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How Can I Stress My Computer?

S

stevem326

Senior member
Okay, here's the situation. My PC is three years-old this month and I'd really like to replace it. However, for what I use it for it works perfectly. All I need it for is to surf the web and work on projects for school and work (Word, Excel, Powerpoint). I hardly do any gaming at all, but I've decided when I buy a new system that I'd like to get back into the gaming scene a little bit (used to do a lot of sim racing and sim flying).

Anyway, I run all sorts of utilities on my PC every week/month and it runs like a Swiss watch...defrag, check disk, registry cleaner, etc. My last PC was over 5 years-old when I got rid of it and it was still working fine and I have a feeling this one will last just as long at the rate I'm going.

I can't justify just going out and buying a new PC considering how well this one serves my needs. So, is there anything I can do to really stress the hardware to the point of breaking something. I don't mean dropping it out a window or anything. What I mean is are there programs or utilities I could run on it 24/7 that would put a major load on the HD, motherboard, video card, etc...to the point where something will fail? If I can succeed in getting some of the hardware components to die, I'll be able to justify a new PC purchase (at least in my mind anyway). I need something that will stress the hardware, not just the operating system (because I already know how to reformat my HD and reinstall the OS and software). Corrupting the OS won't do the trick...I can just rebuild that.

I know I'm a total nut case but this is the only way it will make sense to me to buy something new...thanks a lot for any suggestions that will help me stress my hardware to the breaking point. Oh, here are the specs to my 3 year-old system if that helps at all:

Intel P4 2.4 GHz CPU
512 MB value RAM
80 GB WD HD
nVidia GEForce 4 MX440 video card
MSI 845-E MoBo
On board sound
DVD/RW and CD/RW


 
whats the matter with you?

just buy a new system and donate that worthy machine to charity.

breaking perfectly good hardware is shameful.
 
It's surprisingly hard to damage something through software, as thngs will shut off if they get too hot or w/e.

You'll probably have to do something physically, such as 'accidentally' spill a drink in it or something.

And yes, you are a total nutcase.
 
why the hell would u damage it. are you stupid? or is your mother not letting u buy one unless yours is brokyn? donate it to a church. or red cross or something.
 
Spend the money on therapy instead of a new PC?

As said above, sell or donate your PC. What you're asking for is no different than reaching for a hammer and going smashy smashy.
 
Man, you guys are too funny...

There actually is somebody here at work who will buy it from me for $150...so that's probably the way to go.

I appreciate everyone confirming that I'm a total loon though :roll:
 
Originally posted by: stevem326
Man, you guys are too funny...

There actually is somebody here at work who will buy it from me for $150...so that's probably the way to go.

I appreciate everyone confirming that I'm a total loon though :roll:
Click to expand...

i think i need the pc more than your friend at work. i'm on a 200mhz p2 with 64mb of ram. 🙁 i'll happily pay for the shipping.

the sytem in my rig is just my friend's.

 
Originally posted by: stevem326
Man, you guys are too funny...

There actually is somebody here at work who will buy it from me for $150...so that's probably the way to go.

I appreciate everyone confirming that I'm a total loon though :roll:
Click to expand...

You forgot nutcase, stupid, and idiot.
 
No! sell it for more than $150!! Its not a bad system.

Also if you wanna break it, go into the bios and if you can ramp up the CPU voltage to max, hit enter and then just go run prime or somthing, or simply leave your comp on. Or put the FSB up to max and see what happens. In fact find any setting that says "WARNING!! THIS COULD SERIOULSY DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH OR HARDWARE!!" and screw with it.

If that all fails, then you will have one really hard time breaking it through windows. Starforce apparently wrecks hardware but thats only in rare niche cases.

Open the case and hold a brick over the motherboard, eventually you will drop this brick because you cant hold it up any longer and it falls. Oh dear! i accidentally dropped this brick i was holding up on my comp... oh dear... oh well.. ill go buy a new one!
 
So, if I decide to sell this system what would be a fair price? A local shop that sells used PC's said they would sell it for $300 and I would get half of that...so maybe $200-$300 is a fair price to sell it to my friend at work? Here are the specs again (and it's 3 yrs-old next month):

Intel P4 2.4 GHz CPU
512 MB value RAM
80 GB WD HD
nVidia GEForce 4 MX440 video card
MSI 845-E MoBo
On board sound
DVD/RW and CD/RW
 
Depends how much you value this friend at work? hehe. Seriously though i dont know, i live in britain and we get rip off prices, but i know for sure $150 for an entire system with that power is too low a selling price.
 
Originally posted by: Soviet
Depends how much you value this friend at work? hehe. Seriously though i dont know, i live in britain and we get rip off prices, but i know for sure $150 for an entire system with that power is too low a selling price.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. The funny thing is I paid $860 for this system brand new in May of 2003 (built by a local PC shop)...so if I could sell it for $200-$300 that's not too bad. I think around $300 is a fair price but I'd go as low as $250...
 
Originally posted by: stevem326
Originally posted by: Soviet
Depends how much you value this friend at work? hehe. Seriously though i dont know, i live in britain and we get rip off prices, but i know for sure $150 for an entire system with that power is too low a selling price.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. The funny thing is I paid $860 for this system brand new in May of 2003 (built by a local PC shop)...so if I could sell it for $200-$300 that's not too bad. I think around $300 is a fair price but I'd go as low as $250...
Click to expand...

Thats the spirit! :thumbsup: Screw that $150 crap
 
Steel wool across the solder side of the motherboard always works. Be sure to have a fire extinguisher nearby too. 😉
 
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