Top Utilities to Optimize your System
Optimizing a computer to improve performance while keeping the system stable is something that I really like to do.
The first thing that I do when I get a new computer is to get rid of useless software -- programs that I don't use or require -- and take a look at system settings to find ways to improve them.
The following list offers links to excellent freeware utilities that can be used to optimize and test your operating system. The list is divided into the categories benchmarking and hardware tweaks.
Benchmarking tools can be used to test the system before and after applying a tweak while the hardware tweak category links to programs that aid you in changing settings in the system related to hardware: think overclocking, adjusting features and such things.
Please feel free to add any utility that you are using or would recommend.
Benchmarking:
Note: New versions of benchmark programs may be out.
- 3D Mark 06 Basic Edition - This tool is clearly aimed at gamers and provides some stunning visuals during the tests. You need to have excellent hardware to be able to enjoy the tests though.
- Cinebench - Tests mainly the cpu and OpenGL capabilities of a computer and available for Windows and Macintosh.
- HD Tune - A program that is benchmarking your hard drives and offering a way to compare results online.
- PC Mark 05 Basic - Another utility from the makers of 3D Mark with a focus on the complete system and not only gaming performance.
- Prime 95 - Prime 95 is an extremely popular freeware used by overclockers world wide. It can be used to make sure that your system runs stable after tuning for instance the RAM settings.
- Sandra Lite - Sandra Lite tests the whole system and offers a way to compare the results with those from other users.
- SPMark Basic - Testing the Java performance of your operating system.
- What CPU - CPU Benchmark, CPU MHz and CPU type identifier.
Hardware Tweaks:
- Atitool - a utility for overclocking Ati graphic adapters.
- Atuner - A program to tweak settings on Radeon, Geforce and Quadro graphic adapters.
- Fast Defrag - I was not sure if I should add this link because I personally do not like Ram cleaners.
- NiBiTor - if you want to change the bios of your Nvidia graphics adapter you should be taking a look at NiBiTor.
- Notebook Hardware Control - Utility that aids you in reducing the power consumption of your notebook plus more.
- Rivatuner - I'm using Rivatuner to reduce the speed of the fan of my Geforce 6600 GT card. It is almost silent in 2D mode and only speeds up when I play games. Works also with Radeon 8500+ cards.
- Speedfan - Manage system fan speeds with this utility and monitor temperature levels.
What mental age of reader are you targeting with the first sentence? 10?
Why not write an article on how to *avoid* upgrading from W10 to W11. Analogous to those like me who avoided upgrading from 7 to 10 for as long as possible.
If your paymaster Microsoft permits it, of course.
5. Rufus
6. Ventoy
PS. I hate reading these “SEO optimized” articles.
I used Rufus to create an installer for a 6th gen intel i5 that had MBR. It upgraded using Setup. No issues except for Win 11 always prompting me to replace my local account. Still using Win 10 Pro on all my other PCs to avoid the bullying.
bit pointless to upgrade for the sake of upgrading as you never know when you’ll get locked out because ms might suddenly not provide updates to unsupported systems.
ps…. time travelling?
written. Jan 15, 2023
Updated • Jan 13, 2023
This happens when you schedule a post in WordPress and update it before setting the publication date.
Anyone willing to downgrade to this awful OS must like inflicting themselves with harm.
I have become convinced now that anybody who has no qualms with using Windows 11/10 must fit into one of the following brackets:
1) Too young to remember a time before W10 and W11 (doesn’t know better)
2) Wants to play the latest games on their PC above anything else (or deeply needs some software which already dropped W7 support)
3) Doesn’t know too much about how computers work, worried that they’d be absolutely lost and in trouble without the “”latest security””
4) Microsoft apologist that tries to justify that the latest “features” and “changes” are actually a good thing, that improve Windows
5) Uses their computer to do a bare minimum of like 3 different things, browse web, check emails, etc, so really doesn’t fuss
Obviously that doesn’t cover everyone, there’s also the category that:
6) Actually liked W7 more than 10, and held out as long as possible before switching, begrudgingly uses 10 now
Have I missed any group off this list?
You have missed in this group just about any professional user that uses business software like CAD programs or ERP Programs which are 99% of all professional users from this list.
Linux doesn’t help anyone who is not a linux kid and apple is just a fancy facebook machine.
Microsoft has removed KB5029351 update
only from windows update though
KB5029351 is still available from the ms update catalog site
1. This update is labaled as PREVIEW if it causes issues to unintelligent people, then they shouldn’t have allowed Preview updates ot install.
2. I have installed it in a 11 years old computer, and no problems at all.
3. Making a big drama over a bluescreen for an updated labeled as preview is ridiculous.
This is probably another BS internet drama where people ran programs and scripts that modified the registry until they broke Windows, just for removing stuff that they weren’t even using just for the sake of it.
Maybe people should stop playing geeks and actually either use Windows 10 or Windows 11, but don’t try to modify things just for the sake of it.
Sometimes removing or stopping things (like defender is a perfect example) only need intelligence, not scripts or 3rd party programs that might mess with windows.
Windows 11 was a pointless release, it was just created because some of the Windows team wanted to boost sales with some sort of new and improved Windows 10. Instead, Microsoft cannot support one version well let alone two.
Windows 11 is the worst ugly shame by Microsoft ever. They should release with every new W11 version a complete free version of Starallback inside just to make this sh** OS functionally again.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released a statement regarding the “unsupported processor” blue screen error for their boards using Intel 600/700 series chipsets & to avoid the KB5029351 Win11 update:
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/MSI-On–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–Error-Message-of-Windows-11-Update-KB5029351-Preview-142215
check out the following recent articles:
Neowin – Microsoft puts little blame on its Windows update after UNSUPPORTED PROCESSOR BSOD bug:
https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-puts-little-blame-on-its-windows-update-after-unsupported-processor-bsod-bug/
BleepingComputer – Microsoft blames ‘unsupported processor’ blue screens on OEM vendors:
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-blames-unsupported-processor-blue-screens-on-oem-vendors/
While there may be changes or updates to the Windows 10 Store for Business and Education in the future, it is premature to conclude that it will be discontinued based solely on rumors.
My advice, I left win 15 years ago. Now I’m a happy linux user (linuxmint) but there is Centos, Fedora, Ubuntu depending on your needs.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released new BIOS/firmware updates for their Intel 600 & 700 series motherboards to fix the “UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR” problem (Sept. 6):
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/Updated-BIOS-fixes-Error-Message–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–caused-BSOD-on-MSI-s-Intel-700-and-600-Series-Motherboards-142277
I try to disable the Diagnostics Tracking Service (Connected Devices Platform User Services) but it wont let me disable it, any help will be greatly appreciated.
Tank you for your help