How to Assess Your Windows 11 PC Performance Using Windows Experience Index

Assessing your Windows PC's performance is crucial for ensuring it meets your computing needs, whether for everyday tasks, gaming, or professional applications. One effective method to gauge your system's capabilities is by utilizing the Windows Experience Index (WEI), a built-in tool that evaluates key hardware components and assigns a performance score. Although the graphical interface for WEI was removed in Windows 8.1, the underlying assessment tool remains accessible in Windows 11 through command-line utilities.

Understanding the Windows Experience Index​

The Windows Experience Index provides a numerical assessment of your computer's hardware performance, scoring components on a scale from 1.0 to 9.9. These components include:

• Processor (CPU): Evaluates calculations per second.
• Memory (RAM): Assesses memory operations per second.
• Graphics: Measures desktop graphics performance.
• Gaming Graphics (GPU): Tests 3D graphics capabilities.
• Primary Hard Disk: Analyzes disk data transfer rate.

The overall WEI score is determined by the lowest subscore, highlighting potential performance bottlenecks. For instance, if your CPU scores 8.5, RAM scores 7.9, but your hard disk scores 5.2, the base score would be 5.2, indicating the hard disk as the limiting factor.

Running the Windows Experience Index Assessment​

To generate and view your WEI scores in Windows 11, follow these steps:

Using Command Prompt​

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
• Press Windows + S, type cmd, right-click on "Command Prompt," and select "Run as administrator."
• Run the Assessment:
• In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
  winsat formal
• This command initiates a series of tests evaluating your system's hardware components. The process may take a few minutes to complete.
• Locate the Assessment Report:
• Once the assessment is complete, navigate to the following directory:
  C:\Windows\Performance\WinSAT\DataStore
• Look for a file named similarly to Formal.Assessment (Recent).WinSAT.xml.
• View the Results:
• Open the XML file with a web browser to view detailed performance scores for each component.

Using PowerShell​

Alternatively, you can use PowerShell to retrieve your WEI scores:

• Open PowerShell as Administrator:
• Press Windows + S, type PowerShell, right-click on "Windows PowerShell," and select "Run as administrator."
• Retrieve the Scores:
• Enter the following command and press Enter:
  Get-CimInstance Win32_WinSat
• This command displays the WEI scores directly in the PowerShell window, listing scores for CPU, memory, graphics, gaming graphics, and disk performance.

Interpreting the Scores​

Understanding your WEI scores can help identify areas for potential hardware upgrades:

• Scores 1.0 to 3.9: Indicate basic performance suitable for standard tasks like web browsing and word processing.
• Scores 4.0 to 5.9: Reflect moderate performance capable of handling general productivity tasks and some multimedia applications.
• Scores 6.0 to 7.9: Denote good performance, suitable for most modern applications, including light gaming and creative tools.
• Scores 8.0 to 9.9: Signify high performance, ideal for demanding tasks like gaming, video editing, and 3D rendering.

By analyzing these scores, you can determine which components may benefit from upgrades. For example, a low disk score suggests that replacing a traditional hard drive with a solid-state drive (SSD) could significantly enhance system responsiveness.

Additional Considerations​

• Regular Assessments: Running the WEI assessment periodically can help monitor your system's performance over time, especially after hardware changes or software updates.
• Third-Party Tools: For a more user-friendly interface, consider third-party applications like ChrisPC Win Experience Index, which replicates the original WEI interface and provides detailed hardware analysis.
• Limitations: While the WEI provides a quick overview of system performance, it may not capture all aspects of hardware capabilities. For comprehensive benchmarking, specialized tools like 3DMark or Cinebench are recommended.

In conclusion, the Windows Experience Index remains a valuable tool for assessing your PC's performance in Windows 11. By utilizing the command-line methods outlined above, you can gain insights into your system's strengths and weaknesses, guiding informed decisions for upgrades and optimizations.

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Source: PCWorld I check my Windows PC's speed with one easy command. Here's how