When most people hear about computer benchmarks and benchmarking software, the first thing they think of is overclocking. It is straightforward 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 programs should be utilized regularly to ensure that a computer is performing as expected.
Certainly, there’s no requirement to routinely assess your computer, yet conducting a few comparisons with similar systems can offer a clearer insight into your hardware’s abilities.
Whatever your intention, you will need outstanding CPU benchmarking software. To help you choose, we have created this list of the best and most prevalent 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 usual 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 rapid. 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 envision the scale 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 solitary 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 purchase that provide different types of benchmarks. We recommend going for the 3DMark application as it provides the most popular benchmarks.
Some of the benchmarks to try include Time Spy (DirectX 12 benchmark to give any GPU a run for its money, Time Spy Extreme (the same test at 4K), Fire Strike (DirectX 11 benchmark, and a few more.
For CPU testing, it’s optimal to use Fire Strike as it won’t burden the GPU much but will push the CPU to its maximum.
Geekbench 5
The Pros:
- Fair pricernUseful browser to search for existing results
The Cons:
- Not as popular
Geekbench is a reliable 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 portable chips (laptops, tablets, phones, etc.).
If you wish to conduct CPU testing on your computer or laptop, Geekbench 5 offers an assessment for both the performance of a single core and multiple cores.
The benchmark includes all kinds of testing to determine where it excels and where it stumbles. This covers everything from the most basic folder browsing up to intricate machine learning.
In other words, the results at the end are a precise representation of your processor’s power.
There is also a comparatively large database for comparison. Use their Browser to find your CPU and compare the single-core and multi-core results.
Geekbench 5 is notably 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 intense 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, semi-frequently updated, and available for Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows.
If you also want to examine your GPU, you can boost the visual settings of the benchmark to force the GPU to its maximum.
Monitoring Software
When evaluating a computer’s performance, it is crucial 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 factors.
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 adaptable, allowing you to adjust exactly which values you want available or hidden.
The only downside is that it can be difficult to operate as it is rather intricate. 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 provides a slightly 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 difficult 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.
