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| Thread ID: 111841 | 2010-08-14 00:20:00 | Hardware diagnostic tools | smithinator (15240) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1127492 | 2010-08-14 00:20:00 | Hi, i need the names of some free programs that tests hardware in a computer and makes sure they are working correctly, e.g. a program to test if a CPU and its cores are running as they should be, or a program to test the graphics card, also i need a program that measures real time temperatures, if anyone knows of a sidebar gadget that measures this let me know. :thanks P.s Quick question what is the max temp a core i7 860 can go up to without damage? it has a stock cooler. |
smithinator (15240) | ||
| 1127493 | 2010-08-14 01:16:00 | The Passmark Software (http://www.passmark.com/) works well, it can stress the system. Just found testMyHardware (www.testmyhardware.com) - Never used it, so no idea if its any good or not. As for Gadgets -- ???????? |
wainuitech (129) | ||
| 1127494 | 2010-08-14 01:17:00 | I doubt there's anything free to test everything, it would have to come with something hardware based | Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 1127495 | 2010-08-14 01:26:00 | would these programs find if something is not working correctly? | smithinator (15240) | ||
| 1127496 | 2010-08-14 01:36:00 | The passmark software does test everything - it is free for 30 days, so if you wanted to test a New PC, or just your own then 30 days is more than enough time. would these programs find if something is not working correctly? yes. Just about to have a play with the other one I posted. Edited: OK TestMyHardWare is actually a program that gives you information about the hardware, NOT actually testing it. Passmark does though - used it for several years. |
wainuitech (129) | ||
| 1127497 | 2010-08-14 01:44:00 | Thanks very much ill give it a go, let me know how the other program works out. | smithinator (15240) | ||
| 1127498 | 2010-08-14 04:31:00 | If it isn't having a problem it's fine. If it is, it's fairly easy to diagnose. Memtest or MS RAM Diag to test for RAM errors. 3DMark will stress the GPU and show any issues with 3D, 2D is obvious - you don't need to run anything except WIndows to find that out. CPUs - in all the time I've been doing PCs - I've only ever come across 2 faulty CPUs, the first the guy had replaced the HSF and forgot to plug the fan in - really exciting screens after 2 days of that...the other I couldn't prove the guy fried it. PSUs are easy. HDDs, manufascturers test software if something slightly dodgy - or its making nasty noises. Which leaves the board. Which it is when it's not the rest. |
pctek (84) | ||
| 1127499 | 2010-08-14 05:38:00 | I use Memtest86+ for RAM - which can also show up problems with board or CPU (the ones with integrated memory controllers) But it won't tell you which one, you have to swap parts and find out for yourself. HDAT2 is great for HDDs, I prefer to use that first, and the manufacturer's tool second. It shows all SMART attributes, and in a sensible human-readable format too (unlike most manufacturer's tools which just say "SMART Failed" or give some cryptic error code you then have to look up on the website) Furmark is good for 3D stress testing on video cards, quicker to load than 3Dmark and much smaller (and does a more stressful test as well) I've only come across 1 CPU that was actually faulty (as opposed to completely dead), a Celeron where I think part of the die had cracked. Took me ages to figure it out, I was getting beep errors and symptoms that all looked like a faulty motherboard\RAM... finally swapped the CPU because it was the only thing left to try, worked perfect after that. For PSUs you can easily see if they are stuffed (PC won't start, PSU emits smoke, or bloated capacitors inside) - but a decent load tester and oscilloscope is needed if you want to find out if the output is noisy etc or not. Also, never underestimate the power\reset buttons. They are very simple things but if they go faulty and you don't check them, you may go insane trying to figure out a problem. Same goes for BIOS batteries. Sometimes when those go flat, you will get some very very weird sh1t going on. |
Agent_24 (57) | ||
| 1127500 | 2010-08-14 23:10:00 | thanks very much for all of your replies, nothing as of yet is going wrong but someone mentioned to me certain programs are good to run when you first start up to make sure everything is working correctly but he never mentioned the names of the software so i thought id better ask. | smithinator (15240) | ||
| 1127501 | 2010-08-15 00:47:00 | You'll soon know if something isn't working. You don't need software or hardware to tell you. It'll either work or it wont :p Some mobo cd's come with their own programs. But some of them can either slow the system down, or crash it. So, there's no point in installing them anyway | Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
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