ClawHammer review
A free Windows tool for CPU and memory stress runs with sensor monitoring and CSV logs.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
ClawHammer is a free Windows desktop application for stressing a PC's CPU and memory. Its built-in workloads cover floating-point, integer, AVX, mixed, blend, integer-heavy, and memory-bandwidth tests, while a plugin manager and online catalog allow additional workloads. It is aimed at solo users who want workload variety and visibility into system behavior during a test, rather than a broader PC diagnostic suite.
Monitoring and control are central to the tool. ClawHammer reads hardware temperatures, clocks, voltages, and throttling, and can automatically stop a run when temperature or throttling thresholds are reached. Users can schedule timed runs and set core affinity. CSV telemetry logging and temperature plotting help preserve and review run data. The validation monitor reports per-thread status and checks CPU and memory workload results. LibreHardwareMonitor is the listed integration for sensor readings.
The tradeoff is its narrow scope: the published workloads focus on CPU and memory, not GPU stress testing, so it is not a fit for validating graphics cards or a complete system-testing workflow. The public repository specifies Windows 10/11 and requires the .NET 10 Desktop Runtime, which makes platform and runtime compatibility worth checking before installation. ClawHammer suits Windows users seeking free, configurable CPU and memory testing with telemetry and threshold-based stopping; users needing GPU coverage or support beyond Windows should choose another tool.
ClawHammer pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Offers built-in CPU and memory workloads, including AVX and bandwidth tests
- Can stop runs at temperature or throttling thresholds
- Logs telemetry to CSV and plots temperatures
- Where it doesn't
- Windows-only, with no GPU stress testing
- Requires Windows 10/11 and the .NET 10 Desktop Runtime
- Plugin catalog and hardware readings add setup choices to a focused tool
ClawHammer fact sheet, pricing and score →
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