Quickly Inspect Linux Hardware with HardInfo

When a Linux computer encounters problems, checking its hardware details is often the first step. The HardInfo application provides a simple graphical way to display all hardware information without opening the case.

Installing HardInfo

You can install HardInfo from your distribution's software center or package manager. In Ubuntu it appears as System Profiler and Benchmark. The quickest method is via the terminal:

$ sudo apt install hardinfo

Overview Page

After launching, HardInfo shows a Computer → Summary page with the most important system data. Key items listed include:

Operating System – Linux distribution and version

CPU – model, speed (GHz), core count, thread count

RAM – total available memory (KB)

Motherboard – model and chipset

Graphics – GPU brand, model, and current resolution

Storage – all detected storage devices

Printers and Audio – connected printers and audio subsystems

Detailed Operating System Information

Select the “Operating System” section on the left pane to see more details, such as the kernel name and version, and the computer name used on the local network.

CPU and Memory Details

Navigate to Devices → Processor to view overall CPU speed, per‑core speeds, and cache size. The “Memory” section shows total installed RAM, available RAM, and per‑process memory usage. If swap is active, the “SwapTotal” field shows the amount of virtual memory provided by the OS.

GPU, Storage, and Network Details

Choose “PCI Devices” to inspect the graphics card (listed as “VGA compatible controller”) and view its model and onboard memory. The “Storage” section lists each storage device and its controller, while the “Network” section displays all network interfaces, their IP addresses, and data transfer statistics.

Benchmarks

HardInfo includes a set of benchmarks under the “Benchmarks” tab, primarily testing CPU performance for various tasks and a basic GPU drawing test that gives a rough speed estimate.

Generating a Report

To keep a record of the hardware information, click the “Generate Report” button on the main toolbar. It is recommended to enable all options, save the report to a safe location (e.g., a USB drive), and refer to it when troubleshooting hardware‑related issues.

Typical use cases include stress‑testing the GPU when a monitor shows artifacts, or running storage benchmarks if the system feels slow.