Computers are becoming more reliable and easier to use with every upgrade, whether it’s hardware or software. However, it doesn’t flush down the fact that they are machines. Therefore, they are not problem free! In this article, we’ve created a list of troubleshooting tools for your computer (Windows and Linux) that can check your computer’s performance and keep them at working condition for a long time. As the problems are generally hardware-specific, we have designed the list accordingly. Use them and fix your computers easily!
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For RAM:-
1. MemTest86+ (Windows and Linux)
MemTest86+ is the ideal software for detecting memory problems. The software runs automatically and keeps running till the time you instruct it to stop. Hence, the problems which only occur after the computer has heated up can be detected. The user interface which is character-based is easy to understand. The red signal shows that there are issues with your computer memory. Otherwise, your computer’s memory is fine.
MemTest86+ can also be used for detecting CPU burn-in. It displays the exact problem which will help you in troubleshooting. The software arrives in a zip file of 70KB. It expands upto 2 MB .iso file when extracted. What you need to do is copying the software to a disc or USB drive and running it on your computer. It works both for Windows and Linux operating systems and is a must-have software for any memory related diagnosis. Download it by clicking here.
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For CPU:-
2. Prime95 (Windows and Linux)
When it comes to identify your CPU’s performance, you can rely on Prime95. Prime95 is an intelligent diagnostic tool that searches for large prime numbers. It is liked by many computer enthusiasts and used to find overclocking in your CPU.
You can use the tool for testing the stability of your PC. To facilitate the test, you can use the “Torture test” mode to stress-test your processor and if detect errors if any. It ensures that your processor is running optimally. The torture test is generally conducted by users who overclock their system processors. Therefore, your computer is able to run Prime95 for a day without any hassle, it can be considered that your processor and other related CPU hardware are healthy.
Prime95 is a freeware and it works for Linux and Windows operating system (both 64-bit and 32-bit). Click here to download Prime95 for free.
3. LinX
LinX, a tool from Intel Linpack Benchmark is designed to detect stability and other hardware related issues in the CPU. The user interface is simple which allows users to easily test the performance of the system.
LinX tests processor’s performance in GFlops (gigabyte floating point operations per second). LinX is one of the best CPU load testing software as it checks the processor under very extreme conditions.
The tool is intuitive and stops automatically as soon as errors are detected. It supports both AMD and Intel processors, even processors like Intel i7. The software is free and available for all Windows and Linux variants. Click here to download it for free.
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For Hard Drive:-
4. BartStuffTest (Windows and Linux)
Bart’s Stuff Test is a hard drive stress test tool that is portable and checks your hard drive’s performance. It repeatedly writes data into hard drive and displays a log that shows transfer-speed at real time.
Basically, Bart’s Stuff Test can scan or test any hard drive irrespective of the operating system. Hence, the software works perfectly on all major operating systems like Mac, Linux variants and Windows. If your hard drive fails any of the tests, there is a possibility that your hard drive is facing some issues and should be changed. The program is easy to use and requires no installation. It also works with the latest version of operating systems such as Windows 10. Use Bart’s Stuff Test to check your hard drive. Click here to download the tool.
- For Video Card:-
5. Furmark (Windows and Linux)
Image source: ozone3d.net
FurMark is a GPU testing tool that utilizes fur rendering algorithms to calculate graphics card’s performance. It overheats the GPU (graphics processing unit) with the help of fur rendering algorithms and ensures that your graphics card is working okay under extreme stress conditions.
The FurMark user interface is quite user-friendly and includes features such as GPU temperature monitoring, burn-in test mode, stability or benchmark mode, and MSAA sample selections. You can record GPU temperatures on files. It also offers the option to check and compare your score online. Burn-in mode provides maximum stress to GPU.
Note:- GPU heats up quickly during ‘Burn-in’ mode.
To check power supply unit (PSU), use a multimeter and check it manually. The process is time-consuming but worth a try for the well-being of your computer.
Have a favorite check-up tool for Windows or Linux computers? Suggest to us in the comments below. You can also include any trick, tip or website that benefits users. Let us help each other.