Sometimes it is immediately clear why your PC is malfunctioning, but in other cases the cause and therefore the solution is not so clear and it only becomes clear when you subject the suspicious components to a thorough investigation.
So stress testing and that is exactly what the tools from this article are intended for. We first look at what Windows already has on board in this area.
01 Windows Task Manager
Via the Windows Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) you can click on the Performance monitor processor and memory usage in real time. Windows 8 adds the transfer speeds of your disk and network adapter(s) (if you don't see any tabs in the Task Manager window, first click on More details). Memory is admittedly a somewhat complex story.
For example, you can read here how much physical memory has recently been used for system resources (Cached) and how much memory is immediately available to be used by processes, drivers, or the operating system (Available). More information about the meaning of the terms that you find in the Task Manager can be found here.
Windows 8 gives you a dynamic overview of processor, memory, disk and network usage.
02 Windows Performance Monitor
A not so well-known tool in Windows is the Performance Monitor. You start it with the command perfmon.msc (or perfmon in the Windows 8 Start screen). In the left panel, click Performance Monitor, via the green plus button you then add all the desired measurements.
You always indicate the intended computer (possibly another PC in your network) and the component that you want to monitor. Objects that can have a significant impact on system performance include Physical Disk (21), Memory (35), Processor (38) and Network interface (18): the number refers to the number of corresponding measurements. You can also take measurements over a longer period of time via the panel Data Collector Sets.
You can (stress) test countless small and large parts of your Windows system.
03 Windows Memory Check
Windows includes a separate utility that allows you to run a memory check. Go to the Windows Control Panel, type memory in the search box and click Diagnosing your computer's memory problems. Preferably select NowRestartand look for problems.
As soon as the tool starts up, you can use the F1 key to set the thoroughness of the test (Minimal, Default or Advanced), plus the number of audit attempts. You then start the tests with F10. That can easily take a few minutes. If the tool has indeed detected errors, check whether the RAM modules are plugged in properly, or try with other modules.
The tool runs several subtests, especially when you choose Extra.
04 Prime95
If Windows occasionally freezes, or programs freeze, then the processor or memory could be the cause. Prime95 checks how stable your system is and is particularly popular with overclockers.
The program subjects your processor and memory to severe stress tests by performing mathematical calculations. The tool offers a number of presets, where your choice determines which part is mainly tested: choose Small FFTs to test the processor, choose Blend to (mainly) check the memory. You should preferably run the tool in safe mode, for at least 24 hours. More information can be found on Prime95's Wikipedia page.
Convenient mathematical calculations are used here to put a heavy load on your processor and memory.
