Testing a CPU

[SanLorenso]

I just purchased eleven Dell Dimension 4600, 2.8GHz, 800FSB,on board video. I took one home for the weekend and it kept rebooting or the video would brake up after it got really hot - playing RON.

Is there a program that I can download that will stress test the CPU, video etc.? I'm suspecting that it is a heat issue since the chip set HS gets so hot that it will burn my finger. This only happens after an extended period of havy CPU & video use.

How hot is too hot?

Thanks.

 

[Coyote]

There's a bunch which are free

For video <A HREF="http://www.futuremark.com/download/" target="_new">http://www.futuremark.com/download/</A> use the free version of 3dmark01 or 2003

For cpu, I use Prime95 torture test, get it here <A HREF="http://www.futuremark.com/download/" target="_new">http://www.futuremark.com/download/</A>

Barton 2500+
Abit NF7-S v 2.0
Maxtor 60GB ATA 133 7200RPM
512MB Corsair Twinx 3200LL
9600 Pro
Enermax Noisetaker 420 watts
Win98SE

 

[pauldh]

Yup, the 3dmarks are good, plus prime 95. I also like the sisoft sandra burnin wizzard because it will monitor and log the temperatures and voltages during each loop. Kinda nice too for seeing how temps change under stress.

<A HREF="http://www.sisoftware.net/index.html?dir=dload&location=sware_dl_x86&langx=en&a=" target="_new">http://www.sisoftware.net/index.html?dir=dload&location=sware_dl_x86&langx=en&a=</A>

make sure it is Win 98/ME/2000/XP/2003 that you are using for this download. I run the 2 cpu tests and the 2 mem tests together in a loop of 10 to start out, while monitoring and recording system info. real easy to use.


ABIT IS7, P4 2.6C, 512MB Corsair TwinX PC3200LL, Radeon 9800 Pro, Santa Cruz, TruePower 430watt

 

[endyen]

If the north bridge is getting that hot, get some fans for them.

 

[P4Man]

Onboard video, is that the craptastic "intel extreme video" ? If so, get a real videocard if you want to game. You may also want to check here: <A HREF="http://support.intel.com/support/graphics/gaming/82845.htm" target="_new">http://support.intel.com/support/graphics/gaming/82845.htm</A>.

That aside, overheating the cpu should not make your system unstable, it should throttle well before it becomes unstable. Your northbridge (with integrated Intel Extreme Crapics) might be an issue though, adding a fan could help, but it could also be the PSU, or even bad memory sticks. I'm not sure I'd bother figure it out myselve, you bought a Dell, let Dell figure it out.

= The views stated herein are my personal views, and not necessarily the views of my wife. =

 

[SanLorenso]

I agree it should have a fan, but shouldn't dell have put one on in the first place? OK, I know what some of you are going to say "Since when does a second rate PC mfgr do things right".

Thanks

 

[tombance]

If you bought them new from Dell I would just tell them about it. No point in losing your warrantee from fitting a fan that might be unnecessary. Let Dell take the hit, thats what they are there for!

<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=7454540" target="_new">Yay, I Finally broke the 12k barrier!!</A>

 

[SanLorenso]

Any suggestions for a 3D video benchmark/stress tester?

 

[SanLorenso]

Yah, your right about on-board video, but it is not intended for gaming, rather for business environment. But even so, anything that is graphic/cpu intensive seams to cause the chip set HS to heat up hotter then it already is.

I just want to test it for myself before I call Dell so I have some facts because Dell will make me run their diagnostics which do not stress anything.

I'm also wanting to learn more about benchmarking/stress testing systems, so I'm using this as an opportunity to do so.

Thanks.


<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by SanLorenso on 04/14/04 03:15 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[SanLorenso]

I downloaded Sandra but have a question: how can I tell if the CPU is throttling back when I run the Burn-in test? The PC is a Dell 4600 Intel 865G chipset but does not report temps during the test.

Thanks,

 

[P4Man]

Its hard to tell.. the only way to know is seeing performance drop. Have a look at Van's test of the efficeon (which he claims throttles) here:
<A HREF="http://www.vanshardware.com/reviews/2004/04/040405_efficeon/040405_efficeon.htm" target="_new">http://www.vanshardware.com/reviews/2004/04/040405_efficeon/040405_efficeon.htm</A>
In the article you will find a link to "FibBurn", let it run for 10-15 minutes, and looking at the chart you should get a clear idea if your cpu is throtteling or not. But like I said, even it is throtteling, (which would already suprise me, especially if its a P4C and not e P4E), it would not explain the instability you are experiencing.

Might be worth trying <A HREF="http://www.memtest86.com" target="_new">memtest86 </A> to see if its the memory. If not, that pretty much leaves either the PSU (can you check voltages with MBM ?) or the northbridge overheating. There are obviously other possibilities still, but those are the most likely IMHO. If memory is not it, try opening the case and put a deskfan on your motherboard. That should cool the NB enough if that is causing it.

= The views stated herein are my personal views, and not necessarily the views of my wife. =