System information tools are software programs that collect all the important but hard-to-find details about the hardware in a computer system. This type of data is useful to someone who is helping you with a computer problem.

There are a few other reasons why I recommend a system info tool to people, and they’re the same reasons I use one myself. For example, I want to know what type of RAM I have so I can buy the right replacement, I want to make a hardware inventory when selling a computer, I want to keep track of the temperature of the PC’s key components, and many more.

Piriform, makers of popular programs CCleaner, Defraggler, and Recuva, also produce Speccy, my favorite free system information tool. The program's layout is nicely designed to provide all the information you need without being too cluttered.

What I like is the summary page, which gives short but very useful information about things like the operating system, memory, graphics, and storage devices. A more detailed look at each category is organized into their respective sections.