What do you do with a fresh hardware install?

[EddScott]

I've built a few PCs over the years and had some success with overclocking in as much as achieving stable clocks but nothing too OTT. Last build was an OCUK pre-clocked item.

I've largely just chucked it all in with a slither of paste and booted up.

I've got a new CPU, board and RAM and would like to know what other folk do when installing a new system - with the intention of mild clocking. If I've got an 2500K 3.30 and it runs safely over 4 I'm happy.

Is it worth running any programs to bed the CPU and RAM in? I've seen some software but don't really know what the deal is with it.

 

[Plec]

Is it worth running any programs to bed the CPU and RAM in? I've seen some software but don't really know what the deal is with it.

They're worth running to help identify, early on, any potential faults with hardware or weaknesses with a clock.

Prime 95 is a solid all rounder for testing cpu and memory stability. The blend test stresses CPU and the memory/other combined. The 'small fft' test puts more stess on the CPU. Run each test for approx 8hrs -12hrs (you can run them for 24 hrs if that is your want).

IBT (Intel Burn Test)– is a beast, and much faster than prime 95 and, if set up correctly, you will only need a max of 20 runs.

I like to use both prime 95 and IBT when testing for stability as prime95 can sometimes route out a problem that IBT overlooks and vice versa.

Memtest – running memtest stresses the memory and I use this to test new memory and if i develop ambiguous stability issues. Again run for approx 6hrs or more…

There are other stability testing apps and each have there benefits - but even if your system passes every test you can still have the odd build that will fail in day to day usage even though it's sailed through every stress test...

 

[chigley]

What do people do to test new HDDs? I remember reading somewhere that it's a good idea to fully zero a drive before use to locate bad sectors, is there any truth in that?

 

[Plec]

I use the HDD manufacturers software to test HDDs - but i only do this if I feel it's developed a fault.

However, i usually do a full format on new drives (not required) rather than a quick format to help rule out any dodgy sectors.

 

[EddScott]

Thanks for the advice, will give Prime95 a go and see how I get on.

Many thanks.