OCCT for Windows

User Reviews

• Good Stress Test for CPU & Memory vs. CPU Temperature

  andrewbagginsFebruary 3, 2013

  Pros

  Shows how hot each core of your cpu gets when working at 100% cpu power. User can select light, medium or heavy workload and length of test. Default setting is 1 hour and large data set. Balanced stress test uses both cpu and RAM memory to confirm stable performance. Results can show if cpu, memory or cpu cooling has problems.

  Cons

  Display is rather "busy" looking as it displays many things at once. So,look mainly at core temps. and check that cpu usage is 100% and that a large chunk of RAM memory is being used (it's 2048MB on my PC) After the test is completed results are shown as simple graphs with little explanation or comment; therefore, it's not easy for beginners to interpret the results. So, it's better to watch the user display while the test is in progress, then use the report graphs/charts to confirm what you observed on the display during the test. Clearly, this requires the user's attention for at least part of the test to observe what's happening on the display. But, you hardly ever need to run a test like this except to confirm everything is running normally so it's no big deal to stay focused on it for a little while.

  Summary

  A computer should be able to have its cpu and memory work hard for 10 minutes, or an hour, etc. without overheating. OCCT gives the computer a balanced workout using cpu processing power, system RAM memory, and the computer's cooling fans. On the user display you will see the cpu "core" temperatures rise when the test begins. If cpu core temps. remain below, say, 80 degrees C. throughout the test then your system is probably OK. If the cpu core temps. remain below 70 deg. C. so much the better. If they remain below 60 deg. C. you must be using some serious after-market cooling! Expect fan noise in your computer case to get louder than usual during these tests. Obviously, if your computer slows down during the test or shuts itself off then you know there's a problem. With this much knowledge anyone can run the test and watch the display to see if their computer runs stable and avoids overheating when it's working hard.

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• Not sure how helpful??

  binzelOctober 24, 2012

  Pros

  Just got 1st report, and only gave 4 stars, as I feel sure the problem is more "operator uninformed" than an issue w/the software itself.

  Cons

  Lots of info, but not a lot of explanation as to what you are seeing on the graphs. For instance, it doesn't tell you (or I don't know where to look) what the optimum temperature is, so how do I know what it's showing me is a high or low temp. It doesn't ask what size PC or brand, so maybe it knows? Anyway, would be great to know what's "normal" or at least the normal range, kind of like when you get blood test results back. If you have no range, then what good is the report?? Again, this may simply be a case of operator uninformed, but for those of us who are NOT geeks, please add explanations below the grids.

  Summary

  Confused & found not helpful.

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