SysMetrix

This versatile, skinable freeware clock doubly shines as a helpful system diagnostic tool. SysMetrix's configuration interface simply presents every option with samples and previews where appropriate. You can edit themes or import new ones with little difficulty. The included twelve themes cover many configurations of the clock and tools. The short but useful help file includes a list of dozens easily monitored system areas.

SysMetrix is delightfully simple to use. The taskbar tray icon opens a very useful pull-down menu that features single-click options to quickly activate your screen saver, Windows Explorer, the default Web browser, e-mail client, text editor, or media player. The program's main display options depend on the themes you choose. Many of the included themes use histograms that are too small to deliver much information. However, the utility makes it very easy to change any part of a theme. Not only can you easily add monitoring gauges to any theme, but you can also easily create your own theme with the exact tools you want displayed. Our testers found the monitoring tools accurate, useful, and easily set.

Novice users may not feel comfortable exploring this tools many features and options. Other users will find the theme settings simple to improve. With just a few minutes use, intermediate to advanced users will make quick and logical SysMetrix's diagnostic's tools for simple desktop display.