The creators of Windows 8 have provided a special service that evaluates computer performance. It tests the most important system components and shows their operating speed. This service is called the Windows 8 Experience Index. It was first used to check Windows Vista in 2006, then it was adapted for the seventh version. With the release of Windows 8.1, the creators abandoned the graphical index interface, leaving only the software part of it in the system.

Checking the system operation

The service tests the main components of the system:

• hard drive;
• random access memory;
• disk system;
• graphic and video processes.

After the check, evaluation scores are assigned, the indicator of which can range from 1 to 9.9.

Using an external application

To study data in the usual way, you should install one of the programs that can evaluate the performance of Windows 8, for example, ChrisPC Win Experience Index. This utility is available for free download on the Internet. After installation, run the program and analyze the result.

You can also use an analogue with a Russian-language interface - WSAT. This utility does not require installation. All you need to do is download it, run it and see the test results. To receive a repeat test, click on the “Repeat Assessment” button.

Conducting analysis within the system

Test results can be seen without downloading special programs. But since in the 8th version of the OS there are no options with counters and Windows 8 performance tools in the “Settings” item, as well as in “Properties”, a test of system components can be performed based on the data in the WinSAT file, which is located in the C:WindowsPerformanceWinSATDataStore folder and opens using a browser. The document shows the OS performance index value if testing was carried out.

Explanation of some meanings:

1. SystemScore - shows the final score of Windows 1 (the value should be the smallest);
2. MemoryScore - displays the result of testing the RAM;
3. GraphicsScor - video card testing;
4. CPUScore - processor testing result;
5. Dx9SubScor – video card test result for games;
6. GamingScore - testing components for games;
7. VideoEncodeScore - testing video conversion;
8. DiskScore - the result of the system segment test.

Running tests manually

But it may also happen that you will not find any files in the specified path. In this case, the only way to find out the results of the performance index is to perform testing yourself.

Moving down from left, through the right key:

1. We enter the menu.
2. Select "Command Prompt (Administrator)".
3. Enter “winsatformal–v” in the window that appears.

Data storage location

If there was no saved data with test results in the system, then the operation of the system components will be assessed. To start testing again, type “winsatformal–restart”.

You must wait for the message with the total execution time to appear, then close the window.

Completing the assessment

The results of all tests will be reflected in C:WindowsPerformanceWinSATDataStore. How to view them has already been described above. The PowerShell helper program is also suitable. It is launched through “Start”, then “System Tools – Windows – Windows PowerShell”.

After launch, you must enter the command “Get-CimInstanceWin32_WinSAT” and familiarize yourself with the resulting values.

Explanation of values:

1. CPUScore - reflects the processor test;
2. D3DScore - shows the result of a video card performance test for gaming processes;
3. GraphicsScore - shows the video card test;
4. DiskScore - hard drive testing;
5. MemoryScore - reflects the RAM test;
6. WinSPRLevel - shows the final result of the system test (should be the smallest number among the rest).

Windows 8 Experience Index: Video

In Windows Vista, such an interesting utility as Performance index. With its help, you can see the assessment of the Windows system according to various criteria. Subsequently, this function migrated to Windows 7 and Windows 8, but then the developers decided that it was not needed and therefore in Windows 8.1 you cannot find it so easily. However, many users liked this feature, partly to compare their pussies to see who is cooler. In this article you will learn a little more about the Windows Performance Index (score), and we will also look at how you can still find it out in the new version of Windows 8.1.

Windows Experience Index (WEI) is an assessment of the Windows system itself of the main characteristics of the computer on which the OS is installed.

The main characteristics are:
CPU
RAM
Graphic arts
Graphics for games
Disk subsystem

As you can see, it considers all the most important characteristics needed for productivity.

Each of these characteristics is given its own index (number) which is calculated using a special formula. Minimum value 1 , and the maximum depends on the OS version: in Windows Vista it is 5.9 , in Windows 7 7.9 , and in Windows 8 9.9

From all these estimates, the minimum value is selected and reported as the main estimate. I don’t know why they did this, perhaps so that users tried to increase it, paying attention to the minimum value.

How to find out the performance rating (index) in Windows 7 and 8

Click RMB on To my computer and choose Properties.
In this window we pay attention to Evaluation in category System:

click on the link Windows Experience Index for more details.

We get this picture, in which everything is already described:

It happens that the assessment has not yet been made, then it will need to be done. You can also double-check if anything has been changed in the system.

How to find out the performance rating (index) in Windows 8.1

As I wrote above, you won’t be able to find performance in this version of the system, but it’s still there.

Let's go along the way (Window_drive_letter):\Windows\Performance\WinSAT\DataStore and in this folder we look for a file that contains the letters Formal.Assessment.

Explanation:
(Window_drive_letter)- this is usually C. You can navigate through folders along the path, or you can simply copy and paste them into the address bar of Explorer.

The file we need starts with numbers. They mean the date and time of creation, as well as other “nonsense”. Approximately its name 2014-03-21 12.02.02.533 Formal.Assessment (Recent).WinSAT.xml
It opens via (usually Internet Explorer).
If there are several such files, then it is better to open the most recent one by creation date.

The opened file looks like this:

We need to pay attention to those characteristics that are located between the WinSPR tags.

I’ll decipher a little what it is and how it’s indicated.

SystemScore- overall performance
MemoryScore- assessment of RAM
CpuScore- processor performance
GraphicsScore- graphics performance assessment
DiskScore- disc rating

There are a few more, but they are not particularly needed. You can translate it yourself if you want.

If this option seems too labor-intensive to you, then you can use it and enter it
Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_WinSAT
which will result in a performance score in Windows 8.1:

It happens that you cannot find this file or the index will not be displayed. This may mean that it has not yet been carried out. If in Windows 7 and 8 this was easily solved, then in Windows 8.1 you will need to enter some commands into the command line from the administrator. Namely:

winsat formal- assessment of the overall system performance;
winsat formal -v- assessment of overall system performance, detailed output;
winsat formal -xml file.xml- output the check result to the specified xml file;
winsat formal -restart never- during re-inspection, to evaluate only new components;
winsat formal -restart clean- when re-checking, to reset the check history and perform a full scan again.

It's better to use the first one.

In the end the window will look something like this:

There are also programs that will help you check your performance index.

ChrisPC Win Experience Index

WSAT

I liked the second one even more, because it does not require installation, is in Russian, and also shows other additional necessary information on the system and hardware.

How to increase or improve the Windows performance index (score).

The answer to this question will be given to you both by the system itself and by ordinary logic.

As a rule, everything consists of replacing computer “spare parts”. If the processor index is small, we change it to a more powerful one, if there is not enough RAM, we increase it.
It happens less often when everything seems to be normal, but the index is small. Then you need to produce.
If the disk score is small, we delete the excess, produce it, etc.

OK it's all over Now. On the one hand, performance evaluation is a necessary thing, it helps you understand what you need to pay attention to based on a low index, but on the other hand, it is not needed if you already know that your computer is weak or there is not enough disk space =)

To find out the performance rating in Windows 8.1 you need to do the following.

1. Launch the command line with administrator rights. To do this, you can press + X on your Windows keyboard and . You can right-click on the START menu.

2. Set the command

Press Enter and wait for the system performance index to be determined.

3. Run the PowerShell utility as administrator. Open the START menu, click on the SEARCH icon and write “power”. Right-click on the found Windows PowerShell element and select “Run as administrator.”

4. To view the Windows 8.1 performance index, run the command

Get-CimInstance Win32_WinSAT

and press Enter. You can conveniently set a command by copying the desired text and right-clicking in the PowerShell window.

I'm interested in the following values:

• CPUScore - processor performance index;
• MemoryScore - evaluation of RAM;
• GraphicsScore - performance index of a graphics adapter or video card. This is quite difficult on a virtual machine.
• DiscScore - index of the data storage subsystem.

The overall rating of the computer, as I understand it, is the parameter - WinSPRLevel. I have 2, but for a virtual machine this is normal).

The minimum score is 1. The maximum score is 9.9.

You can view system performance ratings without opening PowerShell. To do this, open Explorer and go to the address

C:\Windows\Performance\WinSAT\DataStore

Using Internet Explorer, open a file whose name contains

We are interested in the WinSPR section.

All information is duplicated there.

Windows performance scores are calculated, but the results are not displayed in a user-friendly graphical interface as was the case in previous operating systems. And if your system was installed more than a week ago, you can immediately view the file Formal.Assessment (Recent).WinSAT.xml.

If you have made an upgrade and want to update the index, use the command on the command line running with administrator rights

We will look at how to find out the performance index in Windows 8.1 below, but for now there is not much history. The performance index was introduced back in 2006 and was first implemented in Windows Vista, after which this feature was inherited by the Windows 7 operating system, which was released in 2009.

And only in 2013, with the release of Windows 8.1, the developers decided to abandon the “Performance Index”, as it turned out not completely. Only the graphical interface was cut out, but the software part is still present in the system.

This makes it possible to find out the performance index in Windows 8.1. and Windows 10

The Windows Experience Index determines the capabilities of a computer, both hardware and software. Then it displays the test result as a number in a certain range. In each operating system, the range is different.

Windows Vista 1 to 5.9
Windows 7 from 1 to 7.9
Windows 8.1 from 1 to 9.9

The index is determined by the WinSAT utility. The utility tests the performance of the main components of the computer, such as “Processor, RAM, graphics, hard drive.”

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After testing, a performance index is determined for each component, and the overall score is determined by the lowest number. The higher the overall score, the better. This means that the computer will perform faster and better, especially when performing resource-intensive tasks.

How to find out the performance index in Windows 8.1 and Windows 10

As noted above, Windows 8.1 does not have a GUI for viewing the performance index. You can run a test and find out the performance index in Windows 8.1 using PowerShell or “cmd.exe”.

But if you prefer a graphical interface, then you can use third-party programs.

WSAT program.

The WSAT program was written by our compatriot, whose name is “Andrey Leushin”. The program has a Russian-language interface and does not require installation. After the first launch, the program will show the current performance index score. You can use the “Repeat assessment” link to start a repeat test.

How to find out the performance index without using programs.

"Windows 8.1" independently tests the system, after which the result is saved in regular xml, which is located at the address "C:\Windows\Performance\WinSAT\DataStore".

In this directory you need to find and open the file “Formal.Assessment (Initial).WinSAT.xml.” The file can be opened with a standard notepad; for convenient space, it is best to use any installed browser. Between the “WinSPR” tags there will be the test result.

If the file is missing in the specified directory, then for some reason the system did not start testing. In this case, you can use the Windows command line and run the test yourself.

To do this, you need to run the Winsat formal command.

It will take a few minutes for the performance test to complete. While testing is in progress, do not close the console window, wait until the end of the test and open the DataStore folder again in which the required xml file containing the test results will appear. In this simple way you can find out the performance index in Windows 8.1.

The performance index (WEI, Windows Experience Index) in the previous version of Windows showed how “fast” your processor, video card, hard drive, memory are and displayed scores in the computer properties. However, in Windows 8.1 you won’t be able to find it out this way, although it is still calculated by the system, you just need to know where to look for it.

Another way to find out the same information is to look into the necessary Windows 8.1 files yourself. For this:

It may turn out that this file is not in the specified folder, which means that the system has not yet performed the test. You can run the definition of the performance index yourself, after which this file will appear with the necessary information.

For this:

• run command prompt as administrator
• Enter the command Winsat formal and press Enter. After this, you will need to wait until testing of the computer components is completed.

That's it, now you know how fast your computer is and can show off to your friends.