Encountering a window titled “Hardware Tester” when launching your game might seem alarming, but it’s actually a helpful indicator from the game itself. This window isn’t a cause for panic, but it does signal a potential issue with your computer’s hardware. This article will explain why the Hardware Tester window appears and guide you through the necessary troubleshooting steps.
Why Does the Hardware Tester Window Appear?
The Hardware Tester window is designed to appear when the game detects what it identifies as a “suspicious crash” during startup or while you’re playing. These “suspicious crashes” are categorized as such because our data suggests they are more likely to be related to hardware problems rather than software glitches within the game itself. Essentially, this window is an early warning system, alerting you to a possible hardware malfunction that could be leading to instability and crashes in your gameplay experience.
Decoding a Suspicious Crash
What exactly constitutes a “suspicious crash”? It’s a crash that exhibits patterns that strongly suggest hardware failure as the underlying cause. While software bugs or other unforeseen issues can sometimes be the culprit, a significant number of these crashes have been directly linked back to hardware components, most notably the CPU, that may not be operating as they should. The game’s internal diagnostics flag these crashes as suspicious to prompt users to investigate their hardware.
The Accuracy of the Hardware Tester: What to Expect
It’s important to understand that the Hardware Tester is a valuable, yet imperfect tool. Think of it as a preliminary health check for your system’s hardware. It’s designed to flag potential hardware problems quickly, but it’s not an exhaustive or definitive diagnosis. This means there’s a possibility of “false negatives.” In other words, the Hardware Tester might indicate no issues even when a hardware problem does exist.
Therefore, if the Hardware Tester doesn’t detect any problems, but you continue to experience game crashes, it doesn’t necessarily mean your hardware is completely healthy. Further, more in-depth investigation might be required to pinpoint the root cause of the crashes.
Steps to Take When the Hardware Tester Window Persists
The Hardware Tester window is persistent for a reason: it wants you to take action. The primary action it prompts is to run a hardware test. The window is programmed to reappear until your system successfully passes a hardware test. Once a test is passed, the window will be suppressed for a week, regardless of any subsequent suspicious crashes that may occur within that timeframe. This temporary suppression is designed to prevent repeated interruptions if a transient issue was resolved by the test.
However, if the Hardware Tester window reappears after this week-long period, and your game continues to crash, this is a stronger indication of an underlying hardware problem that the initial quick test might have missed. In such cases, it is highly recommended to employ a more specialized and rigorous hardware testing tool to gain a clearer, more comprehensive understanding of your system’s overall health and identify any potential faults.
Prime95: A Recommended Tool for Stress Testing
For a more thorough examination of your hardware, we recommend using Prime95. Prime95 is a well-regarded and robust tool specifically designed for stress testing your CPU and system as a whole. It works by pushing your hardware to its operational limits, making it highly effective at uncovering hidden problems with your CPU, RAM, and other critical system components that might be causing game crashes and system instability.
How to Effectively Use Prime95 for Hardware Testing
To use Prime95 to test your hardware, follow these steps:
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Download and Installation: Begin by downloading Prime95 directly from the official website. Ensure you download the correct version for your operating system. Once downloaded, install the program on your computer.
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Select the Stress Test Type: Launch Prime95. You will be presented with several testing options. For a comprehensive hardware stress test, select either “Blend” or “Small FFTs.” “Blend” tests a wider range of components including RAM, while “Small FFTs” focuses primarily on the CPU. For initial troubleshooting related to game crashes, “Blend” is often a good starting point.
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Run the Test and Monitor: Initiate the test and allow it to run for several hours. During the test, closely monitor your system for any signs of instability. Key indicators of hardware issues during a Prime95 test include:
- System crashes (Blue Screen of Death, unexpected shutdowns, or restarts).
- Errors reported by Prime95 itself.
- Overheating (use hardware monitoring software to check CPU and GPU temperatures).
If your system crashes or Prime95 reports errors during the test, it strongly suggests a hardware problem. Refer to the section “What should I do if the test fails?” for guidance.
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Contact Support if Issues Persist: If Prime95 completes without detecting any issues, but you continue to experience crashes in the game and the Hardware Tester window reappears, it’s advisable to contact our support team. They can provide further assistance and explore other potential causes for your game crashes.
What Should I Do If the Test Fails?
If either the game’s built-in Hardware Tester or the more comprehensive Prime95 test indicates a failure, it signifies that there are indeed problems with your hardware. This means your system is unable to reliably perform basic computational tasks, which is essential for stable gaming. For detailed steps on how to proceed when a stress test fails, please visit our dedicated Stress Test Failed page. This page offers specific troubleshooting advice and guidance for addressing hardware failure issues.
