Minimum requirements for windows 10

The relatively new Windows 10 operating system became available for download and installation in July 2015. At that time, she caused a great stir. There were massive discussions about the feasibility of its installation. The minimum requirements of Windows 10 in relation to computer systems, and more precisely, to the hardware, do not look at all overpriced, which is to be expected.

What are system requirements?

Before you begin to consider the system requirements of the Windows 10 operating system, you need to decide what is included in the concept of "system requirements". The simplest interpretation of this term is a description that contains the main components of a computer that may have certain parameters and characteristics in order to provide a software environment, in this case the Windows 10 operating system. Windows 10 system requirements relate to the processor, RAM, video adapter, display, hard disk, etc. This means that in this case we are talking directly about the filling, which is located inside a laptop, computer or tablet.

System bit depth

When installing the latest operating systems from Microsoft, you should definitely take into account such a thing as system architecture. This concept is directly related to RAM and processor. Today there are two types of architectures: 32-bit (denoted x86) and 64-bit (denoted x64). The difference between the two architectures is quite large. The main difference is that 32-bit systems support the installation of RAM modules, the size of which does not exceed 4 GB. The system actually sees about 3 GB, and then not always. It is for this reason that if you want to maximize the use of operational memory, then it makes no sense to install the 32-bit version. Although the system itself is quite modern, but it does not manage to squeeze out of the computer in any way all that it is capable of in terms of performance.

File systems

If we consider the system requirements of the Windows 10 operating system, in no case can we ignore the concept of file systems. Today, the most common file system types are FAT 32, NTFS, and the new ReFS. The exFAT system is commonly used in mobile systems. The point here is that the FAT 32 system has larger clusters designed for small data. However, when accessing large files, the rotation of the hard disk slows down. When using ReFS or NTFS file systems, large files can be accessed much faster.

At the same time, the speed of reading information from sectors of the hard disk does not decrease. It is also necessary to take into account that there is a certain requirement for installing Windows 10. It lies in the fact that you can put a 32-bit version of the operating system in the NTFS file system, but putting a 64-bit system in FAT 32 will not work. You will have to format the partition or disk. By the way, the same requirement applies to installing other versions of Windows operating systems below the tenth version.

Mandatory system requirements for Windows 10

It is known that initially the tenth version of Windows was available in the form of a Technical Preview. It was an upgrade of the existing operating system to version 10. Ignoring the general "iron" configuration of the system, the requirements for the Windows 10 operating system were reduced to one prerequisite - the presence of installed service packs and service packs of the existing operating system. Thus, at first it was necessary to install all uninstalled updates, and only after that proceed with downloading and installing the 10th version of the operating system. In addition, the update was only possible on systems starting with the eighth version. XP and Vista operating systems did not support this upgrade.

Minimum system requirements for Windows 10

The first version of the system was withdrawn over time, instead of it standard versions such as Pro, Home, Enterprise appeared. The minimum requirements for any version of Windows 10 are almost the same. In this case, everything will depend only on the type of architecture chosen - x64 or x86. The minimum requirements for Windows 10 32-bit and 64-bit architecture are as follows.

There are no recommended settings in the tenth version of the Windows operating system. Initially, the system requirements for a computer were presented with a minimum configuration. Windows 10 can run smoothly even on aging computer systems. However, in order to use the capabilities of the operating system to the maximum, it is still desirable to have hardware with higher characteristics. In particular, this applies to graphics chips and processors. There must be support for the latest version of Direct X 12. With processors, everything is somewhat more complicated. Windows 10 system requirements for multi-core platforms are generally not significant. The problem here is rather to use all the cores to optimize the work. This is a topic for a separate discussion.

2. Additional system requirements

It is worth mentioning separately the specialized system requirements of the Windows 10 operating system. For the most part, they relate to the functioning of special services. Some of them may not be available in different versions, and some may only work in certain regions. For example, Cortana is only available in the UK, US, China, and some European countries. To recognize speech commands, the user is recommended to use a high quality microphone, as well as appropriate drivers. To use the Hello service, you will need an illuminated infrared camera that can perform iris analysis.

Fingerprint scanning requires a special built-in module. To switch to tablet mode, you must use a special screen or monitor that supports multi-touch. In some cases, the requirements of the Windows 10 operating system come down to having a Microsoft account. It is recommended to use a Microsoft certificate for secure boot, as well as software that supports UEFIv2.3.1 Errata B. The system requirements for using BitLocker can be reduced to a valid TPM version 1.2 or 2.0 and a USB device.

Hyper-V mode can only be enabled on a 64-bit system with mandatory SLAT address translation capability. When installing a 64-bit system, it is a requirement that the processor support LAHF/SAHF technologies, as well as GMPXCHG16b and PrefetchW. If we talk about using the Miracast function, then in this case the requirements of the Windows 10 operating system are as follows. You must have a graphics chip that supports the installation of a WDDM driver, as well as a wireless adapter that supports Wi-Fi Direct technology. By the way, the same applies to printing documents over Wi-Fi.

The Instant Go model implies a connection standby mode, which is not available on all computer systems. It is worth noting that the requirement for Instant Go, as well as TPM 2.0 support in the Windows 10 operating system, is a prerequisite for encrypting a device or terminal. So, as you can see for yourself, there are still some special requirements for the system. Not all have been described here. What else does the user need to know about the Windows 10 operating system? Some users consider the system requirements for versions of the Windows 7, 8, 10 operating system to be exactly the same, but this is a misconception.

The system requirements of Windows 10 and Windows 8 may be very similar in some ways, but in terms of the hardware configuration used, everything is completely different. This is primarily due to the fact that the tenth version of Windows has many hidden additional features. Their use without some mandatory conditions is impossible. Windows 7 and Windows 8 also have enough of these conditions, but they are far from Windows 10. Here the question needs to be put differently: how much do ordinary users need all these additional features? Is it worth using them at all? As for mobile devices, Windows 10 is not so picky about them.

There is a certain relationship with the resolution and screen size. The minimum supported amount of RAM will depend on them. In other words, the graphic component plays a major role. Of course, it is desirable to use a powerful processor with at least four cores, but this condition is not at all mandatory. There are no problems with permanent memory - the minimum supported value is only 4 GB.

Conclusion

In general, from all of the above, we can conclude that the system requirements of the Windows 10 operating system are not so high. The question is that some functional features of the new operating system may simply be limited due to the fact that the computer does not support a particular function, or has underestimated parameters and characteristics. In general, on most existing operating systems, Windows 10 can be installed and used without problems even with minimal configuration.

The relatively new “OS” Windows version 10, which became available for download and installation at the end of July 2015, caused unprecedented excitement and at the same time a lot of discussion about its perfection and the feasibility of installing it. However, the minimum requirements for Windows 10 in terms of computer systems, more precisely, hardware, do not look too high, as one might expect.

What are system requirements?

Before considering the issue regarding Windows 10, first let's define what the very concept of "system requirements" includes. The simplest interpretation of this term is a description of the expected set of characteristics of the hardware segment (in other words, “hardware”), which includes the main components of a computer or smartphone, which must have certain characteristics and parameters, and such that they can support the operation of the software environment (in our case Windows 10 operating system).

In other words, the Windows 10 requirement is about the processor (number of cores, clock speed), RAM (type, amount), video adapter (type, amount of allocated memory, frequency of the integrated graphics processor, support for a specific version of DirectX), display (type, resolution, support additional functions), a hard drive (sufficient free space for copying OS files), etc. That is, we are talking about the “iron” filling, which is located inside a computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone.

The concept of system capacity

When installing the latest operating systems from Microsoft, one should take into account the so-called system architecture, which is directly related to the same processor or RAM.

Today there are two types: 32 bits (referred to as x86) and 64 bits (referred to as x64). The difference between them is quite serious. The most important difference is that 32-bit systems support the installation of RAM sticks of up to 4 GB (in fact, the system "sees" about 3 GB, and even then not always).

That is why if you want to use the "RAM" to the maximum (if it is more than 4 "gig"), installing a 32-bit version of Windows 10 does not make any sense. Although the system itself seems to be the most modern, nevertheless, as they say, “squeezing out” everything that it is capable of in terms of performance from a computer will not work in any way.

File systems

Considering the system requirements for a computer, one cannot ignore the concept of file systems. Today, the most common are FAT32, NTFS and the relatively recent ReFS. Mobile systems use exFAT more.

The main thing here is that FAT32 has a larger one for storing small data, but when accessing heavy files, the rotation of the hard disk slows down. When using NTFS or ReFS, access to large files is much faster, and the speed of reading data from hard drive sectors does not decrease.

In addition, it should be noted that the installation requirement for Windows 10 is such that, for example, a 32-bit version of the “OS” can be installed in the NTFS file system, but a 64-bit version in FAT32 will not work. You will have to format the disk or partition. By the way, the same applies to installing a version of Windows below the "tens".

Required system requirements for Windows 10 Technical Preview

As you know, initially the "ten" was available only in the form of a Technical Preview, which was an upgrade of the existing OS to version 10.

At the same time, not paying attention to the general “iron” configuration for the time being, for Windows 10 the requirements were reduced to one main condition - the presence of all installed service packs and service packs of the existing system. That is, at first it was necessary to install all uninstalled updates, and only then proceed to download the distribution kit, followed by the installation of already "dozens". In addition, the update is only possible on systems starting with the seventh version. Vista and XP do not support this upgrade.

Windows 10 Standard Types: Minimum System Requirements

Over time, the first version of the system was withdrawn, and standard versions such as Home, Pro, Enterprise, etc. appeared instead.

Actually, the minimum requirements for Windows 10 of any version are practically the same. It all depends on the chosen architecture. In any case, the minimum requirements for Windows 10 with 32 and 64 bit architectures are as follows:

As you can see, nothing supernatural.

Despite the fact that the “ten” can also work quietly in aging computer systems, nevertheless, in order to use its capabilities to the maximum, it is desirable to have

higher hardware settings. Most often this applies to processors and graphics chips, which must have mandatory support for the latest version of DirectX 12.

Processors are more difficult. As a rule, Windows 10 system requirements for multi-core platforms do not play a special role. Rather, the problem here is how to use all the cores to optimize performance. But this is a separate topic for discussion.

Additional requirements to access some features

Separately, it is worth mentioning what the specialized system requirements of Windows 10 (x64 or x32) are. But they mostly concern the functioning of certain specialized services. Some of them may not be available in different versions, some may only work in certain regions (for example, Cortana - only in the USA, Britain, several European countries and China).

Speech recognition requires a high-quality microphone with a set of appropriate drivers, Hello service requires a backlit infrared camera capable of analyzing the iris of the eye, fingerprint scanning requires an appropriate built-in module, and tablet mode requires an appropriate monitor or screen, supporting multi-touch function.

In some cases, in Windows 10, the requirements are reduced to having an activated Microsoft account. Secure Boots will require a Microsoft Center certificate and software with UEFI v2.3.1 Errata B support.

To use BitLocker, for example, for Windows 10 (64), system requirements may be reduced to the mandatory presence of a USB device and the so-called trusted TPM version 1.2 or 2.0. Enabling Hyper-V mode is performed only on the basis of a 64-bit system with the mandatory possibility of address translation SLAT (second level).

When installing the same 64-bit system, the processor must support SAHF/LAHF, PrefetchW and CMPXCHG16b technologies.

When it comes to using the Miracast feature, the Windows 10 requirement boils down to the following: you must have a graphics chip that supports the installation of a WDDM driver (Windows Display Driver Model) and a wireless adapter that supports Wi-Fi Direct. By the way, the same applies to Wi-Fi printing of documents.

Using the InstantGo module implies the presence of a connection standby mode, which is not present in all computer systems. By the way, the Windows 10 requirement for the presence of the InstantGo module plus support for TPM 2.0 (not lower) is a prerequisite for encrypting the device or terminal itself. In general, as you can see, there are enough hidden requirements. And not all of them have been described yet.

What else do you need to know?

It should be added that many users unknowingly consider 8, 10 versions to be absolutely identical. This is a clear misconception. Perhaps the system requirements of Windows 10 and Windows 7 (or 8) are very similar in terms of the hardware configuration used, but this is not entirely true.

This is due only to the fact that the "top ten" has a very large number of additional and often hidden features, and using them without some prerequisites is simply impossible. Of course, there are also enough of them in the "seven" and "eight", however, with the tenth version of Windows, they, as they say, did not stand next to each other. Here the question is different - how much will all these additional modules be in demand among the average user, and in general, is it worth using them?

As for mobile technology, the “ten” is also not too picky about these gadgets. But here there is a direct relationship between the diagonal and the screen resolution, on which the minimum amount of RAM depends. In other words, the graphic component plays the leading role here. Of course, it is desirable to have a powerful processor, say, with at least four cores, but this is not a prerequisite. There are no problems with permanent memory either - only 4 GB.

Conclusion

In general, as is clear from the above, in Windows 10 the minimum system requirements are not too high (neither for the desktop version, nor for mobile). Another thing is that access to some functional features of the new system is limited only because something or something is missing, something does not support such and such a function or has underestimated characteristics and parameters. But in general, in most existing computer and mobile systems, the "ten" can be installed and used without any problems, even with a minimal configuration.

Hello friends. Many of you have probably noticed that in the last year and a half, the performance of Windows 10 has noticeably decreased. If you compare the work on the same computer version of Windows 10 with the latest cumulative update 1709 (or earlier) in 2017 with any of the 2018 versions - 1803 or 1809, you will notice that the latter behave more heavily, often freeze are subject to system failures. Of course, "Ten" is not the best operating system for old or weak devices. However, when it was released in 2015, Microsoft did not increase the minimum system requirements. For a long time they de jure remained the same as for Windows 7 and 8.1. Although de facto and did not correspond to reality. Now the software giant has decided to make some adjustments to them. What?

Minimum system requirements for Windows 10: what's wrong with Microsoft's documentation policy?

So, ahead of the release of the May 2019 Update, Microsoft decided to adjust the system requirements for Windows 10 1903 in terms of disk space. And she fixed this on her official resource - in the Hardware Development Center (Hardware Dev Center) - by making changes to the specification for OEMs and suppliers, which regulates the minimum hardware requirements for computer devices based on Windows 10 in its various varieties - Windows 10 Mobile, Windows 10 in regular user editions and corporate Enterprise, Windows Server 2016, as well as Windows 10 IoT Core. This specification specifies the basic hardware requirements for components of various types of devices - smartphones (based on Windows 10 Mobile), desktops, tablets, hybrid devices, all-in-ones, servers, terminal-type devices, etc.

From this entire zoo of technology, in the context of the subject of the site, we are interested in the system requirements for devices running on the basis of desktop editions of Windows 10 - Home, Pro, Enterprise, Education. The news about the adjustment of the minimum hardware requirements prompted me to reconsider and analyze the significant ones. Well, express your subjective opinion on this issue.

1. Processor

Processor requirements for OEM devices preloaded with Tens are 1GHz or greater or 86- or 64-architecture SoCs supporting PAE, NX, and SSE2, CMPXCHG16b, LAHF/SAHF, and PrefetchW (for 64-bit systems).

A 1 GHz processor for today's Windows 10 is just a mockery of the user's nervous system. And the legal consolidation of this indicator is, in fact, a go-ahead for OEMs so that they can launch low-budget devices based on inefficient processors on the market, selling the idea of ​​​​compensating low frequencies with some modern optimization technologies, etc. to the layman. My opinion: the idea of ​​reducing the cost of production of computer devices should not border on insanity. And Microsoft could, at least on the threshold of the second twenty of the 21st century, do at least something that depends on itself in the direction of adequate solutions.

2. RAM

The minimum RAM requirement for Windows 10 devices is 1 GB for 32-bit systems and 2 GB for 64-bit systems.

3. Hard drive

The minimum hard drive space requirements for Windows 10 1809 and earlier have not changed. They make up the previous volume indicators: 16 GB for 32-bit systems, 20 GB for 64-bit systems. But, as mentioned, the specification has been adjusted in terms of the minimum requirements for Windows 10 1903. For the "Ten" with the implemented May 2019 cumulative update and beyond, there will be a single minimum disk size for systems of any bit depth, and this is 32 GB.

And here, friends, again absurdity. When determining the minimum hard drive requirements, Microsoft fixes the base amount of disk space that is needed only for installing Windows 10. The company cannot know how much space each individual user needs for their personal needs, such as installing third-party software or storing data. But Microsoft could definitely estimate the real weight of the system after installing drivers, updates and in the conditions of the average clutter of the system directories "AppData", "WinSxS", "Temp", etc. Why else would Microsoft collect diagnostics from user devices?

With 32 GB, Microsoft essentially gave the green light to OEMs to bundle tablets and hybrids with cheap flash drives of that size. And such devices have already brought a lot of headaches to their owners.

4. Graphics devices

The minimum requirement for a graphics card is support for DirectX 9 or higher. Well, everything here is, in principle, fair. But looking at the characteristics of the displays of touch devices, we again encounter insanity. For displays of tablets, hybrids, touchscreen netbooks, etc. the minimum requirements are: 7 inches diagonal size and 800x600 resolution. Imagine working with the "Ten" in such conditions. This is only to work only in tablet mode and only with UWP content that is adaptive for such a screen, which, alas, is few of the smart applications from the Microsoft Store.

And how to solve this problem. They didn’t mention one thing - the system requirements of Windows 10. Perhaps your computer simply “does not pull” the operating system.

Let's find out what computer requirements are stated by the manufacturer and compare them with previous versions of Windows.

What kind of computer do you need for Windows 10?

Even before the release of the operating system, developers from Microsoft assured that even users with weak computers would be able to use the "top ten". The system requirements of this OS were assumed to be at the level of Windows 8.1.

It is worth noting that for 32 and 64 bit computers, the system requirements are different. The latter require somewhat more resources.

Requirements for Windows 10 (32 bit):

• processor: with a clock speed of at least 1 GHz;
• RAM: 1 GB minimum;
• hard disk space: 16 GB;
• video card: with support for DirectX0 and WDDM 1.0 drivers;
• minimum display resolution: 800×600;
• Internet connection.

For Windows 10 x64, the requirements are slightly higher. First of all, users will need more RAM - at least 2 GB. On the hard drive, you should stock up on space twice as much - 32 GB. Otherwise, the requirements for two bits are similar.

Impact of updates

Of course, the requirements listed above were relevant for the fresh, very first installation of the “tens”. With constant updates, your computer needs more resources to keep up with new features and improvements. The most urgent need is free space on the system disk.

Windows 10 automatically installs updates. By the way, you can read the detailed text about. If there is not enough free disk space, or if the computer does not meet the requirements for new features and enhancements, updates are not installed.

Functional limitations

Here are some of the features that are only available on computers with certain specifications:

• many features and innovations require a personal Microsoft account;
• Hyper-V client installs only on Pro or Enterprise 64-bit systems and requires an additional 2 GB of RAM;
• Cortana's advanced voice search is not available in many countries (the lucky ones include the US, China, India, a number of European countries, including Spain, France, Italy, England, and many others);
• Miracast is a standard that works on computers that support the WDDM3 video adapter driver, as well as Wi-Fi connections that support Wi-Fi Direct.

And there are many such functional limitations, it would take too long to list them. But it is important to understand one thing: not a single update, not a single feature, improvement will be installed automatically if the computer does not meet the system requirements.

From personal experience, we still haven't installed the October 2018 Update on our computer. Apparently, our laptop simply will not pull out the new functionality.

Windows 10 vs Windows 7

We have already said that the requirements for Windows 10 are about the same as they were for version 8.1. As for the "seven", opinions are contradictory. Some users note that Windows 7 requires much more resources than the "ten".

Others praise the "seven" for its low resources, and Windows 10 - on the contrary, for too serious requirements for the computer. Especially after major updates. The official requirements for versions 7 and 10 are similar.

Summing up

The requirements for a computer for Windows 10 are quite “democratic”, which was stated by the manufacturer. The operating system is easy to install on weak computers. The minimum 2 GB of RAM for a 64-bit system is likely to be found by most users.

However, do not forget about updates. New functionality, OS improvements become more demanding with each release of updates. But it should be remembered that Windows 10 does not install updates that are not compatible with the hardware of the laptop. We referred to our personal experience: so far, the October 2018 updates have not been installed on our computer.

In general, judging by the reviews, Windows 10 performs well on weak computers. On our Acer laptop with 4GB of RAM and a 4-core Intel Pentium processor with a frequency of 1.6 Hz (characteristics, to put it mildly, budget), the "ten" works well. During the use, no special braking, lags, or any serious freezes were noticed.

Knowledge of the characteristics of the computer may be needed by the user in a variety of cases. When installing a new game or program, we see a list of system requirements that a PC must meet for comfortable operation. Updating drivers or choosing components for an upgrade is impossible without knowing the technical parameters of the device. Understanding how to view the characteristics of a computer on Windows 10, you can do without outside help in these matters.

The ability to obtain the necessary configuration information is provided in the operating system itself. To begin with, we will do this without programs, using only the built-in Windows tools.

Properties of the system

For a summary of your computer's specifications, see the System Properties section. In the "ten" it is present in the old and new interface.

1. Let's open the Power User menu using the keyboard shortcut Win + X and select the marked link to the settings section we need.

1. The window that appears contains information that allows you to find out the model and frequency of the processor, the size of the RAM and the bit depth of the OS used.

1. Fans of the classic interface can choose a different way of presenting this information. Let's use the Run dialog box. Enter the word “control” into it as shown in the screenshot and open the control panel familiar from previous versions.

1. We are looking for the section indicated in the screenshot and go into it.

1. The window contains the same general information about the configuration, version, and bit depth of the OS being used. If you have ever wondered how to find out the operating system of a laptop, then here you will find the answer.

The information obtained by these methods differs only in the form of presentation, so any option can be used.

Device Manager

Detailed information about some components is available in Device Manager. This information is useful when checking the system requirements of the software. For example, to install games, you need to know the model and series of the video card.

1. A quick link to access the dispatcher is located in the context menu "Start".

1. We find the section of video adapters that interests us. Expand the menu to see the cards it contains.

The method is suitable when you need to find out the specific device model or version of the driver being used.

Task Manager

Another system utility that allows you to view data on important components is the task manager. Starting with Windows 8, Microsoft placed a "Performance" tab in it. It collects data about the devices used at the current time.

1. The task manager is opened by typing the "taskmgr" command in the "Run" window.

1. Another way someone will find it more convenient and is to call the context menu of the taskbar. It opens with a right mouse click in any of its places, free from tabs or icons.

1. After launching the utility in the selected way, go to the "Performance" tab. On the left side, marked with the number "1", devices are collected from which data is being read. On the example of a processor under the number "2" we see its model and frequency. The number "3" indicates an area containing information about the number of cores and cache size. The real-time graph shows the load and the percentage of processor power used.

1. The next tab gives us information on RAM. The number "2" indicates the total amount of installed RAM. In the area shown by the number "3" we see the frequency at which the installed modules operate, and their form factor.

Similarly, you can view Wi-Fi usage information and GPU information.

DirectX

When the question is how to find out which video card is installed on the computer, you should use the DirectX diagnostic tool. The data issued by this system utility contains complete information about multimedia capabilities.

1. Like most monitoring and diagnostic tools built into Windows, it is launched using a command entered in the Run dialog box. Type "dxdiag" in the text box.

1. In the diagnostic tool window that opens, the first tab is called System. The number "1" indicates the data on the OS used. The version, bit depth, and build number are specified. You can find out the brand of your laptop in the area marked with the number "2". At the same time, you need to understand that it is sold under a name understandable to the buyer, and the internal designation in a series of goods has nothing to do with it. It is not the marketing name of the laptop that is shown, but the model number under which it passes from the manufacturer. The block of information indicated by the number "3" allows you to find out which processor is used in this computer. The total amount of installed memory is also shown here.

1. The "Screen" tab is devoted to data about the graphics accelerator and information output devices. The utility window is not scalable, so the "Device" and "Drivers" blocks need to be scrolled to see the entire amount of information displayed. The field marked with a triple contains a list of interfaces used.

1. For convenience, we provide a complete clipping of the information contained in the field indicated by the number "1". In the upper part we see information about the manufacturer and the series of the video card used. Block "2" contains data about the screen resolution and monitor model. The abbreviation PnP in its name indicates support for the Plug and Play standard. Monitors do not require a separate driver to be installed, so it is not possible to see exact manufacturer information here.

1. The next tab is of interest if we are looking for where to look at data about the sound card. This completes the diagnostic tool.

The information provided by dxdiag is often required when installing game applications. Each game contains requirements for graphics modes and the version of DirectX required to display events correctly.

This utility was developed by Microsoft to help system administrators quickly collect information about a PC. It was originally included with 32 Bit Windows XP. With the release of the 64 Bit version of this OS, they did not make a separate utility. Backward compatibility already allowed it to run on systems with a higher bit depth. As a result, without any changes, it is used in the modern "top ten".

1. To get information about the system, open "Run" and enter "msinfo32" in the text field.

1. The main window of the utility contains basic information about the computer. In the screenshot, they are grouped into numbered blocks. The first reports information about the version and assembly of the OS. The second is information about the manufacturer and the internal name under which the laptop is produced. The third contains information about the processor manufacturer, its brand and clock speed. The fourth has data on the size of RAM. In addition, you can explore information about the BIOS / UEFI version, the location of system files, virtual memory, and OS assembly.

1. If you expand the "Components" data block, marked in the following screenshot, you will have access to detailed information about some of the hardware components of the PC. For example, detailed information about the video card is shown. Considering the previous utility, we have already seen some of them.

The same section contains information about all the equipment that is internal or connected to the PC.

Power Shell

All the information that we need about the computer can be obtained using the command line or the PowerShell shell.

1. Open the Power User menu and go to the item indicated in the screenshot.

1. Enter the "systeminfo" command.

1. The system will process the request and return data similar to what we received using the MSinfo utility. Additionally, information is provided regarding installed updates and the current network connection.

Now that you know how to view the characteristics of a Windows 10 computer using standard tools, you can draw a preliminary conclusion. The data that is available to the user is intended for daily activities. You can quickly find the necessary information regarding the version and bitness of the OS, the characteristics of the processor, graphics accelerator, and RAM. This is enough for the correct selection and installation of software.

Specialized software

As we have already understood, it is impossible to obtain detailed hardware parameters using Windows tools. Here we need specialized programs. With their help, you can "pull out" any necessary information. Consider the most popular and commonly used versions of such software.

GPU-Z

1. The interface is made entirely in English, but the option of Russian prompts is available in the settings. Hovering over any parameter of interest brings up a pop-up window with information.

1. The next tab contains the readings of the video card sensors, reflecting them online. You can monitor the load while running different applications. In the window of each sensor, the update priority is selected.

1. The "Advanced" tab allows you to study the parameters of the card in different load modes. At the bottom, in the drop-down menu, you can select the adapter: built-in or integrated. At the top - load modes change.

The last tab allows you to send data about the operation of the video adapter to GPU-Z developers, after registering an email.

CPU-Z

Another utility that does not require installation. By analogy with the previous one, it is clear that it is intended to obtain information about the processor. The current version is available on the developers website. CPU-Z has an English interface, but on soft portals you can find an adapted version for Russian-speaking users.

1. The first tab in the window contains the general characteristics of the processor. The data is updated in real time. CPU-Z reads them from system sensors and groups them into thematic tabs.

1. It collects data on the use of the processor cache at different levels of implementation.

1. The third tab contains information about the motherboard, divided into blocks. For convenience, they are indicated by numbers in the screenshot. Block "1" shows the motherboard model, chipset brand and southbridge. Under the number "2" information about the BIOS / UEFI is collected. The manufacturer, version and release date of the installed firmware are indicated.

1. Memory characteristics are displayed on two consecutive tabs. "Memory" contains general data, and "SPD" contains analysis tools. It is useful for comparing the indicators of brackets installed in different motherboard slots. The information allows you to find out the type of RAM used, the frequency and mode of operation.

1. Here are the general parameters of the video card.

1. The last viewing tab contains testing and comparison tools. In the boxed area, you can select a processor to compare and run a test. The graphs indicated by the arrow show the performance in single-core and multi-core mode. The indicators of the current CPU are displayed in blue.

Thanks to the structured output of detailed information, the program is popular with ordinary users and fans of overclocking. Real-time operation allows you to monitor the changes made when overclocking the processor.

Piriform Speccy

The program for determining the "iron" is being developed by Piriform, known for its "cleaner" CCleaner.

1. At the time of installation, do not forget to uncheck the area marked with an exclamation mark so as not to accidentally add an “optimizer” to your computer. In the upper part of the installer window, you can immediately specify the interface language in which the program will work.

1. If you forgot to change the language during the installation phase, this is done in the settings that are located in the "View" menu on the top panel of Piriform Speccy. Here you can also set the temperature display mode by transferring it from degrees Fahrenheit to degrees Celsius.

1. When launched, the program scans your computer and fills in a window with general information. Characteristics contain information about the installed operating system and the main components of the hardware configuration.

1. Sections in Speccy are grouped on the left side of the window, similar to the Windows Quick Jump area. Information about the operating system is an order of magnitude superior to everything that can be "squeezed" out of it with standard utilities. Looking in "My Computer", you will find the OS version and bit depth. Here, in one window, all the information that the user may need is collected.

1. The CPU data contains, in addition to the name and frequency, information about the manufacturing process and the connection connector on the motherboard. Information about the current bus frequency and temperature is read directly from the sensors and displayed in real time. By themselves, these data will not say anything, but having them, you can check whether the indicators are normal for this processor model.

1. The "RAM" section provides information about the physical and virtual components. The RAM options include the total amount installed, operating frequency, and multi-channel support information. The usage of both types of memory is displayed in real time.

1. Conveniently displays system storage information. The program reads the general S.M.A.R.T diagnostic data and, combining them with temperature indicators, gives an overall assessment of the condition. The result is shown under the number "2". The characteristic contained in the first information block is useful for users who believe in myths about the rapid wear of SSD drives. The number of recorded starts and the total time between failures are shown. The resource of a solid state drive is calculated by the first value for several hundred thousand times. The running time warranty starts after 1500000 hours.

1. Information about the operation of the graphics accelerator makes it possible to study the parameters of performance profiles. In the screenshot, the number "1" marks the current profile, and the number "2" - the maximum.

The program gives the user the opportunity to study in detail the characteristics of the PC and primary diagnostic tools based on the performance of internal sensors.

AIDA64 Extreme is another multifunctional program. There is a portable version distributed as a zip archive. Being shareware, AIDA has a trial period of 30 days.

During the month, certain metrics will randomly be overlaid with reminders to use the trial version of the software. Since the information received by programs from hardware sensors remains unchanged, only the method of submission changes. Let us dwell on the features of this program and its difference from the Piriform product.

1. The main window is divided into two areas. Any option selected in the tree structure on the left is displayed as a hyperlink on the right.

1. The program has rich settings that allow you to disable the display of components that are not currently a priority. In the summary information mode, uncheck the boxes for the sections whose data is not needed by the user.

1. Unlike Speccy, designed for amateur interest in the hardware components of your computer, AIDA developers do everything at a professional level. Any component is represented as a hyperlink, clicking on which opens an additional menu. The screenshot shows it for the motherboard. The links lead to the pages of the manufacturer's company with information about the product or software versions for download.

1. The function of carrying out synthetic tests built into the program allows the use of two dozen different methods. During the test, the hardware configuration works with different load parameters. The result is given in comparison with other processors and motherboard models. Using the "Report" menu indicated by the arrow, the obtained data can be exported to HTML format for further study.

1. Additional testing options, including a general system stability test, are located in the "Tools" menu of the main window.

For all parameters available for viewing and analysis, AIDA Extreme provides accurate and detailed information. The user can not only study the data, but also immediately visit the website of the equipment manufacturer to check the available software update. The ability to test the hardware configuration distinguishes the program from all those under consideration, making it a professional tool.

Finally

The choice of method or program that you use to obtain the necessary characteristics depends on the task. Simple data can be obtained using Windows features. Detailed information about the processor or video card is best displayed by specialized CPU-Z and GPU-Z. A complete system report can be obtained using the free Piriform Speccy. For serious tasks, including testing, AIDA64 is suitable.

Video

To better understand the features of using the described diagnostic programs, we suggest watching the video below.