Are you concerned about the stability of your PC system? Did you build your PC only to find that applications crash, freeze or Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)? A unstable system can be the source of frustration, and it means you may need to make some adjustments ensure that doesn’t happen. Whether you want to play games without hardware interruptions, or prevent loss of your work due to crashes, stability is key to an enjoyable experience when using your PC.
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Performing stress testing yourself
You can use a stress testing tool like Prime95 or FurMark to push the CPU, GPU, and other components of your system to their limits and see how they perform. This will help you identify any potential stability issues or overheating problems. Benchmarking tools like 3DMark (with their popular FireStrike, TimeSpy and Port Royal benchmarks) and Unigine Heaven can help you gauge the overall performance and stability of your system by running a series of tests and giving you a score.
Of course, the ultimate test of a gaming PC’s stability is to actually play games on it. Try running a variety of games at different graphics settings to see how the system performs. If you experience any crashes, freezes, or other stability issues, it could be a sign of a problem with your system.
Keep an eye on the temperatures of your components using a tool such as HWiNFO (our preferred), MSI Afterburner or another free sensor monitoring software tool. If any of your components are running at excessively high temperatures, it could cause stability issues or even damage the component. Finally, it’s always a good idea to make sure that all of your hardware is functioning properly. Check for loose cables, faulty components, or other hardware issues that could be causing stability problems.
Processor (CPU) Stress Testing
CPU stress testing involves using specialized tools to push a computer’s central processing unit (CPU) to its limits in order to test its performance and stability. This can be useful for identifying potential problems with a CPU or system, as well as for benchmarking and comparing the performance of different CPUs.
There are several tools that can be used for CPU stress testing, including OCCT (OverClock Checking Tool), Linpack, and Prime95. These tools work by running a series of intensive calculations or tasks that stress the CPU, and they often include features like temperature monitoring and error checking to help identify any issues that may arise.
When running a CPU stress test, it’s important to monitor the temperature of the CPU and other components to ensure that they are not overheating. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on the stability of the system and watch for any errors or crashes that may occur. If you notice any problems during the stress test, it could be an indication of an issue with the CPU or system that needs to be addressed.
It’s worth noting that stress testing can be resource-intensive and may put a lot of strain on your system, so it’s important to be cautious and not push your hardware beyond its limits. It’s also a good idea to save any important work and close any unnecessary programs before starting a stress test.
Graphics Card (GPU) stress testing
There are several tools that can be used for GPU stress testing, including 3DMark benchmarks, Unigine benchmarks and Furmark.
FireStrike, TimeSpy and Port Royal are a benchmarking tools developed by 3DMark that tests the performance of a GPU by running a series of demanding graphics tests. TimeSpy is available for free, but the other benchmarks require a purchase of the 3DMark software (we suggest waiting for a Steam sale!). 3DMark benchmarks produce detailed results including a result page that can be shared online.
Unigine is another provider of benchmarks, and their popular benchmarks include Heaven, Superposition and Valley. Unigine benchmarks are free to use. Furmark is a standalone stress testing tool that specifically targets the GPU, rendering a series of complex graphics and displaying them on the screen.
Like with a CPU stress test, when stress testing a GPU, it’s important to monitor the temperature of the graphics card and other components to ensure that they are not overheating.