Best (free) PC performance testing program/software?

[dumpystig]

I recently purchased a used HP Workstation with the intention of installing some major upgrades. Today I picked up 2x CPUs and a brand new graphics card. These are all superior to the ones already installed so I want to carry out a before-and-after performance test/benchmark with the machine as it is now and then after each item is installed.

So I want a good, free program that will help me do these tests, preferably one that somebody has used themselves recently.

Thanks

[stp715a]

Re: Best (free) PC performance testing program/software?

I recently purchased a used HP Workstation with the intention of installing some major upgrades. Today I picked up 2x CPUs and a brand new graphics card. These are all superior to the ones already installed so I want to carry out a before-and-after performance test/benchmark with the machine as it is now and then after each item is installed.

So I want a good, free program that will help me do these tests, preferably one that somebody has used themselves recently.

Thanks

Check out http://www.techsupportalert.com/

Best freeware for most everything there.

[mariushm]

Re: Best (free) PC performance testing program/software?

http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=520

It's a script that uses a video encoder to convert a smallish video to h264 high definition - x264 is highly multithreaded and generally uses the processor to the max and the speed also varies a bit with the memory speed so it's a good reference.
(requries windows and avisynth installed)

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SiSoftSandra is used by lots of websites to test cpu/gpu/memory etc

http://www.sisoftware.net/?d=&f=downandbuy&l=en&a=

The lite version is free for personal use only/educational and contains plenty of benchmarks.
For the first time you'll get a couple of screens where it asks you to agree to download results from others and share your results with others (so that requires an account) ,,, you can uncheck the boxes or do what they say.
When you actually select a benchmark you have to click on the reload icon at the bottom to actually start the benchmark.
I'm saying all this because it can be a bit confusing but it's a very good application, worth trying.

(also note some tests can freeze the system for minutes so don't panic)

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Passmark PerformanceTest is also a good suite to test processor, memory, everything you want: http://www.passmark.com/products/pt.htm
You can compare the processor marks with the ones on http://cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php

free for 30 days, 24 dollars after.

[dumpystig]

Re: Best (free) PC performance testing program/software?

I've installed SiSoft and used it a few times now and it's pretty easy to use so I'm probably gona stick with it but also give the others a try too.

Thanks for the input.

[orbiter]

Re: Best (free) PC performance testing program/software?

Depending on the hardware you have, download one of the 3Dmark versions. If it's older hardware give 3dmark06 a run.
If the hardware is new and DirectX 11 capable, then try 3Dmark11.

http://www.futuremark.com/benchmarks/

[dumpystig]

Re: Best (free) PC performance testing program/software?

Cheers. The hardware is in my sig, gota check the DirectX capabilities...