Computer benchmarking programs are tools designed to test the performance levels and capabilities of your system. The results of these tests will give you an indication of computer processor speed, graphics card performance, RAM capabilities and hard drive transfer rates. Computer benchmarking programs can also compare your system against other, common systems so that you can gauge how your computer compares to the current market. Benchmarking your computer is particularly useful if you wish to purchase modern games or other resource-intensive software to run on your computer.
Processor Benchmark Utilities
The best processor benchmark tools are designed to test single and multi-core processors. These tools will generally test the power of your CPU by testing its ability to quickly render advanced 3D graphics. Once the test is complete, the results will be plotted against other computer processors in the same range of your system.
RAM Benchmark Utilities
Utilities that benchmark the RAM are primarily concerned with the ability of your computer to manage multiple open applications simultaneously. These tests will load multiple small applications to the RAM and cycle through them, measuring response time, stability and overall performance of the system under these stresses.
Video Benchmark Utilities
Benchmarking tools that test the graphics card are usually most concerned with DirectX performance. Since many computer-intensive programs will largely tax the processor, it's important that a DirectX testing component is included. DirectX is the de facto standard graphics-rendering software used in high-end video games. Video benchmarking tools will test your graphics card's ability to render shadows, water, smoke, fog, and other highly advanced graphical elements. Video card benchmarking tools will also put your computer to the test by displaying large amounts of graphical data (for instance, battle scenes that feature thousands of soldiers) which test the memory capabilities of your graphics card.
Hard Drive Benchmark Utilities
Hard drive benchmark utilities test data transfer rates and responsiveness of the drive. The basic test will perform basic data transfer tasks and measure the speed and accuracy of the transfer. Generally speaking, hard drives using the SATA transfer method will perform better than older hard drives. The best-performing hard drives are solid-state hard drives.
Comprehensive Benchmark Utilities
Comprehensive benchmark tools provide a suite of applications for testing every aspect of your computer system. These tools are bundled with processor, RAM, video card and hard-drive testing tools as well as a slate of other tools for testing other aspects of your computer system.
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