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    Buying "Open Box" Laptop

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by RbtNYC123, Mar 6, 2011.

  1. RbtNYC123

    RbtNYC123 Notebook Guru

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    I am considering purchasing an 'open box' laptop computer.

    What diagnostic software (freeware only please) can be recommended to check the thing out?

    I have 30 days to return it, and it is under full warranty but I'd still like to run tests on the hardware. Any suggestions? Thanks.
     
    RbtNYC123, Mar 6, 2011
    #1
  2. MisterE

    MisterE Notebook Guru

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    HWmonitor for temps and info

    CPUID - System & hardware benchmark, monitoring, reporting

    and memtest for checking RAM
    Memtest86.com - Memory Diagnostic

    Probably would need/want some sort of HDD and video card benchmarking utilities also.

    Generally I'd advise against buying open box items, but that's because I've worked at electronics shops before and seen why some are open box. However if you're keen and the item has a decent warranty, it can be worth it. Good luck.

    EDIT:

    See this post for more benchmark stuff

    http://forum.notebookreview.com/not...-how-benchmark-laptop-review.html#post7155329
     
    MisterE, Mar 6, 2011
    #2
  3. RbtNYC123

    RbtNYC123 Notebook Guru

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    Thank you Mr. E !
     
    RbtNYC123, Mar 9, 2011
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  4. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    You can also try Prime95. Unfortunately there aren't too many programs that test hard drives decently enough that is freeware. And no, SMART test does not indicate overall health of a drive (I've had tests fail read/write tests but pass SMART).

    I personally use PC Check for diagnostics.
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Mar 9, 2011
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  5. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    Just run a chkdsk on the hard drive. If it passes, it'll be fine. Plus there's the warranty. But tax the CPU with Prime95 and GPU with Furmark or MSI Afterburner / Kombustor and RAM with MemTest86+.
     
    HTWingNut, Mar 9, 2011
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  6. tilleroftheearth

    tilleroftheearth Wisdom listens quietly...

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    My testing of new hardware involves running multiple instances of memtest and prime95 simutaneously over 24-48 Hrs - all the while while PerfectDisk is defragging the drive every couple of hours (with a batch file fragmenting the drive in-between the PD runs).

    This is while the machine is on a good quality (Zalman NC2000) notebook cooler with the default install as shipped.

    If it passes this test, then I immediately burn the Recovery Disks, remove the HDD (to sell with the unit, eventually), install a new HDD and a clean install of Windows 7 x64 and all apps/utilities as required.

    This method has had me return more than a few systems within 3 days - but the systems I kept are still working... :)

    Good luck.
     
    tilleroftheearth, Mar 9, 2011
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  7. ssssssssss

    ssssssssss Notebook Evangelist

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    Why use a notebook cooler? I'd want to know if it could cool itself down efficiently when running high CPU/disk usage, surely that's quite an important consideration unless you always use a cooler?
     
    ssssssssss, Mar 9, 2011
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  8. tilleroftheearth

    tilleroftheearth Wisdom listens quietly...

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    I always use a cooler, but:

    The tests I'm doing are nowhere close to what any 'real world' scenario would bring the notebooks temps to. ;)

    I'm not trying to fry a new piece of equipment - just want to see how stable it is. :)
     
    tilleroftheearth, Mar 9, 2011
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  9. svl7

    svl7 T|I

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    24-48 hours prime95... holy... :eek: That's far away from any real life scenario, but it's definitely a good thing to stress test a new machine. Nevertheless this seems pretty extreme to me :D

    I'm curious about what you're doing with the GPU...
     
    svl7, Mar 9, 2011
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  10. tilleroftheearth

    tilleroftheearth Wisdom listens quietly...

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    GPU? As long as it can display my images I don't really care about it.
     
    tilleroftheearth, Mar 9, 2011
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  11. michael_recycled

    michael_recycled Notebook Deity

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    Hm. Most HDD manufacturers have free HDD diagnostics software available on their support website.

    Michael
     
    michael_recycled, Mar 9, 2011
    #11