Prime 95 as a stability test.

[prodigy_]

As I noticed (and probably I'm nit the first) Prime95 is more accurate as a stress test if run right after some lenghty CPU/RAM burn-in.

 

(These apps will do the job perfectly if run both at a time for 3-4 hours with error-checking disabled.

http://users.bigpond.net.au/cpuburn/downloads/CPU_burn-in.zip

http://testmem.nm.ru/snm.zip

(Both of them have error-checking mode and they can be used as stability test themselves.)

 

Then, when you try to run Prime95 right after them it may error out even if it seemed to be stable previously. IMHO this explains how "prime-stable" systems prove to be "game-unstable" for example.

Prime alone just can't make the CPU, RAM, chipset and other components hot enough. But it's great about finding errors, being very sensitive to them.

 

Another good idea is to give Prime95 process a "High" priority. Keep in mind that it resets automatically to "Low" each time you run the Torture Test.

 

(It's all just my $.02. May be worth giving a shot though if you want your system as stable as possible.)

[Guest dacris]

I find that if I run Prime right after running the full suite of benchmark tests in 3DMark03 or 3DMark05, Prime95 fails quicker (usually within a few minutes) whereas without it would take hours. I think this is a good strategy because it "preheats" your chipset and mosfets to their peak temperatures, something Prime95 alone cannot do.

[Lifeguard1999]

Interesting. Thanks for the tip.

[xTwo]

I always prime95 my new system in a hot 86-88 F room for 2 housr no more and no less. If 2 hours no errors then it staple for me cause I work my whole system not just the cpu and ram in a very stress evironment compare to some run 10 hours or more in a cool room.

 

Most electrical and mechenical components are always failed at hot environment.

[arthurleung]

I usually get prime95 error after 6~8 hours, is that what you call stable or not?

I found out that you NEED multiple prime95 instances to actually test all ram.

[prodigy_]

Well, it's summer now, so air is pretty hot already. But still Prime95 even with High Priority can't push my CPU over 45 *C. And in S&M's FPU test (Normal Priority and "95% load" in program's settings) temp almost hit 50 *C.

 

Prime is good for detecting errors, but it can't generate real HEAT no matter what. Keep this in mind.

 

As for real life, FarCry is known to generate about the same amount of heat as S&M does. And this is just for example. So next time when the system crashes don't blame Prime for it. There're no bad stability tests, but there's often misinterpretation of results (e.g some ppl are naive enough to think that Prime's "loads" are equal to real max loads).

[pilotw]

ahhh, good thread. I usually run Memtest for 8+ hours to test my ram, prime 95(two instances(one for each core)) for 9-10 hours to test stability and then 3DMark05 for 24 hours. Maybe I should run 3dMark05 and then prime95...

[wbork]

I've found out that Prime 95 was originally written as a program that runs in the backround for number crunching, sharing cpu time with other programs. In the program's (Prime) readme it says to run the stress test for 8 hours min. Besides the run time there doesnt seem to be alot of info. about useing the prog. for stressing, probably because the developers main intent is number crunching not making a test program.

If you are stress testing it makes sence to test at max. cpu cycles and push up the priority to 9 or 10. If I crank up the volts + speed of my machine it will definitly top 50C cpu temp using large FFTS for a test with high priority.

[prodigy_]

Whoa, that's quite hot. 50 *C with Prime means that you can expect getting to about 60 playing FarCry or using some really CPU-hungry app.

 

But 60 is still nothing to worry about...

[pilotw]

Whoa, that's quite hot. 50 *C with Prime means that you can expect getting to about 60 playing FarCry or using some really CPU-hungry app.

 

But 60 is still nothing to worry about...

 

My GPU at 60 degrees C caused my video drivers to crash yesterday running 3DMark05....

 

Needless to say I'm currently thinking up a solution. I believe I'll be ordering a Evercool WC-202 tonight....

[THunDA]

I run memtest for 20-30 passes and then its windows time.. If it makes it to windows I hit it with occt 30min test.. 32m superPi.. then prime for 8-10 hours..

 

Sometimes after all that I still have some instability in games.. What I found to be a very good test to make sure im stable in games is loop 3dmark01 overnight.. If its doesnt error or crash to desktop im usually fine for anything..

[chz]

cs:source / bf2 as games are great computer stressers, cs source will give you a memory error within 30 min if its unstable, even if it was prime 8h stable O_o