Best Programs for Your Gaming PC: How to Check Thermals, Bottlenecks, & Use Command Prompt

The video script introduces the importance of software in a computer system, emphasizing that it can be as crucial as hardware. The speaker discusses the plan to share a list of professional software used daily, along with expert advice on utilizing these tools effectively. The focus is on software that can monitor system health, such as Hardware Info 64 for detecting issues like throttling or overheating. The script also mentions basic testing to establish a computer's current state and future needs, possibly in terms of repasting or system upgrades. Sponsored by Corsair's 5000D Airflow ATX tower, the video aims to guide viewers on must-have software for PCs, whether new or old, and includes a personal anecdote involving a former NFL player, Hank Baskett, which sparked the creation of this tutorial.

This paragraph delves into the use of Hardware Info 64, a monitoring utility that the speaker recommends for its comprehensive sensor readings and potential for advanced use. It covers how to interpret data on core temperatures, power limits, and frequency, which are vital for understanding CPU performance and thermals. The speaker warns about the potential inaccuracies in sensor readings and the importance of using the latest version of the software. The paragraph also discusses the use of 'yes and no limit fields' for identifying and adjusting CPU limits, which is crucial for overclocking and maintaining system stability.

The script moves on to discuss CPU-Z and GPU-Z, two essential utilities for obtaining detailed information about the CPU and GPU, respectively. CPU-Z provides a hardware spec sheet, helping users verify CPU specifications and detect issues like bent pins or obstructed slots. It also shows the CPU stepping and instruction set support. GPU-Z is highlighted for its ability to extract and backup the V-BIOS, display current V-BIOS version, GPU revision, and memory type. Additionally, GPU-Z offers a sensors tab for monitoring GPU frequency, fan RPM, and power consumption, although the accuracy of certain readings like memory usage and power consumption can vary based on the card's generation.

The speaker addresses the topic of flashing vBIOS on video cards, emphasizing safety and the importance of keeping a fallback vBIOS. Various utilities like nvflash, atiflash, amdflash, and more power tool are mentioned, each with its purpose and precautions. The paragraph provides guidance on creating a batch file for safe BIOS flashing and mentions the use of more power tool for Radeon GPUs to fine-tune power delivery without flashing the vBIOS. The speaker also advises on the use of registry entries to boost power limits but cautions against damaging the card by pushing too much power.

The script provides recommendations for software that can be used for GPU and CPU overclocking, emphasizing the need for replicable test scenarios for stability and thermal logging. It mentions 3DMark and Superposition as reliable benchmarking tools and highlights the value of Notepad++ for text editing and batch scripting. Lightshot is praised for its simplicity in screenshot editing, while Prime95 is acknowledged as a useful tool for stability testing, despite being less utilized in favor of more realistic applications. The paragraph concludes with a mention of FastStone Image Viewer for its batch image processing capabilities and the omnipresent Command Prompt for its troubleshooting utility.

The final paragraph of the script underscores the importance of Command Prompt for system troubleshooting, advocating for learning basic commands to navigate and execute tasks more efficiently. It provides examples of useful commands like shutdown, taskkill, and file organization for photographers. The speaker also discusses the utility of Command Prompt for network troubleshooting with commands like ping and traceroute. The paragraph concludes with a mention of MSI Afterburner and EVGA Precision for GPU overclocking, as well as OBS, NVIDIA ShadowPlay, and AMD Relive for capturing gameplay footage, each with its unique features and use cases.