Project of the Day : New Computer

[shilala]

Originally Posted by NotFromHere

Looks like a great system, but I've got to tell you, after many years at the custom PC game, I don't even start to load an OS on the system until I get some basic reliability testing done.

If I were you, I'd download and burn a copy of the Ultimate Boot CD. It's free, and it will make you a bootable CD for your new system. Before I even go for an OS load, I run a minimum of:

- Memtest86+, for at least 12 and usually 24 hours. At the end of the run, "No Errors" is the only acceptable answer.
- The manufacturer's "long" diagnostic on every hard drive in the system....twice. Again, "No Errors" is the only acceptable answer.

The UBCD has lots of other burn in tests that a guy can run, but those two are my "golden minimum". I can't tell you how many hours I've saved by those two simple steps....my

Good luck and have fun - N.F.H.

I used to use the Ultimate Boot, I'm surprised it's still around. I know lots of guys swore by it. It never cost me anything but time, and I've long since abandoned it (prior to 05, iirc).
If I was building a whole rack of rigs, it'd probably appeal to me more. I know I built a lot of Barton rigs when I was using it, and there was a specific reason I used it, maybe it had to do with that core?
Anymore I'd just as soon get windows in, get all my components in, then run tests. That way "real world" problems will show up, too.

I quit doing this stuff for lots of years. This build is reminding me why.
My wife used to build computers way back when, and when I was telling her about all the goofy problems I had so far she said "that's why I'd just as soon buy a factory box".

I got seven years out of my last build until I decided to upgrade, and it'll last a lot more years once I clean it up and shake it down. It'll still be reasonably tight, and a good, stable, powerful rig. This one will likely remain problem free for a good ten years without me thinking of an upgrade. I think that's worth the trouble.