CPU-Z 3.02

Overview

CPU-Z is a freeware system information utility from CPUID that gathers details about the main hardware components of a computer. It runs on Windows x86 and x64 systems and is also available as an Android application. The Windows edition is fully supported on Windows 11 and focuses on identifying processors, mainboards, chipsets and memory, along with real-time core frequency readings.

Purpose and Scope

On Windows, CPU-Z reports the processor name and number, codename, process, package and cache levels, together with mainboard and chipset identification. It covers memory type, size, timings and module specifications read from SPD, and it measures the internal frequency of each core and the memory frequency in real time. The Android edition concentrates on SoC name, architecture and per-core clock speed, along with device brand and model, screen resolution, RAM, storage, battery data and sensors. CPUID also offers the detection engine as the System Information Development Kit, a professional SDK for Windows and Android.

Supported Platforms and Editions

• Windows: version 3.01 is distributed as setup and zip packages in 32-bit and 64-bit builds, in English and Chinese.
• Windows 95 and 98: version 1.04 is offered for these systems, with entries for the VIA Apollo MVP4 (VT8501) and VIA Apollo VPX (VT82C580) chipsets.
• Android: a free application that reports SoC, system, battery and sensor details. A requirement of Android 2.2 or later.
• Customized builds: CPUID publishes branded versions for ASUS ROG, MSI Gaming, Gigabyte AORUS, Gigabyte, Cooler Master and ASRock (Phantom, Taichi and Formula), in 32-bit and 64-bit variants.

Key Features

• Processor identification, including codename, manufacturing process, package, cache levels and per-core frequency.
• Mainboard and chipset detection, including BIOS vendor and version when DMI reporting is enabled.
• Memory reporting of type, size, timings and SPD data for installed modules.
• Real-time frequency monitoring for each core and for memory.
• Sensor chip detection and voltage measurement, which can be disabled in the configuration file.
• Optional online validation, in which system specifications are submitted to a public database and made available through a generated URL.
• Screenshot saving with the F5 key and command-line generation of text or HTML reports.

User Interface and Usability

CPU-Z arranges hardware information on separate pages for the CPU, cache, mainboard and memory. Function keys handle common tasks, and the F5 key saves screenshots as bitmap files in the application directory. An optional cpuz.ini file, placed in the same directory as the executable, sets the font name, size and colour for information and label boxes. Colours are entered as hexadecimal RRGGBB values. If the file is absent, default values are used.

Advanced Options and Configuration

Command-line parameters allow reports to be generated without opening the interface. The -txt and -html switches create a register dump in the chosen format, and -core=id displays the clock speed of a specific core, so that several instances can monitor different cores through batch files. Since version 1.42, the current core can also be selected by right-clicking on the CPU page. The -console option, which generates output in a command prompt, applies to Windows XP only. The cpuz.ini file also controls DMI, PCI, SMBus, Sensor, Display and SPD detection, the maximum PCI bus scanned, the alternate clock computation method based on duty cycles, and whether updates are checked.

Installation and Validation

Since version 1.51, the Windows release includes an installer. It creates start menu and desktop entries and installs the x32 or x64 binary that matches the system. The stand-alone zip version remains available. The validation feature is optional and sends hardware data to a public database. The Android app requires the INTERNET permission for validation and ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE for statistics. It opens the validation URL in the browser and can send an e-mail reminder if an address is entered.

Troubleshooting

If CPU-Z closes abnormally on the Android app, its settings screen appears at the next launch. From there, the main detection features can be disabled so that the application runs. Bug reports can be sent by choosing Send Debug Infos from the application menu. On Windows, individual detection modules can be switched off in the configuration file when they cause problems on a particular system.

Practical Applications

• Hardware identification for system inventory and verification of installed components.
• Inspection of memory timings and SPD data when diagnosing memory configuration issues.
• Per-core clock monitoring for checking frequency behaviour on a given processor.
• Generation of validation reports for sharing system specifications.