CPU and Memory- Burn-In- Recommend?

  • Thread starter Thread starter QZ
  • Start date Start date
Q

QZ

What are the latest recommended programs for burn-in testing of CPUs and
RAM?
I will be running them at stock speeds.

Thanks,
QZ
 
What are the latest recommended programs for burn-in testing of CPUs and
RAM?
I will be running them at stock speeds.
Click to expand...

On a new machine I run memtest86+ www.memtest.org first for a couple of
hours, then the hard drive mfr's full scan. Both of those run without an
OS installed of course. That gives enough confidence to install the OS
after which I run Prime95's Torture Test www.mersenne.org.
 
QZ said:
What are the latest recommended programs for burn-in testing
of CPUs and RAM? I will be running them at stock speeds.
Click to expand...

Perhaps I shouldn't toot my own horn, but I _progressively_
validate the system by testing outwards from proven components:

1) Test CPU, cooling, PSU & mobo PS with `burnK7` 30min
2) Test L1 with `burnMMX F` 15min - optional
3) Test L2 with `burnMMX H` 15min - optional
4) Test Northbridge, RAM busses & 3.3V PSU with `burnMMX P` 6hr
5) Test RAM cells with `memtest86` 16hr
6) Test HD (& 5V PSU) with looping md5sums 8hr

Obviously any early failure stops the series. Failure
isolation is important, and one reason I leave `cpuburn`
as a collection of pesky small pgms.

-- Robert author `cpuburn` http://pages.sbcglobal.net/redelm
 
George Macdonald said:
On a new machine I run memtest86+ www.memtest.org first for a couple of
hours, then the hard drive mfr's full scan. Both of those run without an
OS installed of course. That gives enough confidence to install the OS
after which I run Prime95's Torture Test www.mersenne.org.
Click to expand...

Well, I am using an existing HDD, so that part is optional.

As far as memtest86+ is concerned, last year, I couldn't get it to run.
IIRC, it runs from a floppy. So, I used memtest+ instead. But, I would like
advice on memtest86+.

And I used Prime95.
 
Robert Redelmeier said:
Perhaps I shouldn't toot my own horn, but I _progressively_
validate the system by testing outwards from proven components:

1) Test CPU, cooling, PSU & mobo PS with `burnK7` 30min
2) Test L1 with `burnMMX F` 15min - optional
3) Test L2 with `burnMMX H` 15min - optional
4) Test Northbridge, RAM busses & 3.3V PSU with `burnMMX P` 6hr
5) Test RAM cells with `memtest86` 16hr
6) Test HD (& 5V PSU) with looping md5sums 8hr

Obviously any early failure stops the series. Failure
isolation is important, and one reason I leave `cpuburn`
as a collection of pesky small pgms.
Click to expand...

I guess since the HDD test is last, these are all tested w/o WinXP
installed?
This just a Celeron D CPU; is burnK7 still recommended?
 
Well, I am using an existing HDD, so that part is optional.
Click to expand...

Does a chkdsk show any bad sectors?
As far as memtest86+ is concerned, last year, I couldn't get it to run.
IIRC, it runs from a floppy. So, I used memtest+ instead. But, I would like
advice on memtest86+.
Click to expand...

Memtest86+ has run fine for me on recent systems - sometimes it takes them
a couple of goes to get a new memory controller/chipset just right. You can
run it from a floppy, a USB memory key or a CD-R.
 
George Macdonald said:
Does a chkdsk show any bad sectors?
Click to expand...

How do you recommend checking the HDD in WinME?
It appears chkdsk only works in WinXP, which they won't have installed until
the new parts are installed.
It is an IBM Deskstar, I think they are Hitachi now, if they have a utility
would it work?
I guess it is a good idea to check the HDD and CD-ROM, (the latter is only
used for installs), so I could get replacements at the same time, if
necessary.
For CD-ROM (read only) testing, I would assume to just open files from
install CDs.

Thanks,
QZ
 
from the wonderful said:
How do you recommend checking the HDD in WinME?
It appears chkdsk only works in WinXP, which they won't have installed until
the new parts are installed.
Click to expand...

You run 'scan disc' instead.
It is an IBM Deskstar, I think they are Hitachi now, if they have a utility
would it work?
Click to expand...

Yes, but only if the drive is attached to an IDE channel which is one of
the two main one on the motherboard. If the drive is on a Promise
(etc.) RAID controller card (or secondary controller on the
motherboard), or (last time I looked) SATA controller, the
IBM^H^H^HHitachi utility won't be any use.

<snip>
 
How do you recommend checking the HDD in WinME?
It appears chkdsk only works in WinXP, which they won't have installed until
the new parts are installed.
Click to expand...

I've never used WinME but I'd have thought that chkdsk would still be in it
- it's been in every other M$ OS I've seen. Other than that does WinME not
have the ability to create a Startup Disk, like Win98SE, from which you
could run a Scandisk.
It is an IBM Deskstar, I think they are Hitachi now, if they have a utility
would it work?
Click to expand...

Yes, Hitachi inherited all the IBM utilities, such as DFT (Disk Fitness
Test) which you can download.
 
Back
Top