How long to test overclocking?

[r9ball]

Of course I know any system can crash any time unexpectedly.
When overclocking, how long would you run stress/torture tests to make sure the system is stable?
I try to run prime95 for at least 6 hours on an overclock.
Is that enough time? Is there some other tests that should be ran too?

[absic]

If the system is going to fall over easily, it will usually do it within a couple of hours.

To be totally honest, I gave up with all of the "stress" testing. All I do now is run Memtest for a couple of passes to make sure the RAM is OK and then, if  I am overclocking a system, I suck it and see.

In everyday computing you are very unlikely to put your rig through as much effort as the stress tests put it through so why try and make it fall over and possible kill components in the process? Why spend days testing when a sudden electrical spike or dodgy download can make your system fall over anyway?

If you are overclocking, keep on eye on your temperatures and get on with using the computer. If it does fall over tweak a few settings, re-boot and try again, just like learning to ride a bike. Surely, that's part of the fun! 

[Dark Mantis]

I'm totally in agreement with absic when it comes to this. If your system runs stably what more can you ask for. Unless you wanted to build them in quantity and PROVE the build there is really no point. A few simple tests for a few hours should be plenty and then have some fun

[r9ball]

According to Core Temp, it idles 31-34 and hits 52-55 during prime95 test, that is with H50 cooler. Those temps seem pretty normal from what I have seen.

[absic]

Yes, those temps seem about right but, I have done some testing and found that the current versions of CoreTemp are actually showing the temps a little lower than AMD Overdrive or EasyTune 6 both of which seem to be a little closer to the actual temp if my hardware sensors are anything to go by.

If I remember correctly you are overclocking a Phenom ii X4 965 and I would be careful about pushing it too much higher as the max temp for the CPU is only 62°C and your getting pretty close to that.

[r9ball]

That is the correct CPU. AMD tech said it should be ok hitting 65 occasionally but not sustainable,,,which I can understand. I have no plans to ever test that out.
I have the H50 push fan around 1650 rpm(max) and the pull is somewhat faster. Not sure if switching those fans would make a difference.
Under my working conditions (not a gamer), temps never have went above 43 running at 4ghz. That may have had a 35% load on all cores average. I may rip a Bluray and watch a dvd at same time, which is probably as hard as I would actually work it at one time.
AMD tech is working on my RMA so it looks like I will hopefully get a CPU that works correctly.

[MISMCSA]

Do you all agree that monitoring the core temps for the 62 degree threshold is the right way to do it?  That it is not to monitor the TMPIN02 CPU sesnor?

I have an overclock which idles cores in the low 20s, and peaks in the mid to high 50s for core.  The CPU sesnor (TMPIN02) will hit mid 70s 

Current overclock is 3.85 Ghz on a 1055T.  275 x 14 @ 1.488 volts (accoding to cpuz)

Thanks.

[absic]

Yes, you're correct, it's the core temp that you need to keep an eye on. 

[Lucky23]

If the system is going to fall over easily, it will usually do it within a couple of hours.

To be totally honest, I gave up with all of the "stress" testing. All I do now is run Memtest for a couple of passes to make sure the RAM is OK and then, if  I am overclocking a system, I suck it and see.

In everyday computing you are very unlikely to put your rig through as much effort as the stress tests put it through so why try and make it fall over and possible kill components in the process? Why spend days testing when a sudden electrical spike or dodgy download can make your system fall over anyway?

If you are overclocking, keep on eye on your temperatures and get on with using the computer. If it does fall over tweak a few settings, re-boot and try again, just like learning to ride a bike. Surely, that's part of the fun! 

Ive been reading an i always thought when people say you have to run Prime95 for 24hrs was insane overkill. Like you were saying most likely if its going to error out its going to happen quickly not in the 23 hours 59min mark of stress testing.

[Dark Mantis]

Really all that amount of stress testing is doing is seeing if any components are going to fail (burn out). As you said errors will normally show up within an hour once everything is at full temperature.

[babdi]

I just run lavleys test for an hour and a half. If it passes then all is well. 

[Dark Mantis]

That's it really, it's a matter of personal choice and when you feel that your system is stable. When you think it has passed a good amount of hard testing then that is the time to stop and start everyday use of it.

[DJ_OXyGeNe_8]

Hi guys, I'm new at forum

I'm not an expert about overclocking. But I'm trying to overclock my CPU :

AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition (3400 Mhz)
GA-890FXA-UD5
Kingston HyperX 1600 (4GB)
Tagan 480W
MSI HD 6870 Twin Frozr II
Sunbeam core-contact (looks good cooler)
CM Storm Scout (case)

MY PCU is running at 3825 now - changes freq. from bios - 200 to 230

And I opened AMD overdrive to check temperature and started Prime95 / torture test (for now, running 21 minutes) Fan speed at lowest.

and here is the results;



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/6291/amdover.jpg



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/8766/testsu.jpg

can anybody help about results? Is ıt good or bad, and how must I run test? Prime95 still working

and what is the CPU temperature limit?

[absic]

Hi
your CPU is at the top end now at 62C as that is all it is rated at. I would stop the test immeadiately and let your CPU cool down.

Increase the speed of your fans to get more air through the system. You are looking for CPU temps of around 38-42C or lower.

[DJ_OXyGeNe_8]

OK thanks, but if temp. 55C is it ok? I'll test with encoding a video.

When I stopped prime95, around 35-36 (with low fan speed)