BenchmarkGUI.exe

BenchmarkGUI Desktop Benchmarking Tool

Application ProcessSafeBenchmark Utility

CPU Usage

2-12%

Memory

80-180 MB

Location

C:\Program Files\BenchmarkTools\BenchmarkGUI\BenchmarkGUI.exe

Publisher

Intel Corporation

Quick Answer

benchmarkgui-exe is safe. BenchmarkGUI is a legitimate desktop benchmarking tool that runs locally to orchestrate tests and collect performance data.

Is it a Virus?

YES

Must be in C:\Program Files\BenchmarkTools\BenchmarkGUI\BenchmarkGUI.exe

Can I Disable?

YES - You can disable BenchmarkGUI, but active benchmarks stop and results won’t refresh.

Disabling stops benchmarks and prevents result updates

What is BenchmarkGUI.exe?

benchmarkgui-exe is a desktop benchmarking application with a graphical interface that configures and runs standardized performance tests across CPU, memory, disk, and GPU workloads. It coordinates test plans, executes workloads, collects timing and resource data, and visualizes results.

Under the hood, benchmarkgui-exe launches a main UI process that spins up worker runners for each benchmark, aggregates metrics, and writes results to local logs for offline analysis.

Quick Fact: BenchmarkGUI supports preset profiles and export options to CSV/JSON for easy comparison across systems.

Types of BenchmarkGUI Processes

Main UI Process: User interface, controls, and result visualization
Benchmark Runner Process: Executes benchmark workloads and collects timing data
Data Logger Process: Saves results to disk and handles export routines

Is benchmarkgui-exe Safe?

Yes, benchmarkgui-exe is safe when downloaded from the official BenchmarkTools Intel partner portal or Intel official site.

Is benchmarkgui-exe a Virus or Malware?

The real benchmarkgui-exe is NOT a virus. However, malware can mimic names to trick users.

How to Tell if benchmarkgui-exe is Legitimate or Malware

File Location:: Must be in C:\Program Files\BenchmarkTools\BenchmarkGUI\BenchmarkGUI.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\BenchmarkTools\BenchmarkGUI\BenchmarkGUI.exe. Any other location is suspicious.
Digital Signature:: Right-click the file in Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show a valid signature from Intel Corporation.
Publisher Verification:: Open Properties → Details to verify the Publisher field matches Intel Corporation for the executable.
Integrity Check:: Compute SHA256 of C:\Program Files\BenchmarkTools\BenchmarkGUI\BenchmarkGUI.exe and compare with the official hash published by BenchmarkTools.

Red Flags: If benchmarkgui-exe is located outside the expected folder (like Temp or AppData), runs without launching from the UI, or lacks a valid digital signature, scan your system with a trusted antivirus. Beware of similarly-named files like "benchmarkgui.exe" from untrusted sources.

Why Is benchmarkgui-exe Running on My PC?

benchmarkgui-exe runs when you open BenchmarkGUI or when a queued benchmark is scheduled to execute in the background. It may also start worker processes to handle live data collection during tests.

Reasons it's running:

Active Benchmark Run: A benchmark is currently executing, using CPU and I/O resources.
Background Data Collection: Worker runners collect metrics continuously during tests and log results.
Scheduled or Auto-Started Benchmarks: Benchmarks are queued to run on a schedule or on system events.
UI Live Updates: The app updates dashboards and charts in real time as results arrive.
Telemetry or Result Sync: Optional telemetry or cloud export features may keep connections alive during runs.

Can I Disable or Remove benchmarkgui-exe?

Yes, you can disable benchmarkgui-exe. It's safe to close BenchmarkGUI when not in use, and you can uninstall it entirely if you don’t need its benchmarking capabilities.

How to Stop benchmarkgui-exe

End Current Benchmark: In UI, click Stop/Cancel to halt the active benchmark run.
Close BenchmarkGUI: Exit the application using the Close button or Alt+F4.
Disable Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → disable BenchmarkGUI.
Disable Background Data: In Settings, turn off data logging or telemetry.
Uninstall: Windows Settings → Apps → BenchmarkTools BenchmarkGUI → Uninstall

How to Uninstall BenchmarkGUI

✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → BenchmarkTools BenchmarkGUI → Uninstall
✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → BenchmarkTools BenchmarkGUI → Uninstall
✔ Consider using an alternative benchmarking tool if you do not need BenchmarkGUI

Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage

If benchmarkgui-exe is consuming excessive resources or failing to start benchmarks, try the following common problems and fixes.

Common Causes & Solutions

Too Many Concurrent Benchmarks: Limit the number of active benchmarks or adjust the preset to run fewer tests in parallel.
Disk I/O-Heavy Workloads: Temporarily disable disk-intensive benchmarks or run them with reduced data sizes.
Background Telemetry: Disable telemetry or cloud export in Settings to reduce network activity.
Outdated BenchmarkGUI: Update to the latest version from the official site.
Hardware Throttling: Improve cooling, reduce clock speeds, or enable power-saving profiles during benchmarking.
Misconfigured Presets: Reset to defaults and reconfigure tests with sensible defaults.

Quick Fixes:
1. Quick Fixes:
2. 1. Open BenchmarkGUI Task Manager (Shift+Esc) and identify heavy tests
3. 2. Reduce concurrency or number of worker processes
4. 3. Update to the latest version from the official site
5. 4. Disable unnecessary benchmarks or samples
6. 5. Ensure adequate cooling to prevent thermal throttling

Frequently Asked Questions

Is benchmarkgui-exe safe to run?

Yes, benchmarkgui-exe is safe to run when downloaded from the official BenchmarkTools site or Intel partner portal and verified with a valid signature.

Can I run benchmarks while gaming?

Yes. BenchmarkGUI can run while gaming, but benchmarks may experience interference due to GPU/CPU contention and background processes.

Where are benchmark results stored?

Results are saved by default to the user's Documents/BenchmarkGUI/Results folder. You can customize the path in Settings.

How do I export results to CSV or JSON?

From the BenchmarkGUI UI, use Export -> CSV or Export -> JSON to save results for external analysis.

Does benchmarkgui-exe require internet access?

BenchmarkGUI does not require internet access to run locally, unless you enable cloud sync or telemetry.

Can BenchmarkGUI benchmark laptops or desktops with integrated graphics?

Yes, BenchmarkGUI can benchmark laptops and desktops with integrated or discrete GPUs; results are recorded locally and can be exported.

Related Processes

perfmon.exe

Windows Performance Monitor utility used to analyze system performance.

wmic.exe

Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line tool for querying system information.