How to test for hardware failure?

Generic Turtle · 07-20-2010, 09:21 AM

I've been having a lot of random crashes, but only during games. I've tried to update my graphics driver but that hasn't done anything to help. I think there maybe be something wrong with my hardware, how can I test this? I've runthe memory diagnostic that came with my computer, but is there something to test for motherboard, CPU and graphics cards failures?

I've got a nvidia GT9500, intel Quad core 66000 2.4ghz being run on vista 32 bit.

ThermioN · 07-20-2010, 09:30 AM

You can run Prime95 or download MemTest, burn the Image on a CD and boot your PC from it.

notavirus.exe · 07-20-2010, 09:37 AM

you can stress your gpu by running 3dmark benchmarks, just google them.

cpu stressed with prime95 as thermion said, memtest I use for ram.

I don't know a way to particularly test the motherboard unless you know what specific thing you want to test like USB or PCI-E slot.

DARKNIGHT · 07-20-2010, 10:02 AM

What about your powersupply? if it cant power the entire system when on full load it might be the cause of your problems, although a 9500GT doesnt need much power. Still, i would take of the side panel of your pc, check the sticker on the side of the psu and tell us how many watts and amps it can produce, or take a picture and upload that to imageshack and put a link here.

rotNdude · 07-20-2010, 10:06 AM

What type of random crashes? A little more info will help.

System specs for motherboard and RAM:
http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

Temperatures:
http://www.techpowerup.com/realtemp/
http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/
http://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/

Memtest has already been posted.

07-20-2010, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Generic Turtle

I've been having a lot of random crashes, but only during games. I've tried to update my graphics driver but that hasn't done anything to help. I think there maybe be something wrong with my hardware, how can I test this? I've runthe memory diagnostic that came with my computer, but is there something to test for motherboard, CPU and graphics cards failures?

I've got a nvidia GT9500, intel Quad core 66000 2.4ghz being run on vista 32 bit.

Are these Blue Screens, System Lockups, video game crashes?

We do need a little more information to go on. However with the little information you gave us and I'm just grabbing at straws, it sounds like overheating.