What lightweight live OS can I use to test an older laptop?
I have a laptop from around 2014–2016. It powers on, but it reports that there is no boot device, and the internal hard drive may have failed or…
hardware testing
What lightweight live OS can I use to test a laptop with no boot drive?
I have a laptop from around 2014–2016. It powers on, but the internal hard drive seems to have failed or become disconnected, so the firmware reports that there…
Can this YouTuber’s GPU comparisons be trusted?
I've been watching GPU comparison videos from a hardware testing channel, but a few results seem suspicious. In one test, the Radeon RX 7900 XTX appears to run…
What do I need to know before starting a PC flipping business?
I'm interested in buying used computer parts, assembling working PCs, repairing them when necessary, and reselling them for a profit. What skills should I learn first, how can…
Are a Ryzen 9 5950X and Crosshair VIII Dark Hero worth testing and building around?
I found a gutted tower at a yard sale with only an AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, its Noctua NH-D15 cooler, and an ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero…
Is OCCT a Reliable Faster Alternative to MemTest86 for Used RAM?
I'm considering buying two used 16GB DDR4 memory sticks from someone locally. The seller says they came from an Acer Nitro V laptop and has offered to install…
My PC is built and Windows is running—what should I do next?
The build is finished, Windows is installed, and the computer boots without any obvious problems. What is your usual first-day setup process? Do you update the BIOS and…
Is OCCT a reliable, faster alternative to MemTest86 for checking used RAM?
I'm considering buying two 16GB DDR4 sticks second hand. The seller says they came from an Acer Nitro V laptop and can install them in another laptop to…
How would you improve this budget PC test bench for buying used hardware?
I'm putting together an inexpensive test bench for checking hardware I buy from local marketplaces. The planned setup is an Intel i3-12100F, a motherboard that supports both DDR4…
How Can I Check Whether 9V AC Backfeed Damaged My Laptop’s USB Port?
I accidentally left an Arduino connected to a second power source while plugging it into my Dell E5470 laptop over USB. I later realized the external source was…
Is It Safe to Run a PC Outside of Its Case for Troubleshooting?
I'm facing a frustrating issue with my PC where the screen randomly goes dark or the system restarts multiple times. To troubleshoot this, I need to swap out…
Help! My PC Gets Stuck During Boot - What Could Be Wrong?
I've been struggling with my PC for a while now, and I'm really hoping someone can help me figure out what's going on. I'm using an Asus ROG…
How can I diagnose kernel panics on my old laptop?
I'm having trouble with my old ThinkPad 11e, which has an Intel Celeron N2940 processor. It seems to kernel panic with versions newer than 6.11, forcing me to…
Why Does My Used RTX 5060 Ti Work Perfectly When It Was Sold as Broken?
I recently picked up a used Gigabyte Windforce RTX 5060 Ti for $25 from a local marketplace, even though the seller claimed it didn't work. After bringing it…
Best Ways to Stress Test a Prebuilt PC Before Buying
I'm thinking about purchasing a prebuilt PC, whether it's used or refurbished. Since it won't be brand new, the warranty isn't long, sometimes just a month. What are…
Are Those Affordable Red RAM Testers Worth It?
I've got a bunch of RAM lying around, mostly DDR4 ECC and some standard DDR4 for desktops. Considering how RAM prices have increased lately, I want to test…
How Can I Test My PC Build Without RAM and a CPU Cooler?
I recently built my first PC, but I won't have the RAM and CPU cooler for another three weeks. Is there a way for me to test the…
Looking for 3DMark Alternatives on Linux
I've been trying to run 3DMark on Linux Mint (Cinnamon 64-Bit) through Steam, but no luck there. Now, I'm looking for alternatives to benchmark my CPU and GPU…
What to Check When Buying a Used GPU?
I'm considering purchasing a used 4070 Super and the seller has offered to let me inspect it before making a decision. What essential aspects should I evaluate to…
How accurate is UserBenchmark for measuring performance?
I recently ran a full performance test using UserBenchmark, and it showed that my Intel i9 12000K's clock speed is too low, plus my 4070 Ti Super seems…