Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, CPU-Z is completely free. It's freeware software with no cost, no ads, and no spyware. You can download and use it without any restrictions.

CPU-Z supports Windows (Windows 7, 8, 10, 11, and Windows Server) and Android (Android 4.0 and later). There are separate versions for Windows and Android available on the official CPUID website.

The installer version creates shortcuts and integrates with Windows. The portable (ZIP) version can be run directly from any folder without installation - just extract and run. Both versions have identical functionality. The portable version is great for USB drives or when you don't have administrator rights.

No, CPU-Z is a standalone application. However, if you encounter issues, you may need Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables, which are usually already installed on most Windows systems. CPU-Z doesn't require .NET Framework or Java.

This is normal! Modern CPUs use power-saving features that reduce clock speed when idle to save energy and reduce heat. When your CPU is under load (running programs), it will boost to higher speeds. To see the full speed, run the built-in benchmark or any CPU-intensive task. Check the "Specification" field for your CPU's base and boost clock speeds.

No, this is correct! CPU-Z shows the actual clock speed (1600MHz), but DDR (Double Data Rate) RAM transfers data twice per clock cycle. So 1600MHz × 2 = 3200MHz effective speed (also called MT/s - MegaTransfers per second). The advertised speed (3200MHz) is the effective speed, not the actual clock speed.

Click the "Tools" menu at the top, then select either "Save Report (.TXT)" or "Save Report (.HTML)". Choose a location to save the file. The TXT format is plain text, while HTML format is nicely formatted and can be opened in any web browser. Both contain all information from all tabs.

Channel # refers to memory channel mode. "Single" means one memory channel is active. "Dual" means two channels are active (better performance). "Quad" means four channels (best performance, usually on high-end systems). For optimal performance, ensure your RAM sticks are installed in the correct slots to enable dual-channel mode (check your motherboard manual).

CPU-Z cannot overclock your CPU - it only displays information. However, it's an excellent tool for monitoring your CPU during overclocking. You can watch real-time clock speeds, voltages, and temperatures (if supported) to verify your overclock is working. Use your motherboard's BIOS or overclocking software to actually change settings.

CPU-Z displays comprehensive hardware information including: CPU details (name, speed, cores, cache), motherboard information (manufacturer, model, chipset, BIOS), memory specifications (type, size, speed, timings), SPD data for each RAM module, graphics card information, and includes a CPU benchmarking tool. Visit our Features page for detailed explanations of each tab.

SPD (Serial Presence Detect) shows detailed information about each individual memory module installed in your system. It displays the module's manufacturer, part number, serial number, capacity, maximum supported frequency, and supported timing profiles. This is extremely useful when upgrading RAM - you can identify the exact model to buy matching modules.

The CPU-Z benchmark is a synthetic benchmark that provides a quick performance indicator. It's useful for comparing CPUs and verifying overclocking results, but it may not reflect real-world performance in all applications. For comprehensive benchmarking, consider using multiple tools. Close other applications before running the benchmark for accurate results.

This can happen for several reasons: the hardware is very new and not yet supported, the hardware is very old, you're running in a virtual machine, drivers are missing, or you need to run CPU-Z as administrator. Try updating CPU-Z to the latest version, updating your drivers, running as administrator, or checking if your hardware is supported.

CPU-Z is regularly updated to support new CPUs. If you have a very new CPU that was just released, you may need to download the latest version of CPU-Z. Visit the official CPUID website to check if your CPU is supported. Generally, CPU-Z supports all modern Intel and AMD processors.

CPU-Z will run in virtual machines, but some information may be limited or show the virtual hardware rather than the physical hardware. For example, it may show the virtual CPU assigned to the VM rather than the host's actual CPU. For accurate physical hardware information, run CPU-Z on the host system.

CPU-Z is only available for Windows and Android. For Mac, you can use alternatives like System Information or third-party tools. For Linux, you can use command-line tools like lscpu, dmidecode, or GUI alternatives. However, if you're running Windows in a virtual machine on Mac or Linux, CPU-Z will work within that VM.

CPU-Z is updated regularly, typically several times per year. Updates usually add support for new CPUs, improve accuracy, fix bugs, and add new features. Major CPU releases from Intel and AMD often prompt new CPU-Z versions. Check the CPUID website or enable update notifications in CPU-Z to stay current.

It's recommended to update CPU-Z if you have new hardware that isn't properly detected, or if you want the latest features and bug fixes. If your current hardware is working fine and CPU-Z displays all information correctly, updating isn't urgent. However, updating ensures you have support for the latest CPUs and improvements.