People download CPU-Z when Windows' own System Info page isn't specific enough — you want the exact CPU stepping, RAM timings, or motherboard chipset, usually before an upgrade, overclock, or when buying a used PC and verifying what's actually installed. It's a small, free utility from CPUID with no install required if you grab the portable build instead. An Android version exists too for checking phone hardware, though the desktop version is what most searches for this are after.
Portable Build vs. Installer — Which to Grab
CPU-Z ships both as a standard installer and as a portable ZIP that runs with no installation at all, which is useful if you're checking specs on a PC you don't want to leave software on, like one you're about to buy secondhand.
It's free for personal use with no feature gate — the same readouts (CPU, cache, motherboard, memory, and a basic benchmark) are available in both the installer and portable versions.
Who ends up using CPU-Z
CPU-Z gets pulled up by people about to overclock, upgrade, or verify the exact hardware in a PC they're buying secondhand.
- PC buyers verifying a used computer's actual CPU, RAM, and motherboard match the listing
- Overclockers checking real-time CPU clock speed and voltage while tuning settings
- Builders confirming installed RAM is running at its rated speed and timings
Before you install
A couple of things worth knowing about CPU-Z before you request the link: it covers Windows and Android, so grab the build that matches the machine you're setting up. And on pricing, CPU-Z is free to use outright — there's no paid tier hiding behind it, so what you install is the whole app. It's developed and maintained by CPUID.
System requirements
- WindowsWindows 10 or 11 (64-bit); older 7/8.1 builds usually still run but no longer get official support
- Androida recent Android build installed from the Play Store or the developer's own APK
It's a lightweight tool, so there's no serious CPU/RAM/storage requirement beyond what its OS already needs to run comfortably.
Quick steps
- Choose the installer or portable ZIP from the link below
- Run it — no license key or account needed
- Check the CPU, Mainboard, Memory, and SPD tabs for your exact specs
CPU-Z: the honest trade-offs
- Portable version needs no installation, ideal for checking a machine you don't own
- Reads precise low-level specs Windows' own System Info page doesn't expose
- Completely free with the same detailed readouts in both installer and portable builds
- Interface is purely functional tables and tabs, with no modern visual polish
- Built-in benchmark is basic compared to dedicated stress-testing tools
We link to CPUID's own official CPU-Z download, matching what you'd get from cpuid.com directly.
Other System Utilities downloads people search for
Browse the full System Utilities category →
Keeping CPU-Z up to date
CPU-Z usually has a built-in updater or store-based auto-update (Microsoft Store / Mac App Store / Play Store, depending on platform); if you installed it manually, re-downloading the current build from the official source is the fallback. Sticking to the developer's own distribution channel — which is what this page links to — means you're never stuck on an old build with unpatched bugs just because a mirror site stopped updating its copy.
Features, install steps, alternatives and more detail live on the main CPU-Z page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to install CPU-Z, or can I just run it?
You can run the portable ZIP version with no installation at all if you just need a quick spec check.
Can CPU-Z tell me if my RAM is running at the advertised speed?
Yes, the Memory and SPD tabs show actual running frequency and timings, which you can compare against your RAM's rated specs.
