Introduction:
Below you will find a comprehensive list of useful programs for Windows (and some are supported by Mac and/or Linux as well. (FREE) means the software is 100% free of charge, no catches. (FREE +) means that there is a free version but also an advances version which is avaible for purchase, the free version is avaible for unlimited time though and is not a trial. If there is no text behind the software name it indicates that it is avaible only through purchase, trials are avaible though. Enough introduction, let’s get started.
Monitoring/Performance/Benchmarking:
HWMonitor (FREE +) – Monitor your temperatures and voltages, a good tool to find out if some of your components are running too hot before they take damage. On a more advanced note you can also check your voltages, though these will mean little to you unless you’re modifying the voltages on your components.
Download HWMonitor here!
CPU-Z (FREE) – CPU-Z gathers detailed information about some of the major components of your computer. Such as revision, codename, core stepping, core voltage, bios model and date etc.
Get CPU-Z for free here!
HDTUNE – A great program to measure the performance of your harddrive and to check it’s health.
Download the free trial or buy it here!
FurMark (FREE) – Benchmark your graphics cards’ performance in this extreme stress test. Be aware this pushes your graphics card to it’s limit so extended use might not be recommended.
Download it here!
3dMark11 (FREE +) – The latest benchmarking program from Futuremark, this version benchmarks the latest graphics cards supporting DirectX 11.
Download the basic version or buy the advanced version here!
3dMark Vantage (FREE +) – A graphics card benchmarking program for graphics cards featuring DirectX 10.
Download the basic version or buy the advanced version here!
3dMark 06 (FREE +) – The predecessor to 3dMark Vantage, this benchmarking program is recommended if your graphics card only supports DirectX 9.
Download the basic version or buy the advanced version here!
Prime95 (FREE) – Benchmark your processors capabilities, if you have overclocked your cpu it is highly recommended to use Prime95 to check it’s stability.
Download it here! (32bit) or here (64bit)
CrystalDiskMark (FREE) – Have you just gotten a new fancy SSD (solid state drive) and want to see what it can do? Test your harddrive speeds in this very comprehensible benchmarking program
Customization/Ease of access:
Launchy (FREE) – Quickly access any installed program, simply open launchy via a short commando (for instance alt+space) and write in the name of the program or document you wish to open, once you’ve opened the file it will recognise that you’ve accessed it and move it further up the line After a normal days use your most frequently used programs and files will be at the top of the list. For instance if you’ve been using the calculator (opening it via launchy) you’ll be able to simply type in the letter C and the calculator pops up as a first choice, very quick and easy to use.
Download it here!
Rainmeter (FREE) – Customize your windows desktop, includes a lot of widgets such as calendar, clock, stock exchange, weather, you name it. There are a myriad of themes to choose between
Rocketdock (FREE) – An application launcher, much like the dock you see in the newer Macs rocketdock is a very simple customizable dock where you can add your most frequently used programs for ease of access. It’s very easily customizable and is very light-weight. You can choose to always display the dock or have it hidden until moused over.
Download Rocketdock here!
TuneUp Utilities – Tuneup Utilities makes it easy to clean up your desktop, get rid of all the files taking space that you didn’t even know existed. It lets you customize windows, which programs that start up when windows loads, login screens and the like. It’s also got a repair function which works for the more trivial repair situations with Windows.
For more information and trial click here!
Safety:
Avast! Antivirus (FREE +) – A great, completely free, antivirus program. There is an advanced version that is avaible for purchase but the Free version is great and is sufficient for most home computers. Updates it’s database quite often which is good against new threats.
AVG Antivirus (FREE +) – A great, easy to use, and best of all free antivirus. updates quite often and isn’t very demanding.
Nod32 Antivirus – In my opinion without a doubt the best antivirus software out there, sure it’s not free but it runs quietly in the background, has extremely good safety measures and has extremely low requirements, I can almost guarantee you won’t see any drop in performance while running Nod32.
For trial and more information click here!
Word/Image editing and processing:
Openoffice (FREE) – An absolutely essential set of programs for almost anyone. It’s pretty much just like Microsoft Word, only 100% free. There’s no hidden costs and they don’t try to make you install a trial of some pro version that you’ve got to pay for. It’s free, plain and simple. Includes the following programs (you can choose which to install during the installation) : Writer (Word), Math, Impress (Powerpoint), Calc (Excel) and Draw.
Get Openoffice for FREE here!
Gimp (FREE) – An image manipulation program, I would say it’s a mix between MS Paint and Photoshop, it’s a lot more advanced than Paint but still doesn’t have all of the thousands of features that Photoshop does. It’s a great stepping stone in my opinion and if you don’t have the money to spend on Photoshop it’s a great alternative. It’s easy to use but can take a while to get used to if you’re used to work in Photoshop, it’s absolutely free though which should be incentive enough for you to at least give it a try.
Get Gimp for FREE here!
Notepad++ (FREE) – Pretty much just like notepad but with added features. Colour coding, numeric rows etc. Great for when you’re writing code as the colour coding helps quite a bit. It too is totally free which means that even if you’re not using it to write code you can replace your old Notepad with it!
Get Notepad++ for FREE here!
Others:
Truecrypt (FREE) – A great tool to encrypt portions or your entire harddrive, flash memory cards etc. It’s very light weight and provides excellent encryption alternatives with high security. As always though it’s recommended to have a good password as you need a good one to actually benefit from the encryption. Very easy to understand and to use, good if you’ve got important files on your computer that you don’t want others to have access too, like bank statements etc.
Download Truecrypt here!
This list will be continously updated with new programs, if you’ve got any questions or any suggestions on programs that should be listed throw me an email at technology@azuricate.com
Nice! Just installed Launchy. Pretty cool app, thx for the tip!
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