Is this RealBench Strong Enough?
Is this RealBench Strong Enough?
Wow, there seems to be a lot of questionable data circulating...
I wouldn't have expressed it more clearly myself.
MeanMachine41 :
... If you manage to pass Realbench, your setup is reliable. Realbench is one of the best real-world stress tests available...
That's in line with what I said.
MeanMachine41 :
... Prime95 puts a heavy strain on the CPU and could push it to its maximum capacity...
Respectfully, this isn't entirely accurate.
The mixed feedback and confusion about Prime95 online stem from misunderstandings about the "AVX" issue, which really depends on the version.
When discussing Prime95, if the variations between versions and the stress tests aren't clearly explained, you're likely getting partial or...
Hi Frizzo
If you succeed at Realbench, it means your system is stable. Realbench offers solid performance for real-world stress testing. Prime95 is tough on the CPU, forcing it to its limits without warning if a core fails. AIDA64 is another strong tester that checks your sub-systems as well.
Frizzo asks about the recommended duration for running RealBench to ensure system stability. He mentions wanting to cover 100% of RAM usage and suggests testing with all available memory. He notes that a short test (15 minutes to 8 hours) is sufficient, emphasizing the importance of stable performance over long periods. He advises against unattended stress tests, especially under P95 load, and points out that minor adjustments in core voltage can improve stability if issues arise. He also recommends monitoring socket and temperature during high-load conditions using HWINFO64.
Frizzo: Wow, must be decent amount of bad information out there... I couldn't have said it better myself. MeanMachine41:... If you can pass Realbench then your system is stable. Realbench is as good as it gets for a realworld stress tester... Agreed and endorsed. MeanMachine41:... Prime95 is harsh on the CPU and will push your CPU to its limit... Respectfully, as a blanket statement, that doesn't fit well. The comments, conflicting information and confusion on the Internet concerning Prime95 are due to misinformation regarding the "AVX" problem, which is strictly version dependent. When reading about Prime95, if the differences between versions AND torture tests are not clearly and specifically pointed out, then you're reading partial or incomplete information written by those who are poorly informed, which is always misleading. Intel tests their processors on an open bench, without a case, under carefully controlled conditions at steady 100% TDP (Thermal Design Power) to develop and validate Thermal Specifications. Therefore, when performing your own thermal tests, the goal is to run a test that will get you as close as possible to a steady 100% TDP workload so you'll have valid results. Prime95 version 26.6 Small FFT's is ideal for CPU thermal testing, because it's a steady 100% workload with steady Core temperatures that typically runs Core i variants with Hyperthreading and Core 2 processors within +/- a few % of TDP. No other utility so closely replicates Intel's proprietary test conditions. This is also the utility that Real Temp uses to test Core temperature sensors. • Prime95 v26.6 - http://www.mersenneforum.org/showthread.php?t=15504 Here’s a sample of utilities grouped for thermal testing and stability testing, shown according to % of TDP at Default BIOS settings: TDP … Thermal Test - Steady Workload 129% … Prime95 v27.7 through v29.4 - Small FFT’s (AVX, No Offset) 101 % <-- Prime95 v26.6 - Small FFT’s 89% … HeavyLoad v3.4.0.234 - Stress CPU 87% … FurMark v1.19.1.0 - CPU Burner 78% … CPU-Z v1.82.0 - Bench - Stress CPU 66% … AIDA64 v5.95.4500 - System Stability Test - Stress CPU 55% … Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool v4.0 - CPU Load TDP … Stability Test - Fluctuating Workload (Peak) 123% … OCCT v4.5.1 - CPU: OCCT (AVX, No Offset) 118% … LinX v0.6.5 - Default 116% … IntelBurn Test v2.54 - High 113% … OCCT v4.5.1 - CPU: Linpack (AVX, No Offset) 110% … AIDA64 v5.95.4500 - System Stability Test - Stress FPU 99 % <-- Asus RealBench v2.56 - Stress Test (AVX, No Offset) 94% … Sandra 2017.09.24.41 - Burn in - Processor Tests 92% … CineBench v15.0 - CPU - Render Test 79% … Intel Extreme Tuning Utility v6.4.1.15 - CPU Stress Test All versions of Prime95 later than 26.6 run a "brutal" workload, which is due to AVX. 100% CPU Utilization seldom equals 100% workload or TDP, yet all tests will show 100% CPU Utilization in Windows Task Manager, regardless of actual workload. Higher TDP tests produce higher Core temperatures. Results will vary according to Microarchitecture, Core count, Cache, Core speed, Turbo Boost, Core voltage, Hyperthreading, Instruction Sets, BIOS versions and CPU microcode. 2nd through 8th Generation i3, i5 and i7 CPU's have AVX (Advanced Vector Extension) Instruction Sets. Prime95 versions later than 26.6 run AVX code on the CPU's Floating Point Unit (FPU) which causes unrealistic temperatures up to 20°C higher. Certain other utilities may have similar results, as shown above. AVX can be disabled in Prime95 versions later than 26.6 by inserting "CpuSupportsAVX=0" into the "local.txt" file in Prime95's folder. However, since Core temperatures will be the same as 26.6, it's easier to just use 26.6. AVX doesn't affect Core i 1st Generation, Core 2, Pentium or Celeron processors since they don't have AVX Instruction Sets. If you’re overclocked and run AVX apps such as for rendering or transcoding, you may need to reduce Vcore and Core speed or upgrade your cooler and case fans so Core temperatures don’t reach 85°C. Many 6th, 7th and 8th Generation motherboards address the AVX problem by providing offset adjustments in BIOS. An offset of -2 or -3 (200 or 300 MHz) is usually sufficient. Asus RealBench runs a realistic AVX workload typically within +/- a few % of TDP, and is an excellent utility for testing overall system stability, whether you're overclocked or not. RealBench is also the utility that Silicon Lottery (yes, that's actually a real company - https://siliconlottery.com ) uses for testing CPU stability. • Asus RealBench - http://rog.asus.com/rog-pro/realbench-v2-leaderboard/ Prime95's default test, Blend, is a fluctuating workload for testing memory stability, and Large FFT's combines CPU and memory tests. As such, Blend and Large FFT's both have fluctuating workloads which aren’t well suited for CPU thermal testing. Other stability tests such as OCCT have cycles that exceed 120% workload, which again isn’t well suited for CPU thermal testing. However, OCCT will by default, terminate the CPU tests at 85°C. The "Charts" in SpeedFan span 13 minutes, and show how each test creates distinct thermal signatures. Shown above from left to right: Small FFT's, Blend, Linpack and Intel Burn Test. Note the steady thermal signature of Small FFT's, which allows accurate measurements of Core temperatures. A steady 100% workload is crucial for thermal testing, as the CPU, cooler, socket, motherboard, VRM's and power delivery components can then heat soak and stabilize. Shown above from left to right: Small FFT's, Intel Extreme Tuning Utility CPU Test, and AIDA64 CPU Test. Intel Extreme Tuning Utility is also a fluctuating workload. MeanMachine41:... AIDA64 is another good stress tester and also tests your sub systems. While I agree that AIDA64's is useful for stability testing, although the CPU test is a steady workload, it's too far below TDP for thermal testing at just 66%, and the FPU test is too far above TDP at 110%. All other AIDA64 CPU test combinations are fluctuating workloads, which are suitable for stability testing, but they don't offer conclusive results for thermal testing. If you'd like to get yourselves up to speed on this topic, then please read this Sticky: Intel Temperature Guide CT
CompuTronix: Frizzo: Wow, must be decent amount of bad information out there... I couldn't have said it better myself. MeanMachine41:... If you can pass Realbench then your system is stable. Realbench is as good as it gets for a realworld stress tester... Agreed and endorsed. MeanMachine41:... Prime95 is harsh on the CPU and will push your CPU to its limit... Respectfully, as a blanket statement, that doesn't fit well. The comments, conflicting information and confusion on the Internet concerning Prime95 are due to misinformation regarding the "AVX" problem, which is strictly version dependent. When reading about Prime95, if the differences between versions AND torture tests are not clearly and specifically pointed out, then you're reading partial or incomplete information written by those who are poorly informed, which is always misleading. Intel tests their processors on an open bench, without a case, under carefully controlled conditions at steady 100% TDP (Thermal Design Power) to develop and validate Thermal Specifications. Therefore, when performing your own thermal tests, the goal is to run a test that will get you as close as possible to a steady 100% TDP workload so you'll have valid results. Prime95 version 26.6 Small FFT's is ideal for CPU thermal testing, because it's a steady 100% workload with steady Core temperatures that typically runs Core i variants with Hyperthreading and Core 2 processors within +/- a few % of TDP. No other utility so closely replicates Intel's proprietary test conditions. This is also the utility that Real Temp uses to test Core temperature sensors. • Prime95 v26.6 - http://www.mersenneforum.org/showthread.php?t=15504 Here’s a sample of utilities grouped for thermal testing and stability testing, shown according to % of TDP at Default BIOS settings: TDP … Thermal Test - Steady Workload 129% … Prime95 v27.7 through v29.4 - Small FFT’s (AVX, No Offset) 101 % <-- Prime95 v26.6 - Small FFT’s 89% … HeavyLoad v3.4.0.234 - Stress CPU 87% … FurMark v1.19.1.0 - CPU Burner 78% … CPU-Z v1.82.0 - Bench - Stress CPU 66% … AIDA64 v5.95.4500 - System Stability Test - Stress CPU 55% … Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool v4.0 - CPU Load TDP … Stability Test - Fluctuating Workload (Peak) 123% … OCCT v4.5.1 - CPU: OCCT (AVX, No Offset) 118% … LinX v0.6.5 - Default 116% … IntelBurn Test v2.54 - High 113% … OCCT v4.5.1 - CPU: Linpack (AVX, No Offset) 110% … AIDA64 v5.95.4500 - System Stability Test - Stress FPU 99 % <-- Asus RealBench v2.56 - Stress Test (AVX, No Offset) 94% … Sandra 2017.09.24.41 - Burn in - Processor Tests 92% … CineBench v15.0 - CPU - Render Test 79% … Intel Extreme Tuning Utility v6.4.1.15 - CPU Stress Test All versions of Prime95 later than 26.6 run a "brutal" workload, which is due to AVX. 100% CPU Utilization seldom equals 100% workload or TDP, yet all tests will show 100% CPU Utilization in Windows Task Manager, regardless of actual workload. Higher TDP tests produce higher Core temperatures. Results will vary according to Microarchitecture, Core count, Cache, Core speed, Turbo Boost, Core voltage, Hyperthreading, Instruction Sets, BIOS versions and CPU microcode. 2nd through 8th Generation i3, i5 and i7 CPU's have AVX (Advanced Vector Extension) Instruction Sets. Prime95 versions later than 26.6 run AVX code on the CPU's Floating Point Unit (FPU) which causes unrealistic temperatures up to 20°C higher. Certain other utilities may have similar results, as shown above. AVX can be disabled in Prime95 versions later than 26.6 by inserting "CpuSupportsAVX=0" into the "local.txt" file in Prime95's folder. However, since Core temperatures will be the same as 26.6, it's easier to just use 26.6. AVX doesn't affect Core i 1st Generation, Core 2, Pentium or Celeron processors since they don't have AVX Instruction Sets. If you’re overclocked and run AVX apps such as for rendering or transcoding, you may need to reduce Vcore and Core speed or upgrade your cooler and case fans so Core temperatures don’t reach 85°C. Many 6th, 7th and 8th Generation motherboards address the AVX problem by providing offset adjustments in BIOS. An offset of -2 or -3 (200 or 300 MHz) is usually sufficient. Asus RealBench runs a realistic AVX workload typically within +/- a few % of TDP, and is an excellent utility for testing overall system stability, whether you're overclocked or not. RealBench is also the utility that Silicon Lottery (yes, that's actually a real company - https://siliconlottery.com ) uses for testing CPU stability. • Asus RealBench - http://rog.asus.com/rog-pro/realbench-v2-leaderboard/ Prime95's default test, Blend, is a fluctuating workload for testing memory stability, and Large FFT's combines CPU and memory tests. As such, Blend and Large FFT's both have fluctuating workloads which aren’t well suited for CPU thermal testing. Other stability tests such as OCCT have cycles that exceed 120% workload, which again isn’t well suited for CPU thermal testing. However, OCCT will by default, terminate the CPU tests at 85°C. The "Charts" in SpeedFan span 13 minutes, and show how each test creates distinct thermal signatures. Shown above from left to right: Small FFT's, Blend, Linpack and Intel Burn Test. Note the steady thermal signature of Small FFT's, which allows accurate measurements of Core temperatures. A steady 100% workload is crucial for thermal testing, as the CPU, cooler, socket, motherboard, VRM's and power delivery components can then heat soak and stabilize. Shown above from left to right: Small FFT's, Intel Extreme Tuning Utility CPU Test, and AIDA64 CPU Test. Intel Extreme Tuning Utility is also a fluctuating workload. MeanMachine41:... AIDA64 is another good stress tester and also tests your sub systems. While I agree that AIDA64's is useful for stability testing, although the CPU test is a steady workload, it's too far below TDP for thermal testing at just 66%, and the FPU test is too far above TDP at 110%. All other AIDA64 CPU test combinations are fluctuating workloads, which are suitable for stability testing, but they don't offer conclusive results for thermal testing. If you'd like to get yourselves up to speed on this topic, then please read this Sticky: Intel Temperature Guide CT Thanks for all this info; I saw your write-up about it, too. You are talking about using RealBench's stress test as opposed to it's benchmarking test, right? For how long do you recommend running Realbench?