CNET Editors' review
Advanced SystemCare Free 5 uses its powerful arsenal of optimization tools to keep your PC feeling fresh and clean. It also includes a couple of features that could help boost performance for either gaming or work purposes--your choice.
Advanced SystemCare's Quick Care option includes the ability to clean your registry, perform a rudimentary malware scan, fix and remove broken shortcuts, delete junk files, and erase browsing tracks. It works in a flash, requires almost no user input, and to make things even easier, can be configured to run on system startup.
The Deep Care option, on the other hand, takes system care to another level. It performs all of the Quick Care items to a much deeper degree, plus it adds several other scans and fixes to its checklist, including disk defragmenting, a Windows vulnerability fix, and a system optimization with several presets. Understandably, this kind of deep digging can sometimes make a user nervous. Fortunately, the program's log records all of its activities, letting you see how each affects your computer.
Scan times for the Quick Care and Deep Care options differ significantly, yet, both processes still seem blazingly fast. For instance, we completed a Deep Care scan in approximately 15 minutes, which is an impressively short time for a system-invasive program like this.
Brand-new to version 5 is the Active Boost function, which runs in the background and automatically improves PC performance by managing your system resources. We recommend enabling it, as it even keeps a log of all the active processes that it manages to speed up. Also important, Version 5 connects to the cloud in order to keep its database up to date.
As for Advanced SystemCare's user interface, we were impressed, to say the least. The main dashboard is superclean, with nifty icons and intuitive navigation. Plus, there's an unimposing smiley face always at the bottom of the screen, indicating your PC's overall health. If you click the Status button next to the smiley, you can also get more detailed info from the system performance monitor.
One part of the program we recommend new users approach with extreme caution is the Turbo Boost, which can be set to optimize for either gaming or work purposes. It sounds fun, but you must first configure the tool by telling it which core system services to disable in order to accelerate your computer's performance. Since the Turbo Boost section doesn't spell out how disabling these services might affect your computer, we highly recommend doing your research before exploring. To its credit, though, Advanced SystemCare can create rescue points, so it's not hard to undo changes if you end up making any mistakes.
One small problem we found was that some of the program's options open in new windows, while others open in the same window. Those in the same window have convenient back-navigation buttons in the upper left; those in new windows are sometimes overlaid directly on top of the previous window and make it hard to see how to return to the previous screen. Also, we were a bit turned off by the cleverly disguised ad for Roboform Password Manager during installation. It looks a bit like a terms-of-service sheet, so be sure to read carefully before your instincts kick in and you automatically click Accept.
Overall, we love Advanced SystemCare's toolset, performance, and convenience. Sure, we wish the program were more explicit about how it changes your computer, but we still think it's an awesome all-in-one system utility, and we highly recommend downloading it.
Publisher's Description
From IObit:
Free registry repair and cleaner-Advanced SystemCare Free. What does it help? Slow down, freeze, crash and security threats are over. Advanced SystemCare Free is a comprehensive PC care utility that takes an one-click approach to help protect, repair and optimize your computer. Scanning and finding what other utilities miss, it can keep your PC error-free and smooth than ever. Why Advanced SystemCare Free? New PC Performance - Do you remember the feeling of a brand new PC when you first bought it? Why not try Advanced SystemCare Free, a free PC tune-up utility that focuses on the performance of your PC. Computer Crashes without Reason - Have you ever encountered your PC crashes and you even did not know why. After months or years of using your PC, there might be plenty of changes, which added burdens to your PC but never get cleaned. What Advanced SystemCare Free does is to clean the stuffs that are left over and clean craps to make your PC neat and clean. Registry Repairing and Cleaning - As an elementary part to a PC, if it does not working well, then your computer will be in big trouble. What does Advanced SystemCare Free do? It cleans the records which is unnecessary to your PC but makes the PC running slow and produces troubles. It also repair parts that are missing and make the PC complete.
What's new in this version: Version 5.1:
- Added "Privacy Sweep" support for the latest version of frequently-used software: Opera 11.6; Safari 5.1; K-Lite Codec Pack 8.00 (Full); FoxiReader 5.1; Silverlight 5.0; Xfire 1.141; Yahoo messenger 11.5; KMPlayer 3.1; Utorrent 3.1.
- Added "Performance Monitor"
- Added IObit Uninstaller v2.1
- Enhanced support for Windows 8
- Enhanced real-time optimization of ActiveBoost
- Enhanced filtering feat... See all new features
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All versions:
4.2 starsout of 10,580 votes
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Current version:
4.4 starsout of 222 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Very good product for overall functions and performance"
Version: Advanced SystemCare Free 5.1
Pros
One integrated tool for most users' need. It has respectfully small foot print considering wide range of functions and speedy performance for quick care.
Cons
Now growing annoyance of repeatedly suggesting for upgrade. It used be less pressing and tolerable. While it is understandable that it needs revenue to be a profitable business, it could maintain better process than others alike.
Also perhaps it is diverging too much for expanding functions, rather than focusing its core product and strength.Summary
It is still one of (if not the) best integrated tool for most at the right/free price. But my concerns for its future direction is slowly but surely growing.
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"Advanced System Care Free edition is fantastic"
Version: Advanced SystemCare Free 5.1
Pros
Advanced System Care Free edition helps my laptop run faster by clearing out unnecessary cookies and protects my laptop from malware all in one system.
Cons
The Free edition does not contain all of the elements that the upgraded version does.
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"It's the best"
Version: Advanced SystemCare Free 5.1
Pros
I have used this program for the last year, It's a must with all my computers. If ya don't have yet do yer computer a favor and get it.
Cons
no con here
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"superior product!!!!!!!!"
Version: Advanced SystemCare Free 5.1
Pros
easy to use...great product covers A LOT..am using the upgraded version, since with the great price and it covers 3 computer!! I am very satisfied!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cons
none that i have found~~ using the upgrade now...have used the free for a while now!
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"Great product"
Version: Advanced SystemCare Free 5.1
Pros
Easy to use. Does a great job of cleaning up your computer and keeping it efficient.
Cons
I have found no cons.
Summary
I would highly recommend Advance System Care Free 5.1.
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"I would Rate it Zero Stars"
Version: Advanced SystemCare Free 5.1
Pros
Does not really optimize the computer.
Cons
Slow down the computer to a point I need to re-start it again to be able to work again.
Summary
This software doesn't work to fully optimize the computer in a day to day basis, it doesn't stops Windows unnecessary process and unresponsive plug-ins and scripts.
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"beautiful software for pc care"
Version: Advanced SystemCare Free 5.1
Pros
with the system monitor, you know what to do at any particular time
Cons
i have not noted any
Summary
excellent
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"A very good cleaner, even the free product is wonderful"
Version: Advanced SystemCare Free 5.1
Pros
There is a lot of cleaning applications bundled in one
Cons
Sometimes takes a lot of RAM when in idle mode...
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"This cleaner is the best I've ever used!"
Version: Advanced SystemCare Free 5.1
Pros
the deep cleaner is my favorite, it detects problems that normally go undetected.
Cons
so far I haven't found anything I don't like!
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"Easy to install and use"
Version: Advanced SystemCare Free 5.1
Pros
Installed this on my old Sony Viao very quick and easy to do. Ran the full scan and was amazed to find thousands of problems. It fixed them all and noticed the improvement in performance of my computer
Cons
Cannot find any negatives so far
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