Benchmarking program(s)

[Muse]

In a couple of days I'm going to swap out my MB for a new one and I want to run benchmarks on the system as it is and the rebuilt system. I'm also going to change the DDR, swapping out my 1 GB PC2700 for 2 GB of PC3200 in a week or so (when it comes).

What is/are some good benchmarking programs I can run to get an idea of how the system as it is matches up against the system as it will be when I rebuild it? TIA.

 

[Iron Woode]

you could start with PCmark2005

http://www.futuremark.com/prod.../pcmark05/?hash=835983

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Iron Woode
you could start with PCmark2005

http://www.futuremark.com/prod.../pcmark05/?hash=835983

Thanks. That's exactly what I'm going to do and do benchmarks on this system right now!

 

[Muse]

I downloaded and installed PCMark2005 (quite a bit of hassle), and the readme indicates that the free version is extremely limited in what it will tell you. They angle to get you to pay $20 for a more powerful version or more for the "professional" version.

Isn't there a freeware program that will let me benchmark my systems adequately?

 

[lxskllr]

I like 3DMark06, and SysoftSandra's benchmark routines. It really doesn't have to be complete since you're just comparing systems. Between those 2 apps, you should have everything covered for a good comparison.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
I like 3DMark06, and SysoftSandra's benchmark routines. It really doesn't have to be complete since you're just comparing systems. Between those 2 apps, you should have everything covered for a good comparison.

Thanks. I'm downloading 3DMark06 Basic Edition right now. 580 MB! Amazing!

 

[law9933]

This tests your PC & will compare it to others. You could then compare the two. Plus learn a lot more about the PC.

http://www.pcpitstop.com/pcpitstop/default.asp full system test

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
I like 3DMark06, and SysoftSandra's benchmark routines. It really doesn't have to be complete since you're just comparing systems. Between those 2 apps, you should have everything covered for a good comparison.

Once you have things set up (SysoftSandra wanted me to have Java Runtime 6 or higher installed and .NET Frameworks 2.0 and 3.0), how long do these programs take to run? I haven't checked out 3DMark06 yet, although I have downloaded the 593 MB installation file.

.NET 2.0 framework is about 22 MB, but it takes a long time to install, at least on my PC, with the MB I'm going to replace in a few days.

 

[lxskllr]

They don't take long. 3DMark is maybe 5 minutes, and running the full set Sandra has is about 15 if I remember right.

3DMark isn't much fun to watch if you don't have a bleeding edge computer. It really hammers everything, so don't be discouraged if it looks like a slideshow. The system in my rig gets about 1fps in the cpu tests :^D

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
They don't take long. 3DMark is maybe 5 minutes, and running the full set Sandra has is about 15 if I remember right.

3DMark isn't much fun to watch if you don't have a bleeding edge computer. It really hammers everything, so don't be discouraged if it looks like a slideshow. The system in my rig gets about 1fps in the cpu tests :^D

Thanks. I'm nearly done setting things up. Installing .NET 3 FW right now. Will probably run the programs tomorrow morning. Rebuild system Wednesday and run the tests again after that. I've never really benchmarked my systems before, although I seem to remember doing some stuff with SysoftSandra. I've also run Everest Home Edition, freeware that gives a nice extensive report on your system configuration in HTML format, and others optionally, IIRC.

Edit: I see why the install is so slow. .NET FW 3.0 installation, when you run it, downloads what it needs.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
They don't take long. 3DMark is maybe 5 minutes, and running the full set Sandra has is about 15 if I remember right.

3DMark isn't much fun to watch if you don't have a bleeding edge computer. It really hammers everything, so don't be discouraged if it looks like a slideshow. The system in my rig gets about 1fps in the cpu tests :^D

I got all the recommended programs installed and enabled and the install of SS went OK, or so it seems. There's a lot there. When I go into the benchmarking, I see around 20 tests. Is there a way I can run a battery of tests "Full set," like you say? How do you do it? Do you run them one at a time? All of them?

 

[lxskllr]

I'm not sure if you can run all of the tests in series. I seem to remember just running individual tests. My main computer's down, so I can't check the layout and tell you exactly what I ran. In general though 3DMark will take care of the cpu and gfx, and Sandra would be good for the memory and HDs. I'm not a huge bencher, it can turn into a sickness if you get too involved in that LoL

 

[Timecop1967]

I second Everest Ultimate.......it is the most complete solution I've seen so far. Tells you everything you need to know.