SiSoftware Sandra - Windows System Analyzer - Find Out What's REALLY Going On Under the Hood Of Your XP System!

SiSoftware Sandra is a 32- and 64-bit Windows system analyzer that includes benchmarking, testing, and listing modules. It goes beyond other utilities and shows you more of what is really going on with your windows system.

To see screen shots and get some helpful hints about Sandra click here.

What Kind of Information Will You See?

You get information about the CPU, chipset, video adapter, ports, printers, sound card, memory, network, Windows internals, AGP, ODBC Connections, USB2, and FireWire.

So.. Why Use Sandra?

When I downloaded Sandra and installed it I was simple not prepared for the level of information that it reveals about the Windows environment. It's one thing to analyze a system and it's quite another to make VERY detailed recommendations and suggestions on how to increase performance.

Even in the FREE Sandra Lite version you'll find out exactly what to do to improve system performance.

You can find the free download of Sandra here at CNET. (7.72 Megs)

The free version is robust and is a GREAT place to start. If you want more of the modules enabled the paid version is a bargain at $34.95

Sandra is NOT Malware, has no viruses, and does not install ANY spyware.

Features:

· 58 total Information, Benchmarking, Listing & Testing/Diagnostic Modules.
· Multi-threaded Wizards for all tasks (e.g. Create various reports).
· Multi-processor designed (multi-threaded) benchmarks - up to 64 CPUs.
· Full 32-bit code; uses Windows 2000/XP extensions (32-bit Sandra).
· Native Windows 2000/XP format (UNICODE Sandra).
· Full 64-bit code; uses Windows 2003 extensions (64-bit Sandra).
· Still get information on the 16-bit subsystem (ANSI Sandra).
· Plug-and-Play support.
· DMI/SMBIOS support.
· Supports AGP, PCI, PCI64/66, VESA (ANSI Sandra), EISA (ANSI Sandra), MCA (ANSI Sandra), PCMCIA, CardBus.
· DirectX (DirectDraw, Direct 3D, DSound, DMusic, DPlay, DInput), OpenGL support and information.
· Detects new CPUs including the Intel Pentium III/4, Celeron, Xeon III/4; VIA C3; AMD Athlon 4/XP/MP, Duron XP/MP (32-bit Sandra).
· Detects new CPUs including the Intel Itanium, McKinley (64-bit Sandra).
· Detects and uses MMX (Enhanced), 3DNow! (Enhanced/Professional), SSE/SSE2 instruction sets (32-bit Sandra).
· Advanced settings information on modern CPUs.
· Detects Intel, AMD, ALi, SiS, VIA and all other chipsets on the market.
· Network & Internet information.
· Can save, print, fax, e-mail, post and upload a report.
· Can export a SMS report for Microsoft SMS management system.
· Can export a RPT (hierarchical) report that can be imported into most programs.
· Can export a XML report for electronic data interchange.
· Can export a HTML report directly (with CSS support) or display one dynamically from the XML using XSL & CSS.
· Can upload a report to a FTP/HTTP server and account.
· Can insert a report into any ADO, OLEDB or ODBC supported database with the correct schema.
· Looks better in HiColour/TrueColour (16/24/32-bit) modes.

What's New in the 2005 Release:

· New Connect Wizard: Allows connection to remote PCs, servers, Pocket PCs1, Smart Phones1 and databases6. Enterprise version can analyse remote computers without installation using "push" technology.
· New Environment Monitor Wizard: Allows monitoring of a computers environment (temperatures, fan speeds, voltages, CPU power and cooling system thermal resistance)
· New Key Applications List: Lists the key applications registered on the computer (Address Book, Anti-Virus, Calendar/Organizer, E-mail client, Firewall, Instant Messaging, Internet Call, Java Virtual Machine, Media Player, News Reader, Web Browser).
· New On-Disk Programs & Libraries List: Complete list of all programs and libraries on the computer, whether registered or not.
· New Installed Web Packages List: Shows ActiveX components and Java classes installed.
· New Start Menu Applications List: Compiles list of all applications registered on the computer's Start Menu.
· Enhanced Winsock & Security Information: Provides information on installed software firewalls and network adapters.
· Single multi-platform installer: Contains 3 native ports for each Windows platform (Win32 x86, Win64 x642, Win64 IA643) as well as native remote analysis service for Windows CE platform (ARM Pocket PC, ARM Smart Phone, x86 Standard) all-in-one.
· Multi-Core Support: As well as SMP (multi-processor) and SMT (multi-threading/Hyper-Threading) support we have added multi-core support for future AMD and Intel CPUs. The benchmarks have been optimized to schedule the optimum number of threads on the optimum (virtual) CPU on both multi-core and Hyper-Threaded computers.
· Native Unicode Product: The client, service, libraries and device driver are all native Windows Unicode products designed for Windows 2000, XP and 2003.
· Signed Product & Installer: The client, service, libraries, device driver and installer are all signed with our digital certificate for your protection. Please DO NOT install and run any programs that appear to be made by SiSoftware but are not signed with the SiSoftware LTD digital certificate!

To see screen shots and get some helpful hints about Sandra click here.

Jan 30 - 06:15 PM PT  |  filed under 10 Most Popular Articles, Speed Up XP, Tools & Utilities  |   Printer-friendly version