FIRST STEP
What it is. The checklist to go through before the first start of HYDRA: which hardware HYDRA supports, which Windows and BIOS settings it expects, and how to prepare the drivers.
Why use it. HYDRA works directly with the processor, memory and graphics card. When the PC meets these requirements, scans and profiles give correct results and you avoid the most common start-up problems.
Windows 10 · 11 x64
Hardware desktop PCs only
Updated 30 Oct 2026
Supported hardware
HYDRA supports desktop hardware only. Laptop processors and laptop graphics are not supported.
| Part | Supported | Not supported |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | AMD Ryzen desktop processors and APUs on Zen 3, Zen 4 and Zen 5 | Laptop processors; Zen 2 and older |
| NVIDIA graphics | Desktop GeForce RTX 2000 series and newer: RTX 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000 | Laptop GPUs; GTX and older |
| AMD graphics | Desktop Radeon RX 6000 series and newer: RX 6000, 7000, 9000 | Laptop GPUs; RX 5000 and older |
| Memory | DDR4 and DDR5 desktop modules | Laptop modules (SO-DIMM) |
NoteSome features need a newer generation, for example NVIDIA XOC UNLOCK or NVIDIA TENSOR UNLOCK. Each page says which cards it supports.
Windows
- Windows 10 or Windows 11, 64-bit.
- Run HYDRA as administrator.
- Keep all CPU cores and SMT (simultaneous multithreading) enabled.
- Install the latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (x64). Without it, monitoring and HYDRA's own processes do not work.
BIOS / UEFI
- Enable CPPC, CPPC Preferred Cores, Core Performance Boost and Cool & Quiet. HYDRA uses CPPC to rank the cores.
- Leave CPU LLC (Load-Line Calibration) on Auto.
- The BIOS, chipset driver and graphics driver versions do not matter, but newer versions are recommended.
Graphics driver
Install the graphics driver cleanly: remove the old one with Display Driver Uninstaller, then install the new one.
Before a SCAN
- Make sure your memory is stable before you run a CPU diagnostic.
- Do not work, watch videos or play games while a diagnostic runs.
- Close third-party monitoring tools. They can change the sensor readings HYDRA relies on.
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