CPU-Z 3.01 for Windows

CPU-Z 3.01 is a free Windows utility from CPUID that tells you exactly which processor, memory and motherboard are inside your PC. This version was released on 20 August 2026.

People download CPU-Z for Windows before upgrading a computer, when checking a used PC they want to buy, or simply to confirm that RAM runs at the speed they paid for.

Quick facts

What CPU-Z shows

CPU-Z is a system profiler, and it does one job very well. The first tab names your processor and lists its codename, socket, core count, cache sizes and current clock speed, updating the numbers live as the load changes. Other tabs cover the motherboard and BIOS version, the memory type and timings, each installed RAM module and the graphics card. None of this needs a screwdriver or a trip into the BIOS. That makes it the quickest way to answer practical questions: will this CPU fit a new board, is there a free slot for more memory, did the BIOS update actually install? CPUID has maintained the tool since 1999, and in all that time it has stayed small, free and focused on facts rather than advice, which is why technicians keep it on a USB stick.

How to install CPU-Z

1. Open the CPU-Z page on cpuid.com.
2. Choose the Windows download.
3. Run the installer and keep the default folder.
4. Allow administrator rights so it can read hardware details.

Is it safe and free?

CPU-Z is freeware from its own developer and contains no ads. Download it only from cpuid.com; copies on mirror sites are sometimes bundled with extra installers.

Recent releases

Before it came the long 2.x series. Version 3.01 is the current line, so older guides that mention 2.x screens may look slightly different.

When CPU-Z helps most

Buying a second-hand laptop is the classic case. A seller may describe the machine loosely, but CPU-Z shows the real processor model, how much memory is installed and in how many modules, and which motherboard sits underneath. The same check is useful after building a PC: if the memory tab reports a lower speed than the box promised, the profile in the BIOS probably needs to be switched on. Support staff also ask for CPU-Z screenshots because they settle hardware questions in one message instead of ten.

Requirements

Any Windows PC will do; the program is tiny and compatible with desktop and laptop processors alike. On a phone, use the separate CPU-Z app from Google Play.

Pros and cons

• Instant, accurate hardware details.
• Small and free.
• Clear tabs, one per component.
• Shows information only; it does not tune or fix anything.
• Technical terms can puzzle beginners.