Troubleshooting Guide

Problem:

Your benchmark results show lower scores than expected for your hardware.

Solutions:

1. Update Drivers: Ensure all drivers (GPU, chipset, BIOS) are up to date. Outdated drivers can significantly impact performance.
2. Close Background Apps: Close unnecessary applications before running the benchmark. Antivirus, browsers, and other software can consume resources.
3. Check Power Settings: Set Windows power plan to "High Performance" in Control Panel > Power Options.
4. Monitor Temperatures: Use monitoring software to check if thermal throttling is occurring. Overheating can cause performance drops.
5. Disable Overclocking: If you've overclocked, try running at stock speeds to see if instability is causing issues.
6. Check for Malware: Run a full system scan to ensure no malware is affecting performance.

Problem:

The benchmark crashes, freezes, or stops responding during testing.

Solutions:

1. Run as Administrator: Right-click UserBenchmark and select "Run as administrator" to ensure proper permissions.
2. Disable Antivirus Temporarily: Some antivirus software may interfere. Temporarily disable it and test again.
3. Check System Stability: Run Windows Memory Diagnostic to check for RAM issues. Use chkdsk for hard drive problems.
4. Update Windows: Ensure Windows is fully updated. Missing updates can cause compatibility issues.
5. Check Event Viewer: Open Windows Event Viewer to check for system errors that might indicate hardware problems.
6. Test Individual Components: Run tests on CPU, GPU, and RAM separately to identify the problematic component.

Problem:

UserBenchmark fails to install or shows installation errors.

Solutions:

1. Check System Requirements: Ensure you're running Windows 7 or later (64-bit).
2. Disable Antivirus: Temporarily disable antivirus during installation, then re-enable it.
3. Run Installer as Admin: Right-click the installer and select "Run as administrator".
4. Check Disk Space: Ensure you have at least 100 MB free space on your system drive.
5. Download Again: The download may be corrupted. Delete the installer and download a fresh copy.
6. Check Windows Defender: Windows Defender might be blocking the installation. Add an exception or temporarily disable it.

Problem:

Your graphics card isn't detected or shows very low performance scores.

Solutions:

1. Update GPU Drivers: Download the latest drivers from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel's website.
2. Check GPU Connection: Ensure the GPU is properly seated in the PCIe slot and power cables are connected.
3. Check Power Supply: Ensure your PSU provides enough power for your GPU. Check GPU power requirements.
4. Monitor GPU Usage: Use GPU-Z or MSI Afterburner to check if the GPU is being utilized properly.
5. Check Thermal Throttling: Monitor GPU temperatures. Overheating can cause severe performance drops.
6. Reset GPU Settings: Reset GPU overclocking settings to default and test again.

Problem:

Benchmark completes but results don't upload or compare with other users.

Solutions:

1. Check Internet Connection: Ensure you have an active internet connection during the benchmark.
2. Check Firewall: Windows Firewall or antivirus may be blocking the connection. Add UserBenchmark to exceptions.
3. Check Proxy Settings: If using a proxy, ensure it's configured correctly or try disabling it temporarily.
4. Retry Upload: Sometimes network issues cause temporary failures. Try running the benchmark again.
5. Check UserBenchmark Servers: Visit our status page or social media to check if servers are operational.
6. Disable VPN: If using a VPN, try disabling it as it may interfere with the connection.

Problem:

Your CPU is running below its rated speed during benchmarks.

Solutions:

1. Check Power Plan: Set Windows power plan to "High Performance" mode.
2. Update BIOS: Outdated BIOS can prevent proper CPU operation. Update to the latest version.
3. Check CPU Temperature: High temperatures can cause throttling. Ensure cooling is adequate.
4. Disable Power Saving: In BIOS, disable C-States and other power-saving features temporarily.
5. Check CPU Usage: Use Task Manager to ensure no background processes are limiting CPU performance.
6. Reset BIOS Settings: Reset BIOS to default settings and test again.