4. PC-Doctor Tests by Category

The tests in this package break down across a total of 16 categories, described in the following list; after this recitation, we’ll display some screenshots, so you can observe how the GUI versions of some of these items look and behave. Users can also choose to install the PC-Doctor software or simply to run it from the tool CD provided as part of the package.

• CPU tests: These include processor identification by maker, family, model, stepping and speed. The software can also test L2 cache, it works with up to 16 processors in multi-CPU architectures, and it can perform symmetric multi-CPU load testing.

• Memory tests: These provide support for most modern forms of RAM, including Rambus DRAM (RIMM), and memory speeds from 100 MHz up to DDR3. Tests up to 4 GB of physical RAM, with extensions to test above that limit to match CPU limitations (64 GB). Includes customizable memory pattern tests, code tests, bit and memory hole tests, internal and external cache memory tests, and memory size detection.

• System/motherboard tests: Inspect SMBus and controller (DOS only), serial and parallel ports, game port (DOS only), USB internal and external tests, system load tests, internal speaker test, CMOS test, PCI chipset and bus tests, hardware and temperature monitoring chip tests.

• Video tests: Includes AGP (all OSes) and AVI video (Windows only) tests, monitor and LCD flat panel tests (all), an exhaustive video test (DOS and Linux only), and 2D/3D testing (Windows and Linux only). Of all the testing that PC-Doctor performs, this is probably the most thorough and valuable component, because we don’t know of any other utilities that test every video RAM location on the graphics card, and every color for every pixel on all monitors attached to the PC-we even checked a dual-monitor system, and PC-Doctor detected and tested both LCDs thoroughly and completely.

• Floppy drive tests: Supports all models up to 2.88 MB; tests formatting, media swap, and read/write activities for LS-120 and -240 diskettes, as well as Sony HiFD 100 and 200 MB media.

• SCSI tests: Complete check of the full SCSI command set.

• Removable storage tests: Zip 100/250, LS-120 & 240, Sony HiFD 100/200 MB tests, write, read, and seek tests (all OSes), eject tests (DOS and Windows only), memory card reader test also available (Windows and Linux only).

• CD/DVD tests: ATAPI and SCSI devices checked (including SATA), CD-ROM audio play and audio cable test through sound card, DVD-RAM media surface scan, optical drive eject tray, reset and media detect operations, optical drive liner, random, funnel and seek tests, DVD play, read/write tests for CD-RW, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM media, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM linear read and compare tests.

• Modem tests: Dial tone, remote connection (DOS and Windows only), modem service classes and AT commands (Windows and Linux only), last call and connection quality tests (Windows only).

• Sound card and audio tests: Left, right and dual speaker tests, surround sound tests (DOS only), audio loopback, DMA, IRQ, and PnP tests (DOS and Windows only), audio frequency reproduction tests (DOS and Windows only), microphone, software mixer, and offset voltage, noise, cross-talk tests (Windows only), plus automated sound card tests (DOS and Windows only).

• I/O device tests: Keyboard and USB or PS/2 mouse tests (all), IEEE-1394 and joystick tests (DOS and Windows only), printer tests (all).

• Network tests: Network communications tests (Windows and Linux only), Intel 10/100/1000 Ethernet tests (DOS only).

• CardBUS and PC card tests: Covered for all operating systems.

• External loopback tests: DOS and Windows only, for intelligent parallel port and USB port, standard audio port, and game port checks; all operating systems for standard serial and parallel ports. This is where the loopback cable and adapters provided with the kit come into play.

• USB tests: USB internal register check and external loopback test (DOS and Windows only), UHCI and OpenHCI controller check (all OSes), USB device checks (Windows and Linux only).

• Internal storage tests: Up to 4 IDE devices; verify, read and write to drives, UDMA 133/100/66/33, SMART tests (HD only), SATA (all OSes), and read, write, seek, rewind, lock and unlock tests (Windows and Linux only).

• System information tests: Sysinfo summary, memory contents (all OSes), IRQ and DMA usage (DOS only), device drivers (all OSes), COM and LPT ports (DOS and Linux only), physical drives attached (all OSes), software interrupts (DOS only), video card (all OSes), logical disk drives (DOS only), SCSI devices (all OSes), IO use, IDE/ATAPI devices, and network information (DOS and Linux only), PCI devices and PC card/PCMCIA (all OSes), SMP information and Plug & Play ISA (DOS only), SMBIOS data (all OSes), DIMM/RIMM information and older PCMCIA devices (DOS only), Plug and Play devices (DOS and Windows), Display channel data (DOS only), SMART plus Memory size, CPUID, BIOS version, USB ports, and modem info (all OSes), loaded modules and OS version (Windows and Linux only); multimedia system and OLE classes (Windows only), system performance statistics and kernel mode device drivers (Windows and Linux only), and active tasks (DOS only).

This is a pretty comprehensive list; it includes some of the most exhaustive memory tests we’ve seen anywhere, and the most complete video tests we’ve ever encountered. That said, short of these areas, there’s not much else here you can’t get from freeware tools such as PC Wizard and CPU-Z. Commercial products such as Lavalys Everest ($35) offer all of this and more, with some benchmarks.