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MVP Logo John Carrona
Windows Expert - Consumer
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Last updated:  13 Feb 2013
Added Video Memory Stress Test (bootable) as #4 in the Video 2 (5 tests) section

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Video 1 (Furmark)
Prime95
Video 2 (5 tests)
CPU Stress tests

I suggest using a temperature monitoring program.  I picked this free one because it was the first one I found that also shows GPU temps:  http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html
I also suggest this one:  http://www.hwinfo.com


 [quote]FurMark download site:  http://www.ozone3d.net/benchmarks/fur/
[b][u]FurMark Setup:[/b][/u]
- If you have more than one GPU, select Multi-GPU during setup
- In the Run mode box, select "Stability Test" and "Log GPU Temperature"
Click "Go" to start the test  (Looks like it's "BURN-IN test" now)
- Run the test until the GPU temperature maxes out - or until you start having problems [b](whichever comes first)[/b].
[b]NOTE:[/b]  Set the alarm to go off at 90ºC.  Then watch the system from that point on.  If the system doesn't display a temperature, watch it constantly and turn it off at the first sign of video problems.  [b][u]DO NOT[/u][/b] leave it it unmonitored, it can [COLOR=Red][b][u]DAMAGE[/u][/b][/COLOR] your video card!!! 
If the temperature gets above [COLOR=Red][b]100ºC[/b][/COLOR], quit the test - the video card is [u]overheating[/u].
- Click "Quit" to exit[/quote]
What you are looking for:  
- excessive heat from the GPU (report back with anything over 90ºC)
- problems with the video display (picture is distorted or jumbled, picture turns black, etc)
- problems reported by the program (I haven't seen this, but "just in case")

[quote]Prime95 download site:  http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft/
[b][u]Prime95 Setup:[/b][/u]
- extract the contents of the zip file to a location of your choice
- double click on the executable file
- select "Just stress testing"
- select the "Blend" test.  If you've already run MemTest overnight please run the "Small FFTs" test instead. (run all 3 if you find a problem and note how long it takes to error out with each)
- "Number of torture test threads to run" should equal the number of CPU's times 2 (if you're using hyperthreading).
The easiest way to figure this out is to go to Task Manager...Performance tab - and see the number of boxes under CPU Usage History
Then run the test for 6 to 24 hours - or until you get errors [b](whichever comes first)[/b].
Monitor the CPU temperature and [b][u]DON'T[/u][/b] let it exceed 85ºC.  If it does, then you probably have a CPU cooling problem.
- CPU temps exceeding 60ºC can cause errors in Prime95.  Fix the cooling solution first, then run Prime95 again.
This won't necessarily crash the system - but check the output in the test window for errors.
The Test selection box and the stress.txt file describes what components that the program stresses.
More details on the use of this test:  http://www.playtool.com/pages/prime95/prime95.html[/quote]


[quote] [b][u]More Video Stress Tests:[/b][/u]
1.  Thanks to VirGnarus for finding this video memory test:  https://simtk.org/home/memtest
Alternate download link (w/o registration) located here:  http://folding.stanford.edu/English/DownloadUtils#ntoc2
2.  Two other video stress tests (may be more stressful than FurMark):
NOTE:  I have had reports that some ISP's will block this website
[u]Video Memory stress Test[/u] - http://nvworld.ru/utilities/vmt/
[u]Artifact Locator[/u] - http://nvworld.ru/utilities/alocator/
Sorry, but I don't read the language that this website is made in.
3.  Another interesting test that came to my attention: http://www.ocbase.com/perestroika_en/index.php?Download
USE AT YOUR OWN RISK - the program doesn't have a whole bunch of safety features to protect you from yourself![/quote]
4.  Dunno if this is a duplicate of one of the above tests - but try this bootable Video Memory Stress Test:  http://mikelab.kiev.ua/index_en.php?page=PROGRAMS/vmt_en


[quote] [b][u]CPU Stress Tests:[/b][/u]
Only need to run 1 or 2 of the tests under most circumstances.  I haven't used any of the tests myself, so I listed all that I was able to find.
- Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool (works in Windows)
    x64 - http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=19792&keyword=%22cpu+stress+test%22&DownloadType=Utilities%2c+Tools+and+Examples&lang=eng
    x86 - http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=19791&keyword=%22cpu+stress+test%22&DownloadType=Utilities%2c+Tools+and+Examples&lang=eng
    Burn Test - http://downloads.guru3d.com/IntelBurnTest-v2.3-download-2047.html
- AMD OverDrive is the recommended solution from AMD - BUT I've seen issues with this program causing BSOD's.  Use at your own risk!!!         http://sites.amd.com/us/game/downloads/amd-overdrive/pages/overview.aspx
- http://7byte.com/index.php?page=hotcpu
- http://www.7byte.com/index.php?page=burnin64
- http://www.overclock.net/general-processor-discussions/657486-cpu-stress-test.html
- http://www.fossiltoys.com/cpuload.html
- http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,7146-order,1-page,1-c,alldownloads/description.html
- http://www.overclock.net/general-processor-discussions/657486-cpu-stress-test.html
- http://majorgeeks.com/CPU_Stability_Test_d215.html
- http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=201670
- the test(s) suggested at this link are bootable:  http://www.techsupportforum.com/forums/f15/headless-cpu-stress-testing-393435.html#post2232929
[/quote]