How Do Ya Tell if a CPU is Bad ???

[Gt3guy5137]

I'm Just Curious how ya can tell a Pentium 3 Cpu Coppermine is Dead since usually ya can see burnt Spots or Smell a burnt Smell other then that Nothing seems to look out of place just doesn't seem to work anymore Maybe some of ya out there have some good advice or know whats going on thanks again.


P.S. Almost Forgot also if the blue turned black or perhaps ya chipped the cpu are pretty much the most i know ya can do to destroy a cpu other then that i have not done any of these things to the cpu.

[crossedup]

CPU's in general dont really GO bad for no reason.

Overclocking and bad cooling will get them. No, there really is no visible signs usually.

Ive got a pile sitting next to me right now im trying to figure out, as an example. A Duron 600 and 750 and an Athlon 1600 and 1800. No visible signs but I cant get them to do anything.

I have seen examples of chipped ones that work, just depends on where.

[EvilRick]

About the only way to tell is by testing. If you put a bad CPU in a known good mobo and it doesn't work, it's a safe bet to say the CPU is bad.

If you notice discoloration or visual defects, then yes, that's a good sign it's bad as well.

[roley]

It is often difficult to tell whether CPUs are suffering...older socket style CPUs can have memory chips on the top surface touched and damaged...I have read about problems after heat transfer compound was added and then spread to places it should not have gone.

Slot loaded CPUs are very vulnerable to damage if the machine is dropped...[i think everything is ]

CPUs can meltdown fast...and fans that arent working properly can damage the capacitors and so on supporting the CPU making one suspect the CPU...swollen or leaking capacitors are a signal of this...but some people miss it.

But as mentioned by others, the only way to test anything for certain is by swapping.

If you are lucky enough to find a tester for a CPU, then it may pick something up...but I do not know if such a tester exists...

Swapping is the key

Roley
Black Frog Tech

[high63294]

In the case that you want to tell if a CPU is running ok I used this program called "Hot CPU Tester" download it at": http://www.7byte.com/index.php?page=download

[sweeper2]

what would usually cause a burnt mark on the bottom of a socket A Athlon xp 2700.. the core is perfect and the top is fine/pins are all ok.. just one day a smell came from my pc and i traced it to the cpu where a burnt mark was on the bottom...

AMD gave me a RMA#, going to send it for a replacement (I Hope)