Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Speccy usage, compatibility, and troubleshooting. For more help, visit the forum or the main Speccy page.
Temperatures & Health
What does it mean if Speccy shows high temperatures for my CPU or GPU?
Consistently high temperatures may indicate poor airflow, dust buildup, failing fans, or an overclocked system. Compare readings at idle and under load, then clean dust, improve case ventilation, or adjust fan curves as needed. If temperatures stay in the red, reduce load and investigate cooling before damage occurs.
Are the temperature readings in Speccy always exact?
Speccy reads values directly from your hardware sensors via Windows APIs. Sensor calibration varies by manufacturer, so treat the values as a close guide rather than lab-grade measurements. Focus on trends and relative changes rather than a single exact number.
Compatibility & Values
Why are some fields shown as "Unknown" or left blank?
Not every device exposes all details through standard interfaces. If a component does not report certain information (for example, buffer size or specific RAM timings), Speccy leaves the value blank or marks it as unknown instead of guessing.
Why do values in Speccy differ from what the box or another tool shows?
Vendors sometimes use marketing numbers (e.g., rounded clock speeds) while system tools show exact or dynamic values. Different tools may also read from different sensors. If something looks wrong, double-check with your motherboard manual or the manufacturer’s documentation.
Detection & Troubleshooting
Why can’t Speccy see one of my drives or devices?
First, make sure the device appears in Windows Device Manager or Disk Management. For external drives, confirm that the USB enclosure supports S.M.A.R.T. and temperature reporting. Running Speccy as Administrator can also help when drivers or permissions block access.
Why do some values stay at 0 or never change?
Some sensors are disabled in firmware, reserved for vendor tools, or only update under certain conditions. As long as the component is detected and other readings look normal, a constant 0 for a non-critical field is usually not a problem.
Speccy is slow to open or refresh on my system. What can I do?
On systems with many disks or sensors, collecting information can take a little longer. Close unnecessary apps, make sure chipset and storage drivers are up to date, and try disabling rarely used external devices while you scan.
General
Which operating systems does Speccy support?
Speccy is designed for Windows PCs. It is optimized for Windows 10 and Windows 11 and may work on some earlier Windows versions where supported, but it does not run on macOS or Linux.
Is Speccy free?
Speccy offers a free edition for personal use, and the official Piriform website provides paid options with additional benefits such as automatic updates and premium support. This site focuses on helping you download and use the core Speccy functionality.
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