Benchmark Question

[train22]

What are the TOP and ONLY necessary test programs that I should use when benchmarking? How long does it usually take? (haven't gotten my system yet)

[!-=sky=-!]

if it's to see the performance from the machine then i would use 3dmark2001 or 3dmark2000 but if it's burnin then i would use seti@home

[VecchK]

If you wanna see raw performance for all your systems including CPU and memory, use SiSoft's Sandra. That will show you your scores and show you typical scores for all sorts of different hardware so you can see how you measure up. Each Sandra test takes anwhere from 2 minutes to 10 minutes.

If you wanna fine tune your box for ultimate 3d performance, MadOnion's 3dMark2001. It's also entertaining to watch. 3dMark2001 takes about 6 minutes.

If you wanna burn the sucker in, run Prime95 in torture test mode then start up Seti@Home. That will give it a workout. You should run a burn in for 24 hours - 48 hours.

[train22]

24-48 HOURS???? That will burn an underclocked CPU won't it??? Is it really necessary? It would take me weeks to o/c that way too.

[VecchK]

It's not necessary at all and no, it won't damage the CPU. But some people feel it allows them to overclock their CPU and their FSB higher. Typically people find the highest setting they can run stabily at then burn in for 24 hours at that setting.