Comments on: Testing a newly build PC http://www.ghacks.net/2008/05/05/testing-a-newly-build-pc/ A technology blog covering software, mobile phones, gadgets, security, the Internet and other relevant areas. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:27:25 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Jojo http://www.ghacks.net/2008/05/05/testing-a-newly-build-pc/#comment-331267 Jojo Mon, 05 May 2008 20:37:16 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/?p=4008#comment-331267 I had months of grief when I built my new Abit IP35 Pro system starting last Sept. I went through multiple RMA's. Also ran Memtest but all checked out. Finally, a ram stick went dead (Corsair HDX 6400). I RMA'd both sticks of memory since they are dual channel. THe ram sticks were replaced with v2.1 modules (used to have v1.2). Since replacing the ram, I have had no problems at all. Moral: Clearly there was something wrong with the old ram. Running memtest did not catch the problem. Only the failure of the memory lead me to a solution. I had months of grief when I built my new Abit IP35 Pro system starting last Sept. I went through multiple RMA’s. Also ran Memtest but all checked out.

Finally, a ram stick went dead (Corsair HDX 6400). I RMA’d both sticks of memory since they are dual channel. THe ram sticks were replaced with v2.1 modules (used to have v1.2). Since replacing the ram, I have had no problems at all.

Moral: Clearly there was something wrong with the old ram. Running memtest did not catch the problem. Only the failure of the memory lead me to a solution.

]]> By: Rarst http://www.ghacks.net/2008/05/05/testing-a-newly-build-pc/#comment-330843 Rarst Mon, 05 May 2008 17:00:00 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/?p=4008#comment-330843 "Another good way of doing it is to recode a movie from DVD to AVI or AVI to DVD. It will stress the CPU, harddisks, and RAM in a real-world scenario." Real world scenario is not a test. It isn't one and it can't replace one. Purpose of dedicated testing software is to test 100% of component under heavy load to make sure it really works. No real world scenario uses 100% of anything in computer. “Another good way of doing it is to recode a movie from DVD to AVI or AVI to DVD. It will stress the CPU, harddisks, and RAM in a real-world scenario.”

Real world scenario is not a test. It isn’t one and it can’t replace one.

Purpose of dedicated testing software is to test 100% of component under heavy load to make sure it really works. No real world scenario uses 100% of anything in computer.

]]> By: Beecher Bowers http://www.ghacks.net/2008/05/05/testing-a-newly-build-pc/#comment-330707 Beecher Bowers Mon, 05 May 2008 15:51:45 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/?p=4008#comment-330707 Another good way of doing it is to recode a movie from DVD to AVI or AVI to DVD. It will stress the CPU, harddisks, and RAM in a real-world scenario. Another good way of doing it is to recode a movie from DVD to AVI or AVI to DVD. It will stress the CPU, harddisks, and RAM in a real-world scenario.

]]> By: Rarst http://www.ghacks.net/2008/05/05/testing-a-newly-build-pc/#comment-330079 Rarst Mon, 05 May 2008 11:01:44 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/?p=4008#comment-330079 memtest86+ ( http://www.memtest.org/ ) is kinda fork of original memtest. We used both at work and my thoughts that + one handles more hardware (especially after recent updates to v2). S&M is very good CPU stress test, it doesn't really have home page (just google it) and is mostly known to russian-speaking crowd. MHDD - great for drive surface testing (again - google it). Must be carfeully used it has functions to mess alot of drive stuff. :) Passmark burning test (trial, shareware, http://www.passmark.com/ ) is complete suit for stress testing. It tests pretty much any component separately or in any combination. Very slim (~10Mb unpacked), very nice video testing module, highly configurable... It's not freeware but it is pretty much ultimate program if you need to test numerous computers. PS live cds are overkill for testing purposes. Pre-made ones are often outdated or illegal (or both) and making and managing your own is very time-consuming (been there). Since core programs either fit on flopppy or in the corner of flash drive - not worth effort. memtest86+ ( http://www.memtest.org/ ) is kinda fork of original memtest. We used both at work and my thoughts that + one handles more hardware (especially after recent updates to v2).

S&M is very good CPU stress test, it doesn’t really have home page (just google it) and is mostly known to russian-speaking crowd.

MHDD – great for drive surface testing (again – google it). Must be carfeully used it has functions to mess alot of drive stuff. :)

Passmark burning test (trial, shareware, http://www.passmark.com/ ) is complete suit for stress testing. It tests pretty much any component separately or in any combination. Very slim (~10Mb unpacked), very nice video testing module, highly configurable… It’s not freeware but it is pretty much ultimate program if you need to test numerous computers.

PS live cds are overkill for testing purposes. Pre-made ones are often outdated or illegal (or both) and making and managing your own is very time-consuming (been there). Since core programs either fit on flopppy or in the corner of flash drive – not worth effort.

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