Video card tester: 3D Benchmark — Video card speed test

6 Best GPU Stress Test Tools (Free/Online) Feb 2023

Upgrading a PC with a new GPU, overclocking your graphics card, buying a second GPU, etc., can sometimes create unwanted issues. A GPU Stress Test helps you monitor the performance and stability of your PC.

Gamers and professionals equally value the need for stress testing their hardware. It helps identify potential problems with your machine and it also helps reach a stable point beyond which your PC becomes unreliable. One of the most important things to stress test on a PC is the GPU. Following is a curated list of Top Apps to Stress Test a GPU with its best features and website links.

Best Benchmark Apps to Stress Test a GPU

Name Platform Price Stress Link
3Dmark Android, iOS, Windows, macOS Paid Very High Learn More
Paessler Windows, macOS Free Very High Learn More
V-Ray 5 Windows, macOS, Linux Paid Very High Learn More
Heaven Unigine Windows, macOS Free Very High Learn More
Furmark Windows Free Extremely High Learn More
Speccy Windows Free Extremely High Learn More

1) 3D Mark

3D Mark is one of the popular benchmark apps that brings the capability to push the GPU to its limits and bring accurate benchmarks.

It supports DirectX 11/12, ray tracing, DLSS, 4k resolution, etc.

One of the best things about 3D Mark is its cross-platform compatibility. 3D Mark is available on Android as well as Windows. It allows testing the performance and comparing it with the performance of PCs of many builders, gamers, and overclockers.

Features:

  • 3Dmark is the best when it comes to testing 3D performance.
  • Capable of stressing all consumer GPUs in the market today.
  • Allows comparing your benchmark scores with the benchmark scores.

Visit 3D Mark >>


2) Paessler

You might be trying to stress test GPUs to understand performance bottlenecks. But sometimes, these issues are tough to spot. Sometimes the issue is related to slow internet, unnecessary background tasks, and more. That’s why you need Paessler. It’s a game monitoring app that helps you find scope for improvement, discover bottlenecks, and enhance overall performance. It’s available as a free version, but you can unlock pro features by upgrading to a paid membership.

Features:

  • One of the best tools to discover bottlenecks
  • Excellent diagnostics help discover the scope for performance improvements.
  • Helps diagnose problems and perform troubleshooting

Visit Paessler >>


3) V-Ray 5

V-Ray 5 is one of the best PC utility apps. Gamers and working professionals love it alike. It’s a free tool, which makes it even better for enthusiasts. V-Ray 5 is known to be highly accurate. It may not be the most stress-building app, but it can easily stress most modern GPUs.

Features:

  • V-Ray 5 is a known name in stress testing PCs as well.
  • One of the best tools to stress-test your PC.
  • V-Ray 5 provides excellent hardware reports and statistics.
  • It allows easy detection and diagnosis of errors as well.
  • Excellent for detecting problems and troubleshooting

Visit V-Ray 5 >>


4) Heaven Unigine

Heaven Unigine benchmark is one of the best GPU stress test apps. Heaven Unigine stresses your GPU while also testing your PC’s performance, thermals, power draw, and cooling. It enables you to stress test your GPU while monitoring critical metrics to ensure that your computer is not damaged. It’s a highly power-intensive task. The benefit of this tool is that the Unigine benchmark can make far more detailed graphics. Unigine is available for free but has a paid version that includes some advanced features.

Features:

  • Reliable metrics and benchmark scores
  • Excellent for comparing previous-get graphics cards with current-gen graphic cards.
  • It renders images created on the Unigine engine itself.
  • Supports command-line automation for advanced use cases.

Link: https://benchmark.unigine.com/heaven


5) Furmark

Furmark stress test is one of the most demanding benchmarks of all. It’s a powerful and popular tool for proper testing. If you aren’t using one of the best GPUs on the market, you might struggle even to complete the test.

Their basic test is an excellent solution for testing GPU performance on all machines. However, If you use Nvidia GPUs, you have a bit of a problem. That’s because Nvidia automatically underclocks GPUs for Furmark. It’s a preventive measure to avoid harming the GPU due to excess stress.

Features:

  • Capable of stressing even the most powerful GPUs.
  • Custom rendering algorithm to push graphics card to its limits
  • It’s a free stress/stability test tool but still very effective.
  • Provides a basic test for stress testing lower and mid-range graphic cards.

Link: https://geeks3d.com/furmark/


6) Speccy

Speccy, as the name suggests, is built by the folks at Speccy. It’s an excellent tool to test and analyze a GPU’s graphic and thermal performance.

Speccy made complex simulations and rendered that can stress test any graphics card. Speccy used Furmark as the basis of its development to have similarities in GPU load and results. Speccy has also developed another utility called Speccy Afterburner. It allows you to see and modify your fan curves, customization, and many other options to help improve your thermals and cooling.

Features:

  • Based on Furmark’s rendering. It can stress almost all GPUs in the market.
  • Works best with Speccy Afterburner.
  • It can stress almost any consumer GPU on the market.
  • Speccy Afterburner allows overclocking as well as adjusting cooling.

Visit Speccy >>

Why Stress Test Your GPU?

Here’s why you should Stress Test Your GPU:

  • A stress test might be necessary even if the PC is running fine, is reliable, and has no problems. GPU tests bring out potential weaknesses and issues in your machine.
  • GPU Stress testing is critical when buying a second-hand graphics card. A stress/stability test helps truly determine any issues in the machine.
  • Even some perfectly normal-looking GPU could have severe issues inside.
  • Sometimes, the issue might be simple, like extensive dust in the fans. Other times a wrong clock speed or incompatibility with other hardware could be creating bottlenecks.
  • Furthermore, periodic GPU tests allow you to compare benchmark scores over time and know if your GPU performance is maintained or not.
  • GPU is NOT the only part of the testing. You can also test CPUs, RAM, and more.

Let’s now see the types of stress testing.

Types of Stress Testing

Stress testing isn’t limited to just GPUs. Stress testing, in general, involves testing any given component to test its performance under stress, compatibility with other hardware, reliability, and stability.

There are a variety of stress tests, including:

  • CPU Stress Test: Complex computational tasks are used to stress the CPU. CPU/GPU tests have always been popular. Many CPU benchmarking tools support GPU benchmarks as well
  • GPU Stress Test: Focused majorly on stressing the graphics card. Usually, involve games and rendering of complex 3D scenes
  • SSD/HDD Stress Test: Heavy read and writes, random seek, and other tasks help check the performance of the SSD/HDD
  • RAM Stress Test: writing and clearing a lot of data quickly from RAM to check its integrity.
  • Full PC Stress Test: Test each and every component mentioned above simultaneously.

You should always choose the most helpful type of stress test among the ones mentioned. A GPU test that spikes CPU usage is not the same as a dedicated CPU test. Both CPU and GPU should be tested separately.

Hard Drives, too, can cause problems in your PC. However, most modern machines use SSDs, which are significantly more reliable and rarely fail.

Whenever in doubt, all components should be stress-tested properly.

Best Games to Stress Test GPU

For GPU stress-testing, synthetic stress testing software is quite helpful. However, some of the games might assist you in stress testing your GPU.

Some of the games to stress test a GPU are:

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

Assassin’s Creed is one of the best to run GPU-only testing. Besides being a popular game, its GPU consumption and testing capabilities are unparalleled. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is more than 45GB in size. For accurate and reliable GPU testing, you must rerun the test 3-5 times non-stop. It’s necessary actually to stress the GPU.

Battlefield V

Battlefield V is one of the most intense games for stressing and pushing the graphics card to its limits. This test is quite fierce. There are multiple tests available to help you stress test your GPU. Battlefield is an excellent game developed by DICE. It supports raytracing, DLSS, high-resolution gameplay, and many other technologies.

Horizon Zero Dawn

Horizon Zero Dawn looks like an impressive title to stress test your GPU. However, its most significant drawback is that it supports DirectX 12 only. You can’t stress test your graphics card if you don’t have DirectX 12. Besides, it’s a bit too biased towards the newer GPUs. Horizon Zero Dawn on PC is about 67GB in size.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption is an excellent title to stress test your GPU. The built-in benchmark runs a variety of scenes, some involving heavy snow while others involving dense towns.

It is one of the most beautiful games. It has some of the most visually appealing graphics. Rockstar builds red Dead Redemption. Rockstar is known for excellent, high-quality games, including GTA V.

GPU Stress Test Online

GPU stress testing is power-intensive and requires many advanced programs to use the GPU’s potential fully. That’s why you need a GPU stress test application. They are often heavy and need a lot of features that aren’t easy to implement on a webpage. That’s why GPU stress tests are majorly standalone apps.

As a result, there isn’t a reliable way to stress test a GPU online. Coding web pages that demand so much GPU power is borderline impossible. Secondly, any modern browser would stop a webpage from consuming too many resources.

Most of the reliable GPU stress testing services are apps only. We recommend choosing from the stress testing apps and games shown to you earlier.

How to Stress Test a GPU?

Stress testing a GPU is pretty simple. Gaming and synthetic benchmarking tools help you stress your GPU in no time. But there are plenty of things to do with your machine. You want your device to be prepared to run a test.

Step 1) Set the desired clocking speed for all components of your PC.

Step 2) If running the GPU test on a laptop, ensure it is at 100% charge and still plugged in.

Step 3) Close all the apps and stop any unnecessary background activity.

Step 4) You need to open the GPU stress-testing tool of your choice.

Step 5) Make sure that your GPU reaches more than 90% usage and maintains it consistently.

Step 6) Run it for at least an hour continuously.

Step 7) Monitor your temperatures and other parameters. Ensure all your hardware temperatures remain within limits.

FAQs

❓ What is a GPU Stress Test?

A GPU stress test involves pushing your GPU to its absolute limits. Running a machine to its full potential for a long time creates “stress.” The day-to-day workload is usually insufficient for “stressing” any GPU. Modern GPUs are capable of working and can easily handle daily tasks without breaking a sweat.

That’s why you need a dedicated app for GPU Stability Test. A GPU stress test tries to run the graphics card at its full potential for a long time. That’s why these GPU stress tests often lead to overheating.

If a GPU handles that big test, it will surely take the usual workload. It gives the certainty that your GPU is performing well in everyday use. Often such tests are run on new PCs, upgraded PCs, or the ones that need troubleshooting.

✔️ Which are the best tools to Stress Test GPU?

Here are the Best Tools To Stress Test GPU:

  • 3D Mark
  • Paessler
  • V-Ray 5
  • Heaven Unigine
  • Furmark
  • Speccy

⚡ Can a stress test damage my GPU?

Yes, it can. Stress testing pushes the GPU to its limits. But if the tests go beyond that limit, there could be potential damage. During the stress test, always check your GPU performance and GPU temperature. A GPU stability test can stress your CPU and other components as well.

🚀 How long should a GPU stress test be?

A short GPU test is insufficient to test your GPU. Thermal throttling and other factors come up when you run these tests for long. You should run your GPU stress test for at least an hour to get good results. Anything beyond more than 2-3 hours is unnecessary.

🏅 Is it safe to stress test GPUs?

Yes. Most modern GPUs have good safety features to protect your PC from doing anything beyond safe limits. Most PC hardware built in the 21st century comes with good safety features to handle such problems. If done within limits with proper care and monitoring, the GPU test can be safe.

❗ What are the Important Safety Tips?

You should always maintain about 95-100% GPU usage and GPU temperatures less than 95° C or less. Anything that goes beyond it for long should be considered risky. In that case, please stop the test immediately.

System Test on the Mac App Store

Screenshots

Description

GPU Benchmark tests your GPU loading it with lots of graphical objects to see how it manages the work. There is a range of parameters you can set to change the load on your video system such as test duration and number of objects. Make all necessary adjustments in the app’s window.

RELIABLE TOOL TO CHECK THE GRAPHICS PROCESSOR
Find out your Mac’s FPS

ADJUST DIFFERENT PARAMETERS
Set the test duration and choose the number of objects and resolution

CONVENIENT DISPLAY OF THE INFORMATION
Full-screen mode available

Privacy Policy: https://anycasesolutions. com/privacy
Terms Of Use: https://anycasesolutions.com/tos

Version 1.2.4

We’ve fixed minor bugs that might cause some inconveniences to users. This version is the right version for you.

Ratings and Reviews

19 Ratings

Doesn’t test full GPU bandwidth

This isn’t a great GPU stress tester… my Mac Pro GPU is only utilized 25% when running, and yet the benchmark only reports that my GPU can run the test at 3.2 FPS. My GPU pulls nearly 200 W under full load, and yet my power monitor only reports 65 W to the GPU (versus other benchmark tools, which pull 200 W). Not sure what math it’s running on the GPU, but certainly it isn’t a useful test.

Update: After this program’s latest update, my GPU is now magically able to run at 15.5 FPS, but is now pulling less power (50 watts)… so the FPS increased 5x, but the power consumption dropped. These are pretty wild changes between versions.

Also, downgraded to 1 star, because the latest version now contains nonstop advertisements, and now wants me to pay for this useless software; I can run one free (useless) test per 24 hour period.

Horrible

Can’t even use it without agreeing to a subscription.
Horrible. Will never use again.

Waste of time

The terrible waste of time, so many ads a program cannot even work properly.

The developer, Any Case Solutions, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy.

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

  • Location

  • Identifiers

  • Usage Data

  • Diagnostics

  • Other Data

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

Seller
Any Case Solutions, OOO

Size
26.3 MB

Category

Productivity

Age Rating
4+

Copyright
© Any Case Solutions

Price
Free

  • App Support

  • Privacy Policy

More By This Developer

How to check the video card on the computer for serviceability — 5 steps

Hello everyone. A client contacted me with a video card problem. When you start the computer, the following happens: ripples appear on the screen, sometimes it reboots twice and everything is fine. But as soon as you start the game, play a little and the blue screen crashes and the computer goes into reboot. What to do with it?

Or another case: the client wants to upgrade his computer, replace the video card with a more powerful one, but he only has enough money for a used one. How in this case not to buy a marriage and not lose money? nine0003

Often, a video card malfunction may not appear at first, and then you will notice it, but it will be too late. In this article I will tell you how to check the video card on your computer for performance.

Contents of the article:

  • 1 The main symptoms of a video card malfunction
  • 2 Step 1. Checking the temperature of the video card
  • 3 Step 2. Visual inspection of the video card
  • 4 Step 3. Checking the video card using Windows
  • 5 Step 4. Stress test of the video chip using Furmark
  • 6 Step 5. Checking the memory of the video card
  • 7 When do you need to check the video card for serviceability?
  • 8 How to check a video card without a computer using a tester

The main symptoms of a video card malfunction

The main video card malfunctions that a PC user encounters:

  • There is no image on the monitor screen — what to do in this case is described in detail in the article — 9 main reasons why the monitor does not turn on when you turn on the computer
  • Video card overheating.
  • Image color is not correct.
  • Artifacts appear — ripples, multi-colored stripes on the screen.
  • Periodically crashes blue screen with an error.
  • The video driver is not installed.

Video card failure — vertical stripes on the screen

If the video card shows without ripples, this does not mean that it is 100% working. In normal mode, it can work without glitches. But when you start games or programs that use 3D graphics, a faulty video card may fail:

  • abyss picture;
  • or ripples appear on the screen;
  • fly out the program;
  • or the computer will suddenly shut down.

All of these symptoms indicate a problem with the video card.

If you need computer help, then leave a request. To do this, join the VK group. Subscribers 10% discount .

I will help you solve a problem with a PC or laptop. Join the VK group — ruslankomp

I’ll show you step by step how I check the video card for performance:

  1. First, I measure the temperature of the video card to detect overheating.
  2. Then I examine the video card externally.
  3. Troubleshooting through the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.
  4. Running a stress test with Furmark.
  5. Testing video card memory.

And now I will describe each step in more detail.

Step 1: Check the temperature of the graphics card

Under load, the temperature of the graphics card should not exceed 90 degrees Celsius. It is optimal if the temperature at load is within 70 degrees. nine0003

When the video card overheats closer to 100 degrees, protection is triggered and the computer turns off.

We will check the temperature with the Aida64 program — download here.

Install and run the program.

  1. Open the list Computer .
  2. We select Sensors , in the right column we see the temperature of the video card — Diode GPU .
  3. Opening the menu — Service .
  4. Press — System stability test as shown in the picture below.

Starting in Aida 64 — system stability test

Now, to check the temperature of the video card under load, you need to check the box next to Stress GPU and press Start .

Checking for overheating of the video card using the Aida64 stress test

After 2-5 minutes, we look at the temperature. In my case, the temperature of the video card shows 49 degrees.

Video card temperature in Aida64

If the temperature on your video card rises above 80-90 degrees, then you need to clean the video card from dust, replace the thermal paste and check the rotation of the fans.

Step 2. Visual inspection of the video card

To do this, I examine the video card for signs of overheating on the video card.

Traces of overheating on the video card board, which is fraught with chip failure.

If there are signs of overheating, then the cooling system is not coping. First of all, you need to replace the thermal paste.

Next, I inspect for the presence of swollen capacitors — if there are any, you need to solder them to serviceable ones. If you do not know how to solder, then contact the service center. nine0003

This is what swollen capacitors look like.

Swollen capacitors on the video card that need to be replaced

And this is how good capacitors should look like.

Whole capacitors on the video card

Usually, after resoldering the capacitors, the video card should work normally.

Notice how the fans turn. Spin the fan with your finger. If the fan is wedged, there is a lot of play, or it does not spin at all, then you need to change the fan.

Otherwise, the video card will overheat. And this is fraught with serious damage in the form of a chip dump.

Checking the rotation of the fans on the video card

If everything is fine with the fans, but the temperature is slightly too high. You can reduce the temperature by manually adding fan speed through the program — MSI Afrerburner.

To do this, launch the MSI Afterburner program.

  1. Disable the mode Auto .
  2. We add the fan speed with the slider to the right. nine0012
  3. Click the checkmark to apply the settings.

MSI Afterburner program for overclocking and configuring the video card

Step 3. Checking the video card using Windows

After external inspection and checking the temperature, we check the video card through the standard Windows system application — the DirectX diagnostic tool.

To do this, press Win + R and enter the command in the field — dxdiag .

Win + Rdxdiag hotkeys — launch DirectX

Go to tab Screen , in the note field we see that no problems were found.

DirectX Diagnostic Tool

If there are any problems in the note field, then you need to reinstall the video driver and check again through dxdiag.

Step 4. Stress test the video chip using Furmark

Next, proceed to the main step — the stress test of the video chip. If the video chip is faulty, then this test will immediately show the fault of the video card.

Stress test will be carried out using the Furmark program — download here. nine0003

After downloading and installing, launch the stress test with the button — GPU stress test , then press GO .

Launching the Furmark program to check if the video card is working properly.

It is enough to carry out the stress test for 3-5 minutes, since the load on the video card is high. During this time, if the picture did not disappear, artifacts did not appear, the computer did not go into reboot, then everything is fine with the video chip.

Video card test with Furmark

If, during the test, the picture disappears and the computer goes into reboot, then the video chip is faulty. Such a video card will show in normal mode, but in games the video driver will constantly fly out and not respond.

If the video card fails, the video driver often crashes

Step 5. Checking the memory of the video card

To diagnose the video memory, we will use the program — Video Memory Stress Test.

Unpack and run the program.

  1. Put a tick — Signal if there are errors .
  2. In the list of devices, select your video card, in my case it is Nvidia GeForce GTS 250 .
  3. Press Start .

Starting a video card memory check for serviceability

At the end of the test, if there are no errors in the video memory, a message will appear — Cycle completed (0 errors found).

Checking video memory — no errors

If there are errors in the video memory, the program will give a sound signal.

In what cases should a video card be checked for serviceability? nine0029

  1. When buying a video card from hand, especially after mining.
  2. After repairing the video card: warming up or replacing the video chip.
  3. Before installing heavy games.
  4. If there are problems with the computer and you need to find out what is the cause of the breakdown.

How to test a video card without a computer using a tester

If you order a used video card from an ad with delivery from another city. Then the tester will help you identify the malfunction of the video card without a computer. You will not need to bring the system unit and monitor with you to the point of issue. nine0003 Tester for checking the video card for serviceability without a computer

The tester works simply:

  1. Plug the video card into the PCI-E slot.
  2. Press the button Power on the tester.

If all the lights come on without delay, then this indicates that the video card is working.

The tester shows that the video card is working properly.

If, when the tester is turned on, not all the lights light up or some lights light up with a delay, then such a video card is faulty. We refuse the goods at the point of issue and the reserved money is returned to you back. nine0003 Video card tester indicates that the video card is not working properly