Starcraft better then Prime95?

[EJ]

I ran Prime95 for 12 hours with no problems but Starcraft would kick me out to windows in under 5 minutes(against 1 computer not on the internet). Pretty strange I thought because the cpu was 1 degree cooler runing Starcraft then it was with Prime95 torture test. So I did some test shown below, I also underclocked(4:3) my memory and ran Sandra Memory bandwidth test 10 times in a row to make sure it wasn't the ram. This is a P4 1.6 at 2332.

CPU Volts || Starcraft Crashed in...
1.500 || 10 secs
1.550 || Under 5 minutes
1.600 || Play Starcraft forever

Anyways thought it was interesting.

EJ

 

[gururu]

I guess I am not surprised since starcraft probably requires a larger variety of operations opposed to the heavily demanding Prime95. I have issues with Prime95 only because it seems like a program devoted to crashing an overheated cpu. For God's sakes, who gives a darned about identifying new Mersennes primes!!!


gururu

 

[EJ]

Yep much more fun testing my CPU then prime95 .

I would like someone else to test this out too. Someone that knows their cpu it unstable at a lower voltage because maybe my computer is just weird.
I was playing against 1 computer not on the internet.

Thanks,
EJ

 

[SupermanCK]

it could be a driver problem...since starcraft been out for a long long LONG time...and it is really not that of a heavy load on your system...i could run starcraft on my old p1 166MMX+ system 5+ years ago

 

[paralazarguer]

If it's dropping to your desktop it's not a problem with yoru processor/ram/sysbrd. Most likely a software/driver problem.

 

[EJ]

Yeah but look how it scales compared to how much voltage I give the CPU. A driver error wouldn't be that consistant.

Why doesn't the driver error happen when the cpu it at 1.600 volts? I've tested many settings for many days before posting.

EJ

 

[gururu]

I have had the same issue with my overclock (1.6A@2.33). I could get into windows with default voltage, and even run some benchmarks. Other benchmarks would tweak. I upped the voltage 5% and all my problems went away.

So I don't understand, why don't you just leave your voltage at 1.6 or drop your clock?

gururu

 

[EJ]

I have.

My post is more a slap at Prime95 since it couldn't tell me for 12 hours what starcraft could for 5 minutes . I was perfectly happy at 2133 but someone in this forum who will remain nameless (Thugs...) made me want more power from all his cool exploits.

EJ

 

[Mikki]

That nameless person really has an effect on people...

 

[Tummy]

You are correct, starcraft is one of the most demanding applications you can run to test your CPU overclock... chances are, if youre cpu can play starcraft, it's 100% stable. Only thing past SC is whether or not 3d apps'll run.

 

[SupermanCK]

Originally posted by: Tummy
You are correct, starcraft is one of the most demanding applications you can run to test your CPU overclock... chances are, if youre cpu can play starcraft, it's 100% stable. Only thing past SC is whether or not 3d apps'll run.

are we all talking about STARCRAFT here??? or Warcraft 3?

 

[EJ]

Starcraft - for testing cpu stability. Warcraft 3 uses poly's so more work is done on the video card then Starcraft. Haven't purchased W3 yet Still getting over moving.

EJ

 

[SupermanCK]

i really don't think it has to do with vcore...since i have this game from the date it was out till now...and i ran it on a Pentium 166MMX+ without a problem...there are just something else beside vcore that can fix it...
but EJ...whatever makes you happy...i am cool with it...

 

[Acanthus]

actually for stability tests 3dmark loops are the best as far as im concerned

My cpu is only 5-9% in use while running Starcraft

 

[THUGSROOK]

i dont know what is better - but im losing faith in Prime95

 

[EJ]

Not sure what you're saying. Of course Starcraft ran fine on your old cpu but if your old cpu was overclocked beyond it's limits Starcraft would probably crash.

If you look at my first post and how it scales it shows it's the cpu that is failing it. I omitted other scores to keep it simple but will rerun other voltages so you can see that based on time and voltage it's actually the cpu.

EJ

 

[paralazarguer]

If you think that starcraft is stressing your CPU you're crazy. Prime 95 is incredibly demanding on your vcore and starcraft doesn't drop it at all. IT RAN ON A 166!!!!!! It's not demanding of the CPU. It willl show 100% usage but then so will all games. If you want a game to stress your CPU I would recommend tropico. The ammount of AI when the island gets large is insane. It stresses even this 2.13Ghz when the isnland is loaded down. Lagggg.

 

[ShinSa]

I had the exact same problem running starcraft on a Celeron 566 @850 w 1.85V on ABIT BE6-II. I've played Starcraft since it came out and have registered over 1000 wins but I just couldnt figure out how to make starcraft stable on that celeron. It kept on booting me out to windows. That CPU was stable as rock on anything except starcraft which drove me nuts!

Only way I could get it not to kick me out was to baby step it down from 100 Mhz FSB to 97Mhz which kept the CPU at 825.

I've ran starcraft on the same system with a 366 @ 550 and never had any problem.

 

[jar5tyle]

Originally posted by: 7757524
If you think that starcraft is stressing your CPU you're crazy. Prime 95 is incredibly demanding on your vcore and starcraft doesn't drop it at all. IT RAN ON A 166!!!!!! It's not demanding of the CPU.

I think she's right

EJ, I didn't catch it but your saying your system was stable running Prime95's tortue test at 1.5 volts? Correct?

You mentioned SC crashing after 5 mins, which was 1.55 volts

 

[mechBgon]

Perhaps Starcraft relies heavily on one particular section of the CPU, such as the MMX unit, and places a lot of stress on that section.

 

[paralazarguer]

Yeah, maybe on that P166.

 

[EJ]

Actually Prime95 and Starcraft task the vcore the same on my computer -0.05. Though that might because I have one of those power supplies that give you more juice when you need it. Got to look more into that.

Ran Prime95(12 hrs) at 1.550 same as starcraft. Of course tested those other volts though.

jar5tyle - Yeah you might be right. I'll check out some other apps to see if I can get them to do the same.

EJ

 

[galtsfan]

Thugsrook

i dont know what is better - but im losing faith in Prime95

Want to splain' what's caused your doubt?

 

[EJ]

Still have doubts after more testing...

Heat - I have program called CPU Stability Test that when run on CPU Warming Only setting will run the cpu 2 degree's hotter then Prime95.

Memory - Running Sandra Memory Bandwidth Benchmark 10 times in a row produced an error(reboot/black screen) but Prime95 could run fine on same setting 'a lot' longer then this short Sandra test.

Stabililty/Vcore - Again read my first post about Starcraft. Also on my computer Prime95 effects vcore the same as Starcraft and many other programs.

Anyway I just think there's an easier/faster way then Prime95. Just an opinion ! I'll probably still run in after I test with the above programs first though.

EJ

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: SupermanCK
it could be a driver problem...since starcraft been out for a long long LONG time...and it is really not that of a heavy load on your system...i could run starcraft on my old p1 166MMX+ system 5+ years ago

Starcraft has had many updates since then. Also, just because it runs on slower hardware doesn't mean it doesn't stress the new stuff (I'm sure Prime runs on a P1 also, and yet it tortures P4's).

I remember back on my P3 667 MHz (CA0 stepping - very hot chip), the CPU would heat up like a mofo during Starcraft - it would shoot up from 30-40C to about 60C! I think Starcraft is one of the best CPU torture programs out there!