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How do you test for stability?

E

ectx

Golden Member
How can you tell your overclocked system is stable? With most softwares less than 100% stable, it is sometimes difficult for me to tell if a problem is software-related or if it is caused by oc. Therefore, I try to rigorously test my system using all kinds of tests.

I used to think a 12-hr run of Prime95 is a good test. But I found out that problem occurs after I ran the test for more than 24 hrs. So I started to run longer tests.

The testing is taking so much time that it is beginning to take the fun out of overclocking. I need to find a test that can give me reliable results in a relative short time period.

ectx
 
Unfortunately, being in the business of testing Overclocked cpus, there are no shortcuts to thorough testing. It is generally accepted that if a CPU will run an intensive program, loading the CPU as fully as possible, for 12 hours, that it is stable. I have found that even at default speed, many cpus will error anyway after 24hrs of continuous testing. This is not so much the fault of the cpu, but due to memory leakdown, video card processors heating up, etc.
One of the tests that works well for me is this one:
CPU Stability Test
 
cpu stability test is nice, but it can be a bit misleading.

just from my personal experience, i ran it for about 8 hours straight w/out any problems on my duron 650@900. i thot this meant that my system is stable at 900mhz. however, as soon as i started playing diabloII, it would lock up within 5-10 mins without fail. as soon as i set it to 850mhz, everything was fine. cpu stability test ok at 850 for 6 hrs, but most importantly, diabloII runs ok as well. just finished playing about 3 hrs worth of diabloII right now 🙂

same experience with prim95 as well.

just dont use these programs as a bible for stability testing..... use it along with some games, 3d programs, etc...
 
Spindler, you're absolutely correct. I run 8 hours of CPU stability test and then 3-4hrs of Q3a timedemo. 🙂
 
Vpham97, no problem...most of the CPU's that will pass the Stability test are just fine.....but then for those hard core gamers, yeah they gotta work in the graphics department too. 😉
 
Which version of CPU Stability Test do you use? My systems passed 5.2 easily. But 6.x beta, I beleive, was buggy and I stopped using it.

BurnBX craps my oc'ed systems out in a few seconds. But since they ruan everything else ok, I have to believe BurnBX is unnecessarily demanding..

Diablo II? I thought this is not an CPU/Video intensive game. I'll try it. Is there some way you can loop the game for testing? I am not a gamer but I do use games for testing. I use Q3 and 3D mark 2000 for testing. I beleive there is some problem with q3 looping.

ectx
 
prsonally, i would runt he graphics version of seti@home opened up on your screen. witht he D.net client running int he backround. That way it is working on floating point calculations like a champ, and also displaying graphics. One set WU of this and you will definately know if it is stable.
 
I play Quake3Arena intensively and drink large amounts beer (preferrably Becks)for hours and see who craps out first: my PC or I 🙂

Zak
 
I'm sorry ectx 🙂
Seriously though, I run 3DMark2000 demo looping for at least two hours and if it doesn't quit or crash, I'd say the machine is stable. If it runs overnight then there is nothing to worry🙂 Before you leave it unatended though for many hours make sure that all the cooling fans work and everything is set up the way it would be under normal circumstances. i.e. case is closed, all the compnents are in, and the computer sits where it's supposed to. Check for temperatures after at least 15-30 minutes before running any looping tests to make sure that nothing overheats.

I do this with any machine that I built, not only o/clocked systems.

Zak
 
LOL! Unreal engine game will kill any machine with Nvidia card in it no matter how stable it is. UT has always been crashing on me to the point I stopped playing it. Everything else runs fine, but not UT🙁

Zak
 
has anyone stability tested with -

1. running cpu stability test first
2. opening up prime95 second
3. then looping a 3dmarks2000 test

and run them all at the same time?

my guess is that if your system survives this torture, its deemed 100% stable. lol:Q😛🙂
 
Spindler, CPU Stability test loads the CPU so much that other programs will not open at the same time and if they do, they take forever. 🙂
 
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