Iolo System Mechanic 11

If your PC isn't blazing along at the same speed as it did when you first lifted it from its box, you'd do well to invest in Iolo System Mechanic 11 . The multi-faceted utility suite turns back the clock on worn machines by repairing the registry, defragging the hard drive, and eliminating files that stymie snappy performance. Iolo System Mechanic 11 serves up a host of new features not present in previous builds we've reviewed, including AcceleWrite, which optimizes file organization by minimizing random data writing to HDDs and SSDs, and Windows 8 compatibility. All in all, Iolo System Mechanic remains one of the best PC tune-up utilities around, and the PCMag.com Editors' Choice among paid tuneup apps, as it digs deep, cleans up PCs well, and offers informative, easy-to-understand help about the problems that plague computers.

Set Up and Interface
Iolo System Mechanic 11 is compatible with all PCs running Windows XP and higher, including Microsoft's upcoming Windows 8. Unlike most PC tune-up utilities, such as PC Tools Performance Toolkit , which limit you to three licenses, Iolo System Mechanic 11 lets you install the software on any number of computers provided that it's not for business purposes. This is a welcome feature in the age of the multi-PC household.

The interface looks very similar to that of Iolo System Mechanic 10 with its familiar red-white-and-blue color scheme. Like the previous version of System Mechanic, this version has several options in the left pane (Dashboard, ActiveCare, Internet Security, Toolbox, Reports) that have their own individual tool sub-categories that let you run specific apps.

Iolo System Mechanic 11 also installs a useful widget on the desktop that gives you at-a-glance PC health and security readings. From this widget, you can run a system scan to determine your computer's health, or launch any number of Iolo System Mechanic 11's features to begin the clean up process.

The Clean Up Process
The Overview screen opens by default when the program is launched, and it's where the "Analyze Now" button lives. Clicking the arrow next to it opened drop-down box that presented two choices: "Perform Quick Analysis" and "Perform Deep Analysis." The former is a one- to two-minute scan that looks for the most common PC problems; the latter is a five- to seven-minute scan that checks for all problems. Considering the heavy use that our test laptop had received, I went with the second option. Approximately six minutes later it finished the scan and uncovered numerous problems on my testbed.

Beneath the reading appeared a highlighted message: "Boost speed and stability by removing redundant programs with CRUDD Remover." CRUDD is Iolo's acronym for Commonly Redundant or Unnecessary Decelerators and Destabilizers?fancy talk for duplicate programs that clog your system. The idea behind CRUDD Remover is to eliminate those extra programs as each application install theoretically slows your PC's performance a bit. After running CRUDD Remover, 9 problems were detected on the PC, which were explained in simple detail on the "Problems" screen.

What I found truly cool was that Iolo System Mechanic 11 didn't just serve up a number?it provided blurbs that explained why these problems negatively impact performance. I checked off all nine problems, clicked the "Repair All" button, and performed the required reboot. Performing another deep scan revealed that the problems were addressed.

I ran Iolo's Program Accelerator, which smartly re-aligns all of a program's dependent files on the hard drive. It's touted as being better than disk defragmenters, which can blindly compact and separate files even more. Program Accelerator took approximately 15 minutes to work its magic, and, when it was done, I discovered that it had re-aligned over 20,000 files and eliminated nearly 100 file fragments. Four further files were defragmented after a restart. There are also a ton of other tools backed into the suite such as AcceleWrite (a new real-time feature that helps organize the way data is written to the PC's HDD or SSD) , and IntelliStatus (which displays RAM and hard drive information and serves up cleaning tools).

Performance Improvements
I tested Iolo System Mechanic 11's ability to whip a PC back into shape by performing two tests?running the Geekbench system performance tool and measuring boot times?before and after running the software to compare the computer's potency. Each test was run three times and averaged. Before Iolo scrubbed the system, the 2-GHz Intel Core i7 X990 Style-Note notebook with 4GB of RAM, and an 80GB Intel SSD drive achieved a 5,914 Geekbench score, and booted in 50.2 seconds.

After I used Iolo System Mechanic 11, I saw much-improved system performance: The GeekBench score rose to 6,452, and the boot time decreased to just 37.1 seconds. Both scores represent the best post-cleanup measurements. Check out the chart below to see how Iolo System Mechanic 11 fared against the competition.

After running the tests, I also used the computer extensively to get a sense of how the app changes the machine's responsiveness.? Iolo System Mechanic 11 delivered a noticeable performance improvement?of special note, iTunes and Steam opened faster in the fresh environment.

Should You Use Iolo System Mechanic 11?
The answer is a resounding yes. Iolo System Mechanic 11 has simple interface, easy-to-understand problem definitions, and a deep array of performance-enhancing tools that produce excellent all-around scores. Plus, unlike suites such as PC Tools Tuneup Utilities, one subscription can be installed on any number of computers. Iolo System Mechanic remains the Editors' Choice among paid tune up utilities.

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