6 Best GPU Stress Test Tools (Free/Online) May 2022
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 |
| AIDA64 | Windows | Paid | Very High | Learn More |
| Heaven Unigine | Windows, macOS | Free | Very High | Learn More |
| Furmark | Windows | Free | Extremely High | Learn More |
| MSI Kombustor | 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.
Link: https://www.3dmark.com/
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
3) AIDA64
AIDA64 Extreme 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. AIDA64 is known to be highly accurate. It may not be the most stress-building app, but it can easily stress most modern GPUs.
Features:
- AIDA 64 is a known name in stress testing PCs as well.
- One of the best tools to stress-test your PC.
- AIDA64 provides excellent hardware reports and statistics.
- It allows easy detection and diagnosis of errors as well.
- Excellent for detecting problems and troubleshooting
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) MSI Kombustor
MSI Kombustor, as the name suggests, is built by the folks at MSI. It’s an excellent tool to test and analyze a GPU’s graphic and thermal performance.
MSI made complex simulations and rendered that can stress test any graphics card. MSI used Furmark as the basis of its development to have similarities in GPU load and results. MSI has also developed another utility called MSI 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 MSI Afterburner.
- It can stress almost any consumer GPU on the market.
- MSI Afterburner allows overclocking as well as adjusting cooling.
Link: https://geeks3d.com/furmark/kombustor/
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:
⚡ 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.
