Not So Fast

"I need a new computer!" is a cry often heard by dentists from their staff. But often, the problem isn't in the hardware – more often than not the problem is a crudded-up Windows installation.

Proving to your staff that the hardware isn't the problem is often easier said than done. What they see is just a slow computer, but PassMark's PerformanceTest may be able to help you prove that the hardware isn't all that wimpy.

First of all, you should know this is a Shareware product. You get it for a 30-day free eval period, after which you should buy it.

PerformanceTest runs a fairly comprehensive battery of tests, including CPU, graphics (2D and 3D), memory, hard-drive and CD performance. It then lets you upload the results onto its online database, and you can also pull information from the database to compare your system to right within the program.

Even if you don't want to benchmark your own system, the database provides some very illuminating statistics. If you're on the market for a new system, you should definitely take a stroll through some of the charts.