benchmarks

In basic computer lingo it means identifying/measuring your various computer components power. Graphics cards are a popular example of a piece of hardware often benchmarked. You can enhance you computers score and performance also by overclocking your system. Or getting a friend who's a techie to overclock it for you.

I benchmarked my new ATI Radeon 9800 XT and it's score was awe inspiring. I then realized I'd overclocked it way too high and damaged my new $300 piece of hardware.