Quick Answer
novabench-agent.exe is safe. It's NovaBench's official benchmarking agent that coordinates tests, collects performance data, and uploads results for analysis and comparison.
Is it a Virus?
C NO - Safe
Must be in C:\Program Files\NovaBench\novabench-agent.exe
Can I Disable?
C YES - You can disable the agent
Disabling stops future benchmarks and prevents scheduled tests from running
CPU/Resource Usage During Tests
Higher usage is expected during active benchmarks
During active benchmarks, the agent may briefly increase CPU usage to run tests
What is novabench-agent.exe?
novabench-agent.exe is the background agent for the NovaBench benchmarking suite. It coordinates and runs diagnostic tests, collects hardware performance data, and reports results to the NovaBench cloud or local reports. It can operate as a background service to support scheduled benchmarks and continuous performance monitoring.
NovaBench uses a modular, multi-process approach where the agent spawns worker tasks for CPU, GPU, memory, and storage tests. It collects metrics, timestamps results, and ensures test isolation so benchmarks don’t interfere with system stability.
Quick Fact: NovaBench introduced its agent-based architecture to run calibrated tests with minimal user interaction, enabling automated results collection and accurate hardware profiling.
Types of NovaBench Processes
- Benchmark Runner Process: Orchestrates test sequences (CPU, GPU, memory) in isolated workers
- Telemetry / Reporting Process: Uploads results to NovaBench cloud or saves locally
- Driver / Hardware Interaction: Interacts with system hardware through tested modules
- Scheduler Process: Schedules background benchmarks and test runs
- UI Communications: Communicates with NovaBench UI for prompts and results
Is novabench-agent.exe Safe?
Yes, novabench-agent.exe is safe when it's the official file from NovaBench installed from novabench.com or verified marketplaces. It should be signed by NovaBench.
Is novabench-agent.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real novabench-agent.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware may masquerade with similar names. Verify the signature shows "NovaBench" as the signer.
How to Tell if novabench-agent.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location:: Must be in
C:\Program Files\NovaBench\novabench-agent.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\NovaBench\novabench-agent.exe. Any other location is suspicious.
- Digital Signature:: Right-click the file in Windows Explorer -> Properties -> Digital Signatures. Should show signer "NovaBench" or "NovaBench LLC".
- Resource Usage:: During benchmarks CPU and memory usage are expected to spike temporarily; constant high usage outside tests is suspicious.
- Behavior:: NovaBench agent should run during benchmark runs or at scheduled times. Persistent background activity when NovaBench is not installed warrants investigation.
Red Flags: If novabench-agent.exe is located in unusual folders (like Temp or AppData) or runs when NovaBench isn't installed, lacks a valid signature, or consumes resources constantly, scan with antivirus. Beware of similarly named files.
Why Is novabench-agent.exe Running on My PC?
novabench-agent.exe runs benchmarks by coordinating the NovaBench app and may operate in the background to perform tests, collect performance data, and upload results.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Benchmark Run: A benchmarking session is in progress, so the agent orchestrates tests and reports metrics.
- Scheduled Benchmark Tasks: NovaBench tasks are scheduled to run automatically at specified times.
- Background Telemetry: The agent collects system metrics during tests for accurate results.
- Cloud Sync: Results are uploaded to the NovaBench cloud or synced locally depending on settings.
- Startup Service: The agent may be configured to start with Windows as a background service.
Can I Disable or Remove novabench-agent.exe?
Yes, you can disable the agent. You can stop it from running benchmarks and remove it if you no longer use NovaBench.
How to Stop novabench-agent.exe
- End Current Benchmark: In the NovaBench UI, stop the active benchmark session
- Close NovaBench UI: Exit the NovaBench application
- Disable Startup: Task Manager > Startup tab > Disable NovaBench
- Stop Service: Run services.msc, locate NovaBench Agent service, and Stop
- Uninstall NovaBench: Windows Settings > Apps > NovaBench > Uninstall
How to Uninstall NovaBench
- ✔ Windows Settings -> Apps -> Apps & Features -> NovaBench -> Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel -> Programs -> Uninstall a program -> NovaBench -> Uninstall
- ✔ Reboot your computer after uninstall
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If novabench-agent.exe is consuming excessive resources during a benchmark, try the following fixes specific to NovaBench.
Common Causes & Solutions
- Single Long Benchmark Run: Let the benchmark finish; if needed, run a shorter profile or pause tests mid-run
- Background Telemetry Enabled: Disable automatic telemetry in NovaBench settings
- Outdated NovaBench Version: Update to the latest NovaBench release from novabench.com
- High Test Resolution: Use lower quality or shorter benchmarks to reduce load
- System Resource Constraints: Close other resource-heavy apps or upgrade hardware
- Conflicting Software: Temporarily disable antivirus or other benchmarking tools that could conflict with NovaBench
Quick Fixes:
1. Quick Fixes:
2. 1. Open NovaBench Task Manager and identify the active test
3. 2. Stop the current benchmark or reduce test intensity
4. 3. Update NovaBench to the latest version
5. 4. Disable unnecessary background features like continuous telemetry
6. 5. Ensure other heavy apps are closed during testing
Frequently Asked Questions
Is novabench-agent.exe safe?
Yes, novabench-agent.exe is safe when sourced from the official NovaBench installer at novabench.com and signed by NovaBench. Verify the file path is correct to avoid spoofed files.
Why does novabench-agent.exe use so much CPU?
Novabench's agent runs benchmarks, so CPU usage can spike during tests. Use the NovaBench UI to monitor progress and avoid heavy multitasking during a run.
Can I uninstall NovaBench?
You can uninstall NovaBench via Windows Settings > Apps > NovaBench > Uninstall. Your local data may be removed unless you retain local profiles.
How do I view NovaBench results?
Yes. Open NovaBench UI, navigate to Results or Benchmark History to view test results. You can export reports from the UI as PDF or CSV.
How do I disable novabench-agent.exe?
Yes, you can disable or stop the agent from starting a benchmark by using the Stop button in the UI or stopping the NovaBench service in Services.msc.
Why is novabench-agent.exe running at startup?
If you want to avoid startup, disable the NovaBench startup entry in Task Manager. The agent is separate from Windows startup and can be stopped without uninstalling.