HWMonitor vs NZXT CAM

HWMonitor reads PC system-health sensors, including temperatures, voltages, power, current, fan speed, utilization, and clock speeds. It covers CPUs and GPUs, supported LPCIO chips, memory modules with thermal sensors, S.M.A.R.T. storage devices, and batteries. The listed Windows release is version 1.68 for x86/x64, available as an installer or ZIP download, and CPUID lists a separate Windows ARM64 download. Version 1.68 adds PCI Express error counters for AMD and Intel GPUs, NPU and platform metrics, HDD IOPS and average latency, and saved device and sensor tree state. CSV logging is listed as a feature. The free HWMonitor plan monitors PC hardware sensors on Windows x86/x64. HWMonitor PRO adds remote monitoring over TCP/IP, saved monitoring data, and bitmap logging graphs. Its Android app reports device temperatures and battery details, plus CPU clock and utilization and, on supported devices, GPU clock. Android remote connections require local Wi-Fi, and the app can monitor up to 10 Windows PCs or Android devices.

NZXT CAM is free Windows software for monitoring PCs and controlling compatible NZXT hardware. It displays real-time CPU, GPU, memory, and storage readings, temperature graphs, and utilization; Mini mode docks a compact monitoring overlay on the desktop. For Kraken LCDs, CAM can show uploaded GIFs and images, live temperature or load readings, a built-in visualizer, and preset or user-provided webpages. Developers can build Kraken web integrations with HTML, CSS, or JavaScript and access CAM monitoring data through its API. Depending on the device, CAM can control NZXT fans, RGB lighting, Kraken LCDs, and other supported products. Monitoring works without NZXT hardware, but fan-speed changes require an NZXT fan controller. CAM supports Windows 10 and Windows 11; Windows 7 and 8.1 are no longer supported, and NZXT says it has no plans for macOS or Linux versions. When online, CAM sends anonymized usage and performance data, which users can turn off in settings. NZXT's privacy policy says CAM may collect system configuration, component details, installed games and applications, and software usage metrics. No account is required.