed yet organized information, making it accessible for both novices and advanced users.
  • Free for Personal Use
    HWiNFO is free for personal and non-commercial use, providing powerful tools without the need for a financial investment.

Possible disadvantages of HWiNFO

  • Overwhelming Amount of Information
    For users who are not technically savvy, the extensive amount of data provided can be overwhelming and potentially confusing.
  • Limited Logging
    The software's logging capabilities are somewhat limited, which might not meet the needs of users requiring extensive and long-term data logging.
  • No Mac Version
    HWiNFO is not available for macOS, limiting its use to Windows and DOS platforms only.
  • Basic Graphical Presentation
    The graphical presentation of data, such as charts and graphs, may appear basic and less visually appealing compared to some other monitoring tools.
  • No Built-in Stress Testing
    Unlike some competitors, HWiNFO does not include built-in stress testing tools, so users need additional software for stress testing purposes.

CPU-Z features and specs

  • Detailed System Information
    CPU-Z provides comprehensive information about your system's CPU, cache, memory, and motherboard, which can be crucial for system diagnostics and performance tuning.
  • Small Footprint
    The program is lightweight and does not consume extensive system resources, making it suitable for use on systems with limited processing power.
  • Real-time Monitoring
    CPU-Z offers real-time monitoring of the processor's clock speed and voltage, which can be extremely useful for overclocking and system stability checking.
  • Free to Use
    CPU-Z is available free of charge to all users, providing professional-level diagnostic capabilities without any cost.
  • Portable Version Available
    The software has a portable version that can be run without installation, allowing users to diagnose multiple systems easily.

Possible disadvantages of CPU-Z

  • Limited GPU Information
    While CPU-Z gives extensive details about CPUs and memory, it provides limited information about the system's GPU, which might necessitate using additional software for comprehensive diagnostics.
  • Outdated Interface
    The user interface of CPU-Z is somewhat dated and may not appeal to those accustomed to modern, slick UIs.
  • No Support for Non-Windows OS
    CPU-Z is only available for Windows operating systems, leaving users of macOS and Linux without support.
  • Lack of Automatic Updates
    The software does not automatically update to the latest version, requiring users to manually download and install updates to ensure they have the most recent features and fixes.
  • Basic Reporting
    Reporting features in CPU-Z are relatively basic, and those needing more advanced reporting capabilities might need to look for more specialized software.

HWiNFO videos

HWiNFO Walkthrough

More videos:

  • Review - Product Review - HWiNFO - Professional System Information and Diagnostics
  • Review - HWiNFO - an introduction of THE Monitoring Tool

CPU-Z videos

CPU-Z Review

More videos:

  • Review - CPU-Z - Detailed PC System Information - Hardware Specs [Tutorial]

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to HWiNFO and CPU-Z)
Monitoring Tools
46 46%
54% 54
Device Management
40 40%
60% 60
System Information
38 38%
62% 62
Utilities
28 28%
72% 72

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare HWiNFO and CPU-Z

HWiNFO Reviews


8 Best SpeedFan Alternatives for Computers for Windows and Mac
They have got a bunch of add-ons, which will increase the usability of the platform. HWiNFO has a system health monitor. It can alert you when something goes south. Mac users may be disappointed to know that it’s only available for Windows. Another best feature we liked about the software is its ability to export overviews into XML, HTML, and CSV formats.
Source: xtendedview.com
HWMonitor Review & Alternatives for 2023
There are also add-ons to enhance the core monitoring experience of HWiNFO. Add-ons available for HWiNFO include RivaTuner/MSI Afterburner/EVGA Precision On-ScreenDisplay, Rainmeter plug-in, HWiNFOMonitor, LCDHost plug-in, and more. Each add-on adds a new feature to the program. For example, the HWiNFOMonitor extension adds a customizable sidebar that adds additional graphs...
7 Best Speedfan Alternatives for 2023
There are also a number of plugins you can download for HWiNFO to monitor your system even better. For a free application, it offers a lot and many people donate to the developers because they like it so much. Unfortunately, HWiNFO is not compatible for mac users.
11 Best CPU Temperature Monitor For Windows PC To Check Accurate CPU Temp Readings
HWiNFO is another CPU temperature monitor for Windows PC to check CPU temp, GPU temp, CPU load, frequency, and fan speed. This system information tool displays tons of info about your PC hardware. If you simply want to monitor CPU temp then HWiNFO is not your choice because the way this tool shows data might confuse you.
Source: www.softlay.com
20 Programs to Analyze and Benchmark Your Hardware
If HWinfo shows far too much detail for you, then there's always Speccy. This little program is made by the developers of CCleaner and it's essentially a system summary. There is some sensor logging built in, as you can see in the image below: the little green bar graphs actively plot temperature values or amount of RAM, storage, etc used.

CPU-Z Reviews

Top 8 BEST NZXT CAM ALTERNATIVES
This is an excellent alternative to Nzxt CAM that will give you with real-time information about your computer system. CPU-Z is a freeware system profiler app for Microsoft Windows, (all versions from 95 onwards) that detects and exhibits the central processor unit, RAM, motherboard chipset, and other hardware components of a modern personal computer in a single window. The...
Source: gisuser.com
8 Best CPU-Z Alternatives & Competitors in 2022 (Free & Paid)
CPU-z is a freeware that gathers information on some of the main devices of your system : Processor name and number, codename, process, package, cache levels. Mainboard and chipset. Memory type, size, timings, and module specifications (Spd). Real time measurement of each core’s internal frequency, memory frequency. The CPU-z‘s detection engine is now available for...
10 Best Nzxt CAM Alternatives
You will find CPU-Z easy to use. Installation is simple, all you need to do is launch the software and get to work. On PCs, the software is compatible with several function keys used as shortcut keys.
CPU-Z: 3 Top Alternatives compared
AIDA is the successor of Everest Home Edition. The program offers a clean Interface and a lot of information about your PC. AIDA is also one of the few Alternatives to CPU-Z, the cost of money. But if you really all want to find out and a lot of emphasis on the optics place, you should check out the 30-day trial version here download. Alternatively, you can the last...
20 Programs to Analyze and Benchmark Your Hardware
With monitoring covered, what about a specifications summary? Enter stage left: I-Nex. Developed by a small group of programmers in Poland, this Linux-only tool works a bit like CPU-Z does, but also provides additional details about the hard drives, audio system, and operating system structure.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing HWiNFO and CPU-Z, you can also consider the following products

Speccy - Speccy - find the details of your computer's specs. Great for spotting issues or finding compatible upgrades. Download the latest version free.

AIDA64 - AIDA64 is a system information, diagnostics and benchmarking solution for Windows PC.

Open Hardware Monitor - Monitors temperature sensors, fan speeds, voltages, load and clock speeds, with optional graph.

Neofetch - Fancier version of Screenfetch that displays colors and supports more platforms.

GPU-Z - GPU-Z is a lightweight system utility designed to provide vital information about your video card...

HWMonitor - HWMonitor is a hardware monitoring program that reads PC systems main health sensors : voltages, temperatures, fans speed.