Can I just start Prime95 by running torture test?
 

Hi, folks and administrators,

From the readme, I notice that it seems I should not need to care about settings like advanced and options,

So, may I ignore these settings I don't understand, just run torture test directly?

I'm worried that doing so will harm my computer...

I mean if I just want to use Prime95 testing my system stability, can I go directly to the torture test menu without checking other settings?

Yes you can
 

Yes you can. As long as you haven't overclocked your system there is no harm. Nevertheless, I suggest monitoring your CPU temps, for example with [URL="http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/"]CoreTemp[/URL]. All temps below 80° Celsius should be fine.
Finally, you still run Prime95 at your own risk (like thousands of others)
Consider joining GIMPS: Finding primes and factors is a great fun, believe me ;-)
Final remark:
Running Prime95 over years may shorten your CPU life (from 20 years to 18 years e.g.) because of [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromigration"]electro migration[/URL]. As long as you didn't fiddle with the voltages, imho no harm.

Brain:
Does anyone here even have a 10 year old machine doing serious work? I have a 12-year old running an in-cicuit emulator and Windows98, but I wouldn't consider it for Prime95.

[QUOTE=Christenson;263050]Brain:
Does anyone here even have a 10 year old machine doing serious work? I have a 12-year old running an in-cicuit emulator and Windows98, but I wouldn't consider it for Prime95.[/QUOTE]
No, I don't think so (given "serious work"). (Except the one who "blocked" our double double-check milestone, a P2 iirc). That's why I think electro migration is negligible. Further questions should be asked in a new thread.

:direction:Brain is right: