# CPU-Z review (2026): is it any good? > Free Windows tool that lists CPU, mainboard and memory details Checked Nov 13, 2026 ยท graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA. CPU-Z is a freeware Windows utility from CPUID that reads the processor, mainboard, chipset and memory in a PC. It shows names, codenames, cache levels, memory timings and live core and memory frequencies, and it can submit results to CPUID's online validation. - **Category:** Desktop Utilities - **Made by:** CPUID - **Website:** https://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html - **Runs on:** Windows - **Who should skip it:** Not for you if you want temperatures or fan speeds, which sit in the separate HWMonitor. - **Facts last checked:** Nov 13, 2026 ## Pricing As of Nov 13, 2026, CPU-Z is free to use. - **Pricing model:** Free - **Free plan:** Freeware; the vendor's page lists no paid plans for CPU-Z. - **Free trial:** None listed. | Plan | Price | What you get | | --- | --- | --- | | Freeware | $0 | Installer and zip versions for Windows x86/x64; the page asks for ad-blocker exceptions or PayPal donations. | Read from https://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with CPU-Z before buying. ## Key features - **Processor details:** Reports the processor name and number, codename, process, package and cache levels. - **Mainboard and chipset:** Identifies the mainboard and chipset, with BIOS and motherboard information drawn from DMI data. - **Memory specifications:** Shows memory type, size, timings and module specifications read from SPD. - **Live frequencies:** Measures each core's internal frequency and the memory frequency in real time. - **Validation and custom builds:** Results can be submitted to an online validation list, and the vendor offers custom versions for ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, Cooler Master and ASRock. ## Good for - Identifying exactly which CPU, board and RAM a PC has - Checking memory timings and module specifications - Enthusiasts who post validation results ## Worth knowing - Windows only; this page covers the x86/x64 edition and no Mac or Linux version. - Its detail pages mostly report static hardware data; temperature and fan monitoring are handled by the vendor's separate HWMonitor. - The site is supported by ads and asks users with ad blockers to consider donating. ## ToolGPA grades **GPA: 2.8 out of 4**, graded Nov 13, 2026. CPU-Z is freeware that reads the processor, mainboard, chipset and memory in a Windows PC, with live frequencies. It mostly reports static data, so temperatures and fans need a separate tool, and the site is paid for by ads. - **Value for money: A.** Freeware. The vendor's page lists no paid plans, only an ask for PayPal donations. - **Free plan and trial: A.** Freeware with no cap and no trial clock. - **Features: C.** Processor, mainboard, memory and live frequencies. It does that job fully, but the pages mostly report static data, and temperature and fan monitoring belong to the vendor's separate HWMonitor. - **Ease of use: B.** No store rating is on record, but it is a program you install and start using with nothing to set up. - **Platforms and integrations: D.** Windows only. The page covers the x86/x64 edition and no Mac or Linux version. These are ToolGPA's own grades. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from CPUID's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. ## Where it stands among desktop utilities - CPU-Z's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 116 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 37. - It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 107 of 186) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0). - CPU-Z has no paid plan. - On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price. The category's chart of price against score: https://toolgpa.com/charts/utilities ## Keep it, or make your own? **Keep it.** CPU-Z is free, so making your own would save you nothing. - You could make: Reports: an app builder makes this well. - You could not: Readings from inside the operating system. - You could not: A real app for Windows. Something home-made would be a web page. A judgement by ToolGPA from this listing, by rules that are the same for every tool. Nothing was built to test it. **Tags:** System monitor, Reports ## Alternatives - [HWiNFO](https://toolgpa.com/tools/hwinfo): Windows hardware information and real-time sensor monitoring. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/cpu-z-vs-hwinfo) - [Core Temp](https://toolgpa.com/tools/core-temp): Per-core CPU temperature monitor for Windows PCs. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/core-temp-vs-cpu-z) - [SpeedFan](https://toolgpa.com/tools/speedfan): Free Windows monitor for temperatures, fan speeds and voltages. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/cpu-z-vs-speedfan) - [iStat Menus](https://toolgpa.com/tools/istat-menus): System monitor that lives in the Mac menu bar. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/cpu-z-vs-istat-menus) - [Stats](https://toolgpa.com/tools/stats): Free, open-source system monitor for the Mac menu bar. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/cpu-z-vs-stats) ## Sources The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026: - https://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html - https://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/cpu-z Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).