Computer software provides the directions and data computers need to operate properly and meet users’ needs. It consists of two different types: system software and application software.
System software is the first program that loads into memory when a computer system is turned on. It manages the CPU, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and storage devices.
Speccy
Speccy is another system information tool from Piriform, the same team behind the popular CCleaner. It provides valuable insights into your computer hardware and software in a clean and easy-to-understand interface. Its main sections include information about the operating system, CPU and storage devices (including real-time temperature monitoring), motherboard, graphics cards and optical drives.
Compared to rivals like CPU-Z, HWMonitor and AIDA64, Speccy excels in its clear presentation of data and lack of overwhelming features. It also offers advanced functionality, such as the ability to save a snapshot of current system configuration for troubleshooting or comparison purposes. Real-time temperatures are displayed in both Celsius and Fahrenheit. Speccy can even identify the manufacturer and model of your graphics card. It can also show SMART data for hard disks.
IObit Advanced SystemCare
IObit Advanced SystemCare has a clean modern interface that separates the main functions of the program with tabs down the left. Each feature has at least a mouse-hover explanation and most let you click through for further information.
The Care area helps you optimize startup items and manage computer services and scheduled tasks. The Speed area includes Turbo Boost, which releases RAM to make programs run faster, and Deep Optimization that performs a basic hard disk, network, and system tune-up.
The Protection area clears privacy traces and prevents online tracking, and the newest version adds facial recognition technology to detect access attempts from intruders. The Pro version has more features, including real-time optimization and a deeper Windows registry cleaner. It also lets you generate a portable version of the program to use on other PCs.
Driver Booster
IObit’s Driver Booster is a utility that scans your computer for outdated drivers and then updates them to the latest version. This helps reduce system crashes and improves overall PC performance.
It also provides backups of old drivers, allowing you to restore them if necessary. Using breakpoint resume technology, the program can stop and restart drivers at will, helping to avoid unnecessary downtime during updates. It also prioritizes installing game-ready drivers and components, boosting video games’ FPS and stability.
IObit’s Driver Booster Pro is a competitive choice among driver updaters. Its simple core functionality is made even more attractive by its wallet-friendly pricing and a customizable interface. It even offers a free trial version with limited functionalities. The full version is available via a license key.
Paragon Partition Manager
Paragon Partition Manager is a comprehensive, powerful partition management solution for Windows-powered PCs. The software can back up, restore, and clone disks with ease. It can also help optimize backups by merging increment contents.
The program can even clone the system on a new drive while you continue working, so that there’s no need for manual operations or reboots. This functionality can save a lot of time and effort for users who are changing from one machine to another.
The tool’s disk wiping functions use any of a half-dozen high-security erasing methods to wipe data completely. The app also comes with a full-fledged boot correction utility to address any issues caused by hardware malfunctions or malware. These tools make the program a great choice for IT departments managing enterprise systems or small businesses needing effective data backup solutions.
Glary Utilities
Performing regular maintenance tasks is the best way to keep your PC running smoothly and prevent it from slowing down or crashing. Glary Utilities is a feature-packed suite that includes tools to clean, speed up and maintain your computer all wrapped up in an attractive, easy to use interface.
Features include the ability to scan and repair broken registry items, defrag your hard drive and encrypt private files. Other tools such as the Disk Analyzer and Duplicate Files Finder help you reclaim disk space, while a Startup Manager helps you manage programs that start at Windows boot time.
What really sets Glary Utilities apart is the program’s refreshingly simple, yet powerful interface. Most system maintenance and optimization tools come with pointless widgets that confuse rather than inform, but Glary’s interface is clear and intuitive.