When we generally speak of hardware, in computer science but also in electronics, we mean the physical components, the parts that make up a computer. Inside a PC, in fact, there are pieces that can also be changed and enhanced if necessary, like any electronic system. A typical PC consists of a motherboard, power supply, a processor, a sound card, a video card, a ram memory and a hard disk; each of these parts is hardware. If we want to get the most out of every component of our computer, in this guide we will show you how to optimize your PC hardware and how to use the best tools for testing, checking and overclocking .
At the end of the guide we will be perfectly able to potential our computer whenever we need it, without having to replace the parts every 2 years.
How to optimize PC
Before discovering in detail the programs and tools that we can use to optimize the PC, we will first show you some useful information to know about the hardware of each computer on the market; at the end we will be ready to view the list of the most useful programs to enhance and optimize the performance of our PC.Know every part of the PC carefully
To make the operating system, ie a management software like Windows, the hardware installed, be recognized, there are programs called drivers (see here how to update the drivers automatically ).
Each physical part of a computer can be not only controlled and tested but also optimized and enhanced (overclocking) in order to obtain maximum performance. In another article we had seen some programs for hardware control, in another instead some tools for testing the Ram, the processor and the overclocking of graphics cards .
As many hardware manufacturers develop some easy-to-use and excellent software utilities to identify, monitor, verify and optimize PC peripherals, we will show you which ones should be used to be able to power and control the vast majority of computers, both if they have the specific hardware for the tool required to perform general checks on correct operation and performance.
If we are just starting out and we are not hardware experts, before getting your hands on the programs seen below we strongly advise you to read our guides Know the computer hardware and the individual pieces of the Windows PC and How to find the complete specifications of the PC Windows 10 .
Programs and tools to optimize and enhance PC
As mentioned above, I use some of these tools, all for free, it is recommended only for people who are experts and passionate about information technology; none of them, I would like to say, is indispensable for a normal user, unless we notice a big drop in performance or want to test some components.EVGA Precision X1
EVGA Precision X1 is a versatile overclocking utility that improves the functioning of the video card trying to obtain the maximum possible performance.
In its innovative interface we can manage every parameter related to the video card (memory speed, GPU speed and cooling system), so that we can get the most out of every occasion: for example we can create a strong profile for heavier games and a profile silent when we watch a movie. It is also possible to create up to 10 profiles with different settings and you can also assign shortcut keys with which to activate them. EVGA Precision X1 is for EVGA graphics cards with NVIDIA chips but can also be used on video cards from other manufacturers that mount NVIDIA chips.
MSI Afterburner
MSI Afterburner is another very powerful and practical video card overclocking program to use.
From its interface we can control the clock frequency of the GPU and of the video memories, control the electrical voltage and the speed of the fans. With this tool we can save the settings with 5 different profiles, which can then be recalled whenever needed (for a pushed game or for a quieter profile, ideal when watching a movie). The program works with both AMD and NVIDIA video cards, although it is optimized to work great with graphics cards produced by MSI (it also supports other manufacturers without problems).
ASUS GPU Tweak II
Another very effective tool for monitoring and managing a video card is ASUS GPU Tweak II.
In a really simple and clear interface we can keep under control the load of the GPU, the amount of video memory occupied and the temperature of the cores, so that we can always monitor the progress and performance of our video card. With this tool we can apply automatic overclocking (OC Mode) to push the card's performance to the maximum or focus on less energy-efficient and quieter profiles ( Silent Mode ). However, the tool allows you to create your personal profile and to choose the speed of the fans, the GPU and the video memory separately.
The tool works well with both NVIDIA and AMD cards, but is optimized to be able to work 100% only on ASUS and ASUS ROG video cards.
SAPPHIRE TriXX
Another very good tool for AMD and NVIDIA video cards is SAPPHIRE TriXX.
In a simple interface we will be able to monitor each component of the video card (temperatures, voltages, frequencies) and decide when to apply the Boost, or the special automatic mode with which it is possible to perform an automatic and safe overclocking.
In addition to the automated profiles, we can create personal overclocking profiles, so that we can push the video card to various levels of effort based on the game or the 3D program we intend to use.
The tool is compatible with most modern NVIDIA and AMD video cards, but allows you to get maximum performance only on SAPPHIRE branded video cards.
CPU-Z and GPU-Z
The most popular tools for checking the settings and features of the CPU, motherboard and video card are CPU-Z and GPU-Z.
By starting these two free tools on our computer we will be able to know exactly the processor and video card model in our possession. In addition to the details on the CPU and GPU we can use these two programs to obtain valuable information on the motherboard, on the number of usable RAM slots, on the RAM banks already mounted (very useful to be able to replace them or to make a memory upgrade) and some simple benchmarks to test computer performance.
Intel Extreme Tuning Utility
To get the most out of Intel CPUs and integrated video cards, we recommend trying the Intel Extreme Tuning Utility tool.
With this program we will have everything under control, from the temperatures of every single component signed by Intel to the clock frequencies and energy consumption, passing through the various optimization and overclocking options that can be activated according to the CPU or motherboard in our possession.
It is a fairly difficult program to use but which will allow you to really enhance the performance of PCs, especially on laptops or desktop computers without a dedicated video card.
AMD Ryzen Master
For the new AMD Ryzen processors we can use a tool dedicated to overclocking and optimization called AMD Ryzen Master.
From this tool we can create various profiles with which to push the frequency of the CPU and the integrated graphics chip on AMD Ryzen, so you can choose from time to time whether to focus on extreme power (ideal for games, for 3D graphics programs or video editing) or whether to use a light overclocking profile, useful when we use the PC on the Internet or to watch a streaming video or film (where maximum silence is required).
A faithful companion for all owners of AMD Ryzen processors.
Other control programs and benchmarks
What we have shown you are the programs that every geek or gamer user must have on their PC for testing, checking and overclocking. Other useful programs in this sense can be found below:- ATTO Disk Benchmark is a program for testing a hard disk or SSD that checks all its technical specifications and can be used on any PC.
- Seagate DiscWizard is a free program that allows you to make backups of your hard drive with an exact copy of its contents or to clone partitions. It is also used to create a computer recovery disk to be used if the system is damaged and also has the function of recovering individual files (mounting the image of the recovery CD from Windows). Note however that this program works with Seagate and Maxtor branded hard drives and SSDs.
- D-Link Widget Network Monitor allows you to monitor the activity of the wireless router that carries the internet and allows you to receive usage results in real time. There is also a lot of detailed information such as IP addresses of network devices, security settings, ports and more. Optimized for those who use D-Link modem or router.
- Intel Processor ID Utility basically serves to find out if you really have an Intel processor or if it is a fake. The tool shows all the information related to the processor: speed, number of cores, L2 cache, supported technologies, packaging and more.
- Seagate SeaTools is another excellent diagnostic tool for Seagate hard drives, memories and USB sticks. It is therefore a scandisk aimed at troubleshooting. On the Seagate website it is written that it works with all types of drives and not just Seagate or Maxtor.
- Samsung Magician SSD: free tool designed for those who own a Samsung SSD and useful for monitoring performance, remaining space and eliminating the space needed to keep each unit fast and stable.
- Data Lifeguard Diagnostic: diagnostic tool developed by Western Digital to monitor the performance and durability of the manufacturer's disks and SSDs installed on the computer.
Conclusions
As we have seen, there are many free tools and tools with which to optimize the hardware of our PC, to be used periodically to do tests, controls and overclocking. We download those suitable for the hardware components in our possession and customize the overclocking profiles, so that we can start them in certain circumstances to quickly increase performance.Always on the subject of overclocking for Intel CPUs, we invite you to read the guide on How to Overclock Intel CPUs in an easy way .
If instead our goal is to enhance the video card in our possession, we recommend reading our articles Overclock GPU: Guide to enhance the graphics card with Afterburner and Overclock of the AMD Radeon graphics card with AMD Wattman for higher performance .
