These days, computers are a ubiquitous part of everyday life. They help us work faster and more efficiently with less effort. However, when most people think of what computers can do, they think only in terms of software. While this is indeed an important aspect of computer technology, it's the hardware that actually does all of the grunt work.

Unfortunately, the only time most people ever delve into the hardware specs on their computer is when they're buying it. There are many benefits to getting a better look at your machine's insides. For one thing, the sticker on the front of the machine doesn't tell you much. Also, adding upgrades means that you'll need to know exactly what you already have, as does ordering replacement parts.

If you've ever been curious about what's under your computer's hood for any reason, then CPU-Z is a huge help. This specialized program displays highly specific information about chipsets, peripherals, video cards, displays, hard drives and other components. It also shows data regarding temperatures, voltages and fan speeds, all of which are crucial information for overclocking enthusiasts.

The program's interface is very user-friendly, if a bit bland. It features several tabs that show info about various aspects of the machine. The CPU tab shows data about your processor and the program supports a broad range of models from both AMD and Intel. Here, you can learn about your processor's brand, code name, number of cores and speed capabilities.

Under the mainboard tab, you can find out more about your motherboard's model, chipset, CPU temperature, video card and BIOS version. The memory tab contains yet more information to satisfy curious minds, showing details about your RAM brand, speed, capacity, timings, voltages and latency.

Many users are pleased with the fact that CPU-Z is compatible with such a large hardware set, as well as its ease of use and intuitive nature. In addition, even though it's a free program, it doesn't come with any ads or malware and it doesn't nag you to buy a premium copy. The program also seems to have very few bugs, making it one of the most reliable choices for viewing hardware specs.