CNET Editors' review
Casual users might not see the allure of this simple freeware, which not only detects hardware and other system information but also lets you benchmark your system's performance. Users with an interest in what goes on under the hood, however, will appreciate this easy-to-use and informative tool.
PC Wizard 2008 goes to work as soon as it's installed, quickly gathering general system information. The interface has a familiar feel with its easily recognizable icons on the toolbar to save, print, and refresh the data. While it looks like little effort was made to dress up the interface, it is serviceable. The left-hand menu gives easy access to view Hardware, Configuration, System Files, and Resources by category. The main display depends on what you select.
Under Hardware, a system summary is displayed first, and includes all the typical hardware, from the processor to the CD-Rom drive. More detail is available for each, and if you highlight one, the program displays the category to look in. Categories are easily understood, and include Multimedia, Drives, and Mainboard. PC Wizard 2008 supports an impressive five formats to save data, including PDF, HTML, and text. You can copy and print, too, in case you need more options. We were equally impressed by the other menu options, especially under Configuration, which displayed installed Updates, TrueType fonts, and other interesting system information.
The Benchmark tool is set up in much the same way, allowing you to pick a category and run a performance scan. Options include benchmarks for RAM, Video, and MP3 Compression. A graph shows how various elements in a category perform, and you can compare the data over time. This was the icing on the cake as far as this free tool goes. PC Wizard 2008 worked its magic on us, and we recommend this freeware for any user who wants to see what's going on behind the scenes.
Publisher's Description
From CPUID:
PC Wizard is a powerful utility designed especially for detection of hardware, but also some more analysis. It's able to identify a large scale of system components and supports the latest technologies and standards. This tool is periodically updated (usually once per month) in order to provide most accurate results. PC Wizard is also an utility designed to analyze and benchmark your computer system. PC Wizard can analyze and benchmark many kinds of hardware, such as CPU performance, Cache performance, Hard Disk performance, RAM performance, CD/DVD-ROM performance, Removable/FLASH Media performance, MP3 compression performance, Video performance.
What's new in this version: Version 1.961 added new Sensors and video cards support.
More Popular System Utilities downloads
- Glary Utilities
230,823 downloads
- MiniTool Partition Wizard Home Edition
52,838 downloads
- Auslogics Disk Defrag
41,350 downloads
- Pandora Recovery
19,555 downloads
- Glary Utilities Pro
13,481 downloads
-
All versions:
3.8 starsout of 66 votes
-
Current version:
3.5 starsout of 12 votes
-
My rating:
Write review
-
"Nice little program!"
Version: PC Wizard 2010 1.961
Pros
Told me everything I wanted to know about my PC and more. It did take a few minutes (less then five) after it started running to get a hang of how everything worked and where to find the info I was looking for.
Cons
I does have a few free clinger programs in the install. Mostly a ask toolbar and it will change you home page but if you read the options as you install it you can unclick the automatic yes and it will not install ask toolbar nor will it change your homepage. If that is the requirement for getting an amazingly helpful utility program for those who do not want to spend hours or days trying to find the information otherwise, it is fine by me.
Summary
Wish I had stumbled upon this years ago.
-
"Garbage Program"
Version: PC Wizard 2010 1.961
Pros
None, this thing does NOT work!
Cons
Causes my computer to lock up on hardware search. Interface is cheap and obsolete. There are typos on text, what does that tell you about the code? Yikes!
-
"hijacker - avoid it!"
Version: PC Wizard 2010 1.961
Pros
probably does what you want, like plenty of others - didnt spend much time checking it out, see cons
Cons
Without asking, the install changes your start page, tries to change your default search engine, installs incredimail app and toolbar, and another app called 'conduit engine'. Uninstalled all this and the pc-wizard app immediately, now I have to run registry and spyware checks to see what else it did - thanks for the warning, cnet!
Summary
installing this is a good way to test your security - if you dont have warnings popping up left and right, you need to tighten it up. Be sure to do a registry backup before installing so you can restore afterwards to be sure it's all cleaned out.
-
"Worked one time"
Version: PC Wizard 2010 1.961
Pros
When it worked, it provided a wealth of information.
Cons
Has only worked once. Windows 7 Home Prem. 64 bit, 6 GB ram, 200 GB hard drive
Summary
I would love to say this is good stuff, but it only worked one time right after installation. I tried three times, turned PC off, then ran again. Gets to 26% of scan for hardware, and goes into brain death.
-
"Works very well"
Version: PC Wizard 2010 1.961
Pros
Gives lots of info about your computer, and benchmarks everything.
Cons
Icon images are not always obvious, could use text labels beneath.
Summary
Good choice for checking hardware information, or for comparing before/after hardware upgrades. Recommended.
-
"Marvelous program"
Version: PC Wizard 2010 1.961
Pros
Best way to get info about your computer's various functions
Cons
Takes a little experimenting
-
"Good at viewing installed hardware"
Version: PC Wizard 2010 1.961
Pros
I liked the feature of showing what temperature the HD is.
Cons
Takes a long time to open on my computer.
Summary
Handy but not essential.
-
"An Excellent PC Information Program"
Version: PC Wizard 2010 1.961
Pros
Tells me specifics about the hardware and software in my PC. Excellent documentation in one program.
Cons
None. On every PC I look after.
Summary
This program gives you the low-down on what you've got in the case, gratis. Great for planning upgrades.
-
"i like it a lot"
Version: PC Wizard 2010 1.961
Pros
help me find what i'm looking for quickly
Cons
need 2 xpand on the information
Summary
sweet free program. recomende it 2 friends
-
"An excellent program."
Version: PC Wizard 2010 1.961
Pros
The program so far has given so info that other programs don't quite match
Cons
There have been a couple of lock-ups when using PC Wizard but I'm not sure if that was the program or the machine.
Summary
This is an excellent program for what it is intended for,but I have yet to put it to its for test with benchmarking to see if it stands up.
Add Your Review
Submit your reply
E-mail this review
Report offensive content
See more CNET content tagged:
Previous Versions:
