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Run which diagnostic program on newly built system?

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Kanoobie   10-24-2006 at 09:34:08 AM

I have been reading about people running memory tests and checking the temperature of their CPU's soon after building them.

I am not sure if these diagnostic programs are used exclusively in overclocking, but I think running a few of these programs to just check system stability would be a good idea.

Which diagnostic programs, if any, would you recommend I run once I build my computer? :?
(Note: I plan to overclock eventually, but I am considering running diagnostics on a system at stock speeds.)

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loveamd   10-24-2006 at 10:27:57 AM
- 0 +

Hi Kanoobie,

For starters I'd run Burnmax that'll test your CPU's
I'd also run Bitpro. An all over test.
I'd also run 3DMark 2006 to test the graphic card under stress.
And of course memtest86 to test your memory.

Hope this is what you were looking for. Good luck

Reply to loveamd
lunyone   10-24-2006 at 11:09:40 AM
- 0 +

Quote :

I have been reading about people running memory tests and checking the temperature of their CPU's soon after building them.

I am not sure if these diagnostic programs are used exclusively in overclocking, but I think running a few of these programs to just check system stability would be a good idea.

Which diagnostic programs, if any, would you recommend I run once I build my computer? :?
(Note: I plan to overclock eventually, but I am considering running diagnostics on a system at stock speeds.)



I was just going to ask the same question. I have built a new system last week and there is some lockup issues during game play, so I was going to try and find some software programs to narrow down the cause of it.

Reply to lunyone
raytracer06   10-24-2006 at 11:31:33 AM
- 0 +

even before I install windows, at the first boot of the PC, I stay in the bios a few minutes to check the hardware monitor, just to make sure nothing will overheat while installing windows

Checking RAM can be done before installing windows, with a DOS utility on a floppy/USB drive (memtest86)

if there is no temp/voltage/memory problem I can install windows

Once windows is up and running I install a hardware monitoring tool like Asus Probe, to be sure that temperatures and voltages are still correct.

Once I'm sure everything is OK when the computer is idle, i start running a memory test then burn tests / benchmarks. (always keep an eye on temps/voltages during burns)

Reply to raytracer06
Kanoobie   10-24-2006 at 11:32:45 AM
- 0 +

Quote :

Hi Kanoobie,

For starters I'd run Burnmax that'll test your CPU's
I'd also run Bitpro. An all over test.
I'd also run 3DMark 2006 to test the graphic card under stress.
And of course memtest86 to test your memory.

Hope this is what you were looking for. Good luck



Thanks loveamd, I'll look into those programs tomorrow. Now its time to sleep. :mrgreen:

Reply to Kanoobie
Kanoobie   10-24-2006 at 05:15:30 PM
- 0 +

Quote :

even before I install windows, at the first boot of the PC, I stay in the bios a few minutes to check the hardware monitor, just to make sure nothing will overheat while installing windows

Checking RAM can be done before installing windows, with a DOS utility on a floppy/USB drive (memtest86)

if there is no temp/voltage/memory problem I can install windows

Once windows is up and running I install a hardware monitoring tool like Asus Probe, to be sure that temperatures and voltages are still correct.

Once I'm sure everything is OK when the computer is idle, i start running a memory test then burn tests / benchmarks. (always keep an eye on temps/voltages during burns)



Thanks raytracer06 for giving a detailed procedure of the order in which I should run those tests. This is the kind of detailed information I was looking for.

When I was reading the forums I came across one person mentioning a site which has free useful utility files to download. I am putting a disclaimer here that I have not tried downloading from this site yet, so use this site at your own risk. http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

The site claims that you can run memtest86 from a bootable CD.

Reply to Kanoobie
lunyone   10-25-2006 at 01:07:29 AM
- 0 +

I made a bootable cd for just that. You have to use your burning software to create it (ISO file is needed). I can't remember where I downloaded it (I think I just googled memtest86). Some systems require you to select your boot up sequence, in order to get the system to look at the cd first. So keep that in mind, because I booted twice before I remembered to modify the boot up sequence :)

Reply to lunyone
raytracer06   10-25-2006 at 06:48:40 AM
- 0 +

On some systems it is possible to override the normal boot sequence by hitting a key during boot. you can then choose the boot device manually

On my Asus mobo, it is Esc. I think it is F11 on Asrock boards.

And yes, Memtest exists in ISO. see www.memtest.org

Reply to raytracer06
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