How to Properly Report You're System Specification

[Supernova]

I have seen so many generic specifications these days and in this forums that I decided to make a topic devoted to it. First thing you should do is download CPU-Z (http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php) and make sure to report back what it states including motherboard , memory type/speed/configuration , cpu etc... Next download GPU-Z (http://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/) and also include that information it displays. This is the format that should be used:

CPU:
Motherboard (include BIOS):
Video Card (and drivers version):
Memory(as CPU-Z states):
Hard Drive(optional):
Optical Drive(optional):
Power Supply(you have to open you're case or look at packaging):
Case(look at packaging or find box):
Soundcard:
Operating System:

Also you may wish to include whether the system is overclocked and which components are overclocked.

[Max Power]

What relevance has the case type? Is it that a small case might be insufficient for proper cooling?

[andersson]

Harddrive shouldnt be optional, big difference in arma.

[Soul_Assassin]

in case of case type just download a prog called HWMonitor and give stress temperature readings for the CPUs and GPUs, thats all u need to know. If its overheating then yo can bet that the case cooling is insufficient.

[Supernova]

Quote[/b] ]in case of case type just download a prog called HWMonitor and give stress temperature readings for the CPUs and GPUs, thats all u need to know. If its overheating then yo can bet that the case cooling is insufficient.

Most motherboard manfucaturers provide software that accurately reports case temperatures and also fan speeds etc....

Quote[/b] ]What relevance has the case type? ***Is it that a small case might be insufficient for proper cooling?

Definitely. If you are running a SLI/Crossfire setup you want to make sure that you have a full tower case with adequate cooling. It's very easy to have video cards overheat and exceed their maximum safe temperatures. That's why its best if you want to go with a multiple video card setup in SLI or Crossfire I recommend a nice full tower case with lots of cooling such as the Antec 1200 or the HAF 932 (Cooler master). Also a common mistake is to have a low wattage power supply. For example if you wish to go TRI-SLI GTX 280 the recommended safe PSU wattage is at least 850W but if someone doesn't realize this then they may buy possibly a 620W psu or something around that range and then report back BSOD's , crashing etc... all because there is not enough juice for the power supply to handle.

[Max Power]

Quote[/b] ]What relevance has the case type? ***Is it that a small case might be insufficient for proper cooling?

Definitely. If you are running a SLI/Crossfire setup you want to make sure that you have a full tower case with adequate cooling. It's very easy to have video cards overheat and exceed their maximum safe temperatures. That's why its best if you want to go with a multiple video card setup in SLI or Crossfire I recommend a nice full tower case with lots of cooling such as the Antec 1200 or the HAF 932 (Cooler master). Also a common mistake is to have a low wattage power supply. For example if you wish to go TRI-SLI GTX 280 the recommended safe PSU wattage is at least 850W but if someone doesn't realize this then they may buy possibly a 620W psu or something around that range and then report back BSOD's , crashing etc... all because there is not enough juice for the power supply to handle.

Then you probably want them to report where their case is located, then. If it is located under their desk with only a few inches clearance on the top, rear and side, then it has much less to do with their case and more to do with where it is located. They could have the grandest case imaginable, and if it's in a confined space, aspirating it's own hot air exhaust, they may as well have a shuttle pc.

[Supernova]

Quote[/b] ]
Then you probably want them to report where their case is located, then. If it is located under their desk with only a few inches clearance on the top, rear and side, then it has much less to do with their case and more to do with where it is located. They could have the grandest case imaginable, and if it's in a confined space, aspirating it's own hot air exhaust, they may as well have a shuttle pc.

I still wouldn't exclude the case. After all you can have a grand case with plenty of airflow and have lots of warm air buildup because it is under a desk. I also think that the users should report whether or not their video cards are also in Crossfire or SLI mode and whether those video cards are overclocked , video card bios etc...

[Max Power]

Quote[/b] ]
Then you probably want them to report where their case is located, then. ***If it is located under their desk with only a few inches clearance on the top, rear and side, then it has much less to do with their case and more to do with where it is located. ***They could have the grandest case imaginable, and if it's in a confined space, aspirating it's own hot air exhaust, they may as well have a shuttle pc.

I still wouldn't exclude the case. After all you can have a grand case with plenty of airflow and have lots of warm air buildup because it is under a desk. I also think that the users should report whether or not their video cards are also in Crossfire or SLI mode and whether those video cards are overclocked , video card bios etc...

Oh, I wouldn't either. I was just saying that where the case is located is important as well if someone is going to go so far as to figure out what kind of airflow any given model of case has.

[Yoma]

Oh boy, soon we'll have multipage documents when a user reports his specs.

Allso location of the user may be very important. I hear electricity in Gambia is not as stable as it is in England...