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 5.2.0.223:
- Added support for Windows 8 Consumer Preview
- Optimized "PC Health" and "Performance Monitor"
- Improved "Privacy Sweep"
- Optimized "Turbo Boost"
- Fixed General bugs
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All versions:
4.2 starsout of 10,957 votes
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Current version:
4.3 starsout of 227 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"WorkHorse, any time!"
Version: Advanced SystemCare Free 5.2.0.223
Pros
Does the job, no sidekiks!
Cons
Can't find any.
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"Great product and priced right."
Version: Advanced SystemCare Free 5.2.0.223
Pros
Fast,inexpensive and easy to use.
Cons
None to report...yet!
Summary
I am not a computer geek but, they all say you should have a GOOD utility to keep your computer running fast, clean and safe. For the past five years, I have used PC Tools Performance Tool Kit and it kept my machine running fast and smooth. The down side was it took several minutes to run. When I got my new computer with all the high end stuff, processor, video card and other things, I heard about ASC5pro (Iobit) and decided to try it. I purchased the Pro edition for less than 13 bucks, installed it and was very impressed as to ease of use and the speed of ALL the scans. Sorry PC Tools, but I am staying with ASC5pro for now. I bought a 1 year license and at the end of the year, I will compare both utilities. But for now, ASCpro5 is my choice. The Iobit uninstaller was also included and it works much faster than Perfect Uninstaller.
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"An Excellent - and Surprisingly Comprehensive Utility"
Version: Advanced SystemCare Free 5.2.0.223
Pros
Easy to install,hassle free, great support service, works as promised.
Cons
Had a bit of trouble initially getting the program to accept my license - but this was almost instantly resolved as soon as I posted a query. Nothing else!
Summary
I have used many "care" utilities in the past, but never found one that combines all the features of this program.
It has everything... all in one very easy to use package.
5/5 rating from me! -
"Would not have a computer without it."
Version: Advanced SystemCare Free 5.2.0.223
Pros
Pro's are many but ease of use and reliability stand out.
Cons
None that I know of.
Summary
If you are a beginner or a professional - this is for you. Free or Pro [I use Pro], it's worth it.
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"Very versatile. Lots of options."
Version: Advanced SystemCare Free 5.2.0.223
Pros
I was quite surprised by the number of different things the program does. It's reasonably fast and as far as I know, it works as advertised.
It is user friendly.Cons
Don't yet know of any problems.
Summary
Can't beat the price! For a free program, it does a pretty thorough job.
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"Excellent program"
Version: Advanced SystemCare Free 5.2.0.223
Pros
Cleans thoroughly
Cons
Keep getting a pop up when I start the program to rate it, and when I have used it I get another pop up wanting me to upgrade. Would be better if the pop up appeared occasionally, not every time
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"Excellent Program, a MUST HAVE for computer safety."
Version: Advanced SystemCare Free 5.2.0.223
Pros
This program, even in just it's freeware version is a an excellent way to optimize your system's performance, and protect your privacy online.
Cons
I have found very little that is not to like about this program, even the suggestions to upgrade are minimal, and non-invasive.
Summary
This is an excellent program for protecting your computer, at home, at the office, at the coffee shop, anywhere. The anti-spyware is fairly good, the privacy sweep is excellent, and the Registry and Hard Disk de-fragmentation and cleaning programs are truly top of the line, especially considering the price. Further, it gets even better once you upgrade to the full version, with more and better options available for your use.
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"amazing product"
Version: Advanced SystemCare Free 5.2.0.223
Pros
all in one solution. Dont look anywhere else
Cons
Should gove some access of Pro version to free version too
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"electronic altruism"
Version: Advanced SystemCare Free 5.2.0.223
Pros
Easily optimize memory usage, lots of pre-configed special adjustments, fast, easy to understand.
Cons
Can't think of any.
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"Does so much more than I realized!"
Version: Advanced SystemCare Free 5.2.0.223
Pros
It's the only all-in-one utility most people will ever need. I'm not going to write more at this time because I have yet to even scratch the surface of all this app will do! Give it a try
Cons
None so far...
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