Alternatives to SIW
Windows system information tool that reports hardware, software, network and sensor details. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
SIW
Windows system information tool that reports hardware, software, network and sensor details.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as SIW.
HWiNFO
The deepest hardware report and sensor monitor on Windows, free for personal use.
HWiNFO is free for personal use and adds real-time sensor monitoring with logging and alerts, but commercial use requires a paid Pro licence.
AIDA64 Extreme
Detailed hardware identification, sensor monitoring and benchmarking for Windows.
AIDA64 Extreme is also paid and Windows only, adding benchmarking and sensor output to external displays alongside detailed exportable hardware and software reports.
Speccy
Quick summary of a Windows PC's hardware and temperatures.
Speccy gives a free one-page summary of hardware and temperatures with shareable snapshots, but development has slowed and it lacks product key details.
Belarc Advisor
A Windows system profiler that lists installed hardware, software, missing updates and security status.
Belarc Advisor is free and lists hardware, software, missing hotfixes and security status, but its licence allows personal use only, not businesses or schools.
Hardinfo2
A graphical Linux tool that shows detailed system information and runs benchmarks.
Hardinfo2 is a free open-source Linux tool that combines system information with benchmarks, so switching means moving off Windows.
inxi
A command-line system information tool that reports hardware, sensors, drivers and system details.
inxi is a free command-line report of hardware, sensors and drivers for Linux and the BSDs, without a graphical interface or Windows support.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
CPU-Z
A tiny freeware window that tells you exactly which processor, board and memory are in a Windows PC.
GPU-Z
A tiny Windows utility that reports everything about your graphics card: clocks, memory type, bus width, sensors and BIOS.
HWMonitor
A Windows hardware monitor that reads voltages, temperatures, fan speeds, power and clock sensors.
Fastfetch
Prints a summary of your hardware, operating system and desktop in the terminal next to a logo, quickly and configurably.
osquery
Query operating-system information using SQL.
CPU-X
Inspect processor, motherboard and system information on Linux.
