When most people hear about computer benchmarks and benchmarking software, the first thing they think of is overclocking. It is uncomplicated to see why they make that connection as a lot of PC enthusiasts overclock their GPUs, CPUs and RAM.
However, benchmarking software is not only used for overclocking. In fact, such applications should be utilized regularly to ensure that a computer is functioning as expected.
Certainly, there’s no requirement to routinely assess your computer, yet conducting a few comparisons with comparable systems can offer a clearer perspective into your hardware’s abilities.
Whatever your intention, you will need exceptional CPU benchmarking software. To help you choose, we have created this list of the best and most common benchmarking software used in [seo_year].
Table of ContentsShow
Table of ContentsShow
Cinebench
The Pros:
- FreernQuick benchmarksrnLarge benchmark database (great for comparison)
The Cons:
- CPU-only benchmarks
Cinebench is beneficial test software that can determine the capabilities of a system. However, because its tests are essentially rendering tasks, what you will be truly testing is your CPU’s power.
Some people believe that Cinebench cannot replicate a real-world performance, but most PC enthusiasts beg to differ. The scores do translate well to a processor’s typical performance.
Cinebench is also very popular, which is always a huge positive. Why? Well, as it is used by so many people with different systems/setups, a comprehensive database is created, allowing users to compare their rigs with others easily.
That’s not all!
We must also point out that this software is completely free, unlike a few of the alternative choices. That is not something to dismiss lightly.
The benchmarks themselves are overall relatively quick. If you want to run several tests to find an average, you will be able to do it in less than half an hour. It can be frustrating and tiresome having to wait hours for a few benchmarks to be completed.
3DMark
The Pros:
- Number of benchmarks to choose fromrnA large database of tests
The Cons:
- $30 price tagrnCertain benchmarks locked behind extra fees
Another highly popular benchmarking tool for both CPUs and GPUs is 3DMark. This software has been around since 1998. That means decades of testing, so you can imagine the scope of their database of users and different systems that you can compare to your rig.
However, unlike Cinebench, 3DMark is not free. It is rather costly, with a $30 price tag. This isn’t too much, as it is a one-time purchase, but most users will only want to run a couple of tests per year.
If your CPU benchmarking is going to be a lone thing, we suggest looking at other tools.
For people that want to do comprehensive testing because of CPU overclocking, 3DMark might be a good option.
Keep in mind that there are multiple tools you can acquire that provide different types of benchmarks. We recommend going for the 3DMark application as it provides the most widespread benchmarks.
Some of the benchmarks to try include Time Spy (DirectX 12 benchmark to give any GPU a tough run for its money, Time Spy Extreme (the same test at 4K), Fire Strike (DirectX 11 benchmark, and a few additional.
For CPU testing, it’s ideal to use Fire Strike as it won’t burden the GPU much but will push the CPU to its utmost.
Geekbench 5
The Pros:
- Fair pricernUseful browser to search for existing results
The Cons:
- Not as popular
Geekbench is a dependable pick as it is cross-platform. It doesn’t matter whether you are using Linux, macOS, or Windows; you will be able to run these tests. There are even results charts for mobile chips (laptops, tablets, phones, etc.).
If you wish to conduct CPU testing on your computer or laptop, Geekbench 5 provides an assessment for both the performance of a single core and multiple cores.
The benchmark includes all kinds of testing to ascertain where it excels and where it stumbles. This covers everything from the most basic folder browsing up to complex machine learning.
In other words, the results at the end are an accurate representation of your processor’s power.
There is also a relatively large database for comparison. Use their Browser to find your CPU and compare the single-core and multi-core results.
Geekbench 5 is considerably less expensive than 3DMark with a $10 price tag. For a license that covers all operating systems, it’s $15. There is a Pro version that costs $100, but that is intended for commercial use, so you are unlikely to need it.
Prime95
The Pros:
- Best stress test to ensure CPU overclock stabilityrnGood stress test to ensure thermals are normal
The Cons:
- No database for comparisonrnNot exactly a benchmark
Unlike some of the other software in this article, Prime95 is not strictly intended for benchmarking and comparing scores. Prime95 is more focused on rigorous testing.
Stress testing is beneficial for ensuring that you have enough airflow in your computer to keep your CPU’s temperatures balanced or that your overclock is stable for everyday use.
It is entirely free, periodically updated, and available for Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows.
If you also want to examine your GPU, you can increase the graphical settings of the benchmark to force the GPU to its maximum.
Monitoring Software
When evaluating a computer’s performance, it is essential to utilize software that monitors your components. Verify the temperature of your GPU, CPU, RAM, drives, and keep track of the CPU’s time speed, power consumption, and other elements.
These are a few top-notch surveillance programs that can be utilized.
HWInfo
HWInfo is widely used by many technology reviewers and enthusiasts as it provides accurate and real-time data on all computer components. It provides a vast amount of information about CPUs.
It is also highly versatile, allowing you to adjust precisely which values you want available or hidden.
The only downside is that it can be challenging to operate as it is rather complex. This is why we can only recommend it to experienced users.
HWMonitor
A simpler alternative to HWInfo. HWMonitor is more uncomplicated and provides sufficient info on your processor’s thermals, power usage, clock speeds, and more.
However, HWinfo offers a marginally deeper analysis.
CPU-Z
Made by the creators of HWMonitor, this application is even more straightforward for users. You can acquire information on your GPU, CPU, RAM, and motherboard via CPU-Z, but you won’t have access to monitoring sensors that some of the preceding applications feature.
Which CPU Benchmarking Software Do You Need?
Even when the options are reduced to just four, it can still be arduous to make a decision. To help you with that, let’s summarize.
For rapid and easy tests that assess the overall performance of your CPU, select Cinebench.
For individuals who desire to perform thorough tests for CPU overclocking reliability and to assess other parts’ performance, we suggest Geekbench 5 or 3DMark. Both software choices are commendable.
Finally, for only testing the GPU or CPU overclocking stability, we recommend Prime95.
