Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

SpeedFan VS HeavyLoad

Compare SpeedFan VS HeavyLoad and see what are their differences

SpeedFan logo SpeedFan

Hardware monitor for Windows that can access digital temperature sensors located on several 2-wire SMBus Serial Bus. Can access voltages and fan speeds and control fan speeds. Includes technical articles and docs.

HeavyLoad logo HeavyLoad

The individual test methods employed by HeavyLoad can be customized to fit your needs.
  • SpeedFan Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-01-22
  • HeavyLoad Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-26

SpeedFan features and specs

  • Cost
    SpeedFan is free software, making it accessible to anyone without any financial investment.
  • Temperature Monitoring
    Allows users to monitor the temperature of various hardware components, such as CPU, GPU, and hard drives, helping to prevent overheating and extend hardware lifespan.
  • Fan Control
    Enables users to manually adjust the speed of fans, providing a balance between cooling performance and noise levels.
  • Customizable
    Offers extensive customization options, including automatic fan speed adjustments based on temperature thresholds and the ability to create user-defined profiles.
  • System Information
    Provides detailed system information, including voltages, CPU usage, and S.M.A.R.T data from hard drives.
  • Support for Multiple Sensors
    Supports a wide range of sensors from various manufacturers, making it compatible with many different hardware setups.

Possible disadvantages of SpeedFan

  • User Interface
    The user interface is considered outdated and not very intuitive, which may be difficult for new users to navigate.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Some users report compatibility issues with specific hardware, particularly newer motherboard models and certain sensors.
  • Support and Updates
    Updates and official support have become sporadic, potentially leading to compatibility problems with newer hardware and operating systems.
  • Stability
    Users have experienced occasional stability issues, including crashes and incorrect fan speed readings.
  • Learning Curve
    Due to its extensive functionality, there is a steep learning curve for users who are not familiar with hardware monitoring and fan control software.
  • Potential Risks
    Improper use of manual fan control settings can potentially damage hardware components due to overheating or excessive strain on the fans.

HeavyLoad features and specs

  • Freeware
    HeavyLoad is available as a free-to-use tool, making it accessible for individuals and organizations without licensing costs.
  • Comprehensive Stress Testing
    The software provides a wide range of stress testing options, including CPU, RAM, hard disk, and GPU stress tests, allowing users to evaluate the limits of their hardware components comprehensively.
  • Intuitive User Interface
    HeavyLoad's user interface is straightforward and easy to navigate, making it user-friendly even for those who may not have extensive technical expertise.
  • Customizable Testing
    Users can customize the level and duration of the stress tests, which allows for flexible assessments tailored to specific requirements or constraints.
  • Lightweight Installation
    The installation process is simple and lightweight, which minimizes system impact and makes it quick to start using the tool.

Possible disadvantages of HeavyLoad

  • Limited OS Compatibility
    HeavyLoad is primarily designed for Windows operating systems, which may restrict its utility for users on other platforms like macOS or Linux.
  • Lack of Detailed Reporting
    The software does not provide in-depth analytical reporting or logging of results, which may be a drawback for users needing comprehensive documentation of stress test outcomes.
  • Potential System Instability
    As with any stress-testing tool, there is a risk of causing system instability or crashes, especially if the hardware is pushed beyond safe operational limits.
  • Basic Feature Set
    While HeavyLoad covers the essential aspects of stress testing, it lacks some advanced features or metrics analysis found in more sophisticated benchmarking tools.

Analysis of SpeedFan

Overall verdict

  • SpeedFan is considered a good tool for those who need precise control over their system's cooling settings. Its functionality and level of detail cater to users who are comfortable tweaking hardware settings. However, its interface and setup process might be challenging for beginners.

Why this product is good

  • SpeedFan is a popular utility for Windows users that provides access to temperature sensors and fan speed control. It is praised for its ability to monitor system temperatures and adjust fan speeds accordingly, which can help optimize system cooling and reduce noise. The software is particularly useful for tech-savvy users who want more control over their computer's thermal performance.

Recommended for

    SpeedFan is recommended for advanced users, overclockers, and anyone interested in detailed monitoring and customization of their PC's thermal management settings. It is especially beneficial for users who need to manage cooling in custom-built PCs or systems with specific cooling needs.

SpeedFan videos

How to set up SpeedFan - Free fan control software

More videos:

HeavyLoad videos

RID heavyload review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SpeedFan and HeavyLoad)
Monitoring Tools
75 75%
25% 25
Device Management
75 75%
25% 25
Log Management
100 100%
0% 0
System Information
73 73%
27% 27

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare SpeedFan and HeavyLoad

SpeedFan Reviews

8 Best SpeedFan Alternatives for Computers for Windows and Mac
We have presented before you two circumstances where the user needs to take charge of the CPU fan speed for effective use of the computer. SpeedFan used to be the favourites of many. However now, people are looking for fan control software other than SpeedFan.
Source: xtendedview.com
7 Best Speedfan Alternatives for 2023
For many Windows users, Speedfan is the most important application for controlling fan speed. Speedfan not only evaluates fan speeds, but also measures temperature and voltages. You can use Speedfan to change the speed of your computer fan when it gets too hot inside.
11 Best CPU Temperature Monitor For Windows PC To Check Accurate CPU Temp Readings
If you need a hardware monitoring tool that not only shows your current CPU temperature but it can also control the PC’s CPU fan speed. Then download SpeedFan latest version on your PC that is totally free and highly compatible with all modern processors.
Source: www.softlay.com

HeavyLoad Reviews

We have no reviews of HeavyLoad yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SpeedFan seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 5 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

SpeedFan mentions (5)

  • I NEED HELP! How can I fix this?
    I use an app to check system temps: OpenHardwareMonitor. Some people like SpeedFan, does most of the same stuff. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Question - Are the loading times supposed to be this bad right now??
    That's not super common (but it does happen ofc). It might be worth running a tool to scan the drive and take a peek at the SMART data. I typically use Speedfan https://almico.com/speedfan.php. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Computer has come back from a repair shop wiped and is missing A vital app I used to control fan speeds and I cant redownload it. Any alternative apps?
    You'll get better gpu support from Afterburner, but if you have a weird chipset or an incompatible fan controller, good old SpeedFan still has a few tricks. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • SSD and HDD usage goes to 100% for the simplest processes
    Check disk health with speedfan from http://almico.com/speedfan.php. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Computer Software for me :)
    Speedfan Freeware gives you some info about your temps, but its mostly used to set up your custom fan control, such as increasing rpm of your front intake fans when temp of GPU and/or CPU reaches a certain point and much more, how much you can do with it depends on the fan controller chip that is used on your mainboard, so you mileage may vary. Source: almost 4 years ago

HeavyLoad mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of HeavyLoad yet. Tracking of HeavyLoad recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing SpeedFan and HeavyLoad, you can also consider the following products

Open Hardware Monitor - Monitors temperature sensors, fan speeds, voltages, load and clock speeds, with optional graph.

Prime95 - Prime95 is a program that searches for new Mersenne prime numbers.

iStat Menus - "An advanced Mac system monitor for your menubar."

CPU Frequency Selector - Cinnamon CPU Frequency Selector Applet

Argus Monitor - Argus Monitor is for monitoring and analyzing the temperature and the health status of the hardware parts of the system.

System Stability Tester - System Stability Tester - Test your system's stability and performance by calculating millions of digits of Pi.