Side by side
GPU-Z vs smartmontools
Both stand on hardware monitoring software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Windows
GPU-Z offers a focused way to inspect graphics hardware information and selected monitoring details at no cost. Its usefulness depends on the graphics-card support noted for some readings.
Visit GPU-Z Free plan LinuxMacWindows
smartmontools provides command-line health checks and daemon-based monitoring across a wide range of listed systems. Its scope is focused on SMART reporting, tests, and warnings.
Visit smartmontoolsThe facts
| GPU-Z | smartmontools | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Windows | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | techpowerup.com | smartmontools.org |
| On hardware monitoring software | #31 of 59 | #45 of 59 |
GPU-Z: what it does well
- Free Windows utility.
- Monitors several graphics-card readings on supported cards.
- Advanced tab shows supported graphics APIs.
- Reports exact BAR size when Resizable BAR is enabled.
- Standard download lists three checksums.
What to know first
- Available platform listed is Windows.
- Some monitoring details apply only to supported graphics cards.
smartmontools: what it does well
- Reports SMART health status and device attributes.
- Starts self-tests and reads their logs.
- smartd can schedule tests and send warning emails.
- Supports several disk and tape interfaces.
What to know first
- Functions focus on SMART monitoring and testing.
- A failing health status can predict failure within 24 hours.
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