Perform a Stress Test on the CPU and Motherboard
The stress test aims to verify the stability of the computer under a heavy load. It involves running specially designed CPU-intensive programs that simultaneously test not only the processor but also the computer's motherboard and memory. Such stress tests allow you to quickly identify flaws in the mentioned hardware components and are particularly useful if the default speed of the CPU and motherboard has been changed during system overclocking.
Instructions
1. Download one of the freely available programs that can perform a stress test: a standard program for the test is usually Prime95, but other software, such as System Stability Tester and HeavyLoad, can be also used (see Resources).
2. Log into a Windows account with administrative privileges.
3. Run the downloaded setup file and install the program by following the onscreen prompts.
4. Open the program installed and start the stress ("torture") test using the menu or toolbar in the program window.
5. Keep the program window open, and the test task running for at least two to three hours.
6. Observe and analyze the results of the stress test; if the program message indicates that the test has been passed, your computer is stable. On the contrary, a failure message represents problems with your hardware settings. The test also failed if your computer freezes, reboots or produces the "blue" system failure screen.
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