For PC builders, testing a PC thoroughly — from both inside and outside — is of paramount importance before they finally move to a new computer. That’s why, in this article, we bring you the best tools to stress test GPU so you can have a good idea about your machine’s graphics rendering capability. We have been very selective about the software and have only mentioned those programs which are reliable and do not carry a risk of hardware damage. Now having said that, let’s go ahead and unpack the best programs for GPU stress testing.

Here, we have included 6 programs to stress test GPU which are mostly free for personal use. However, if you want an extended period of loop test then you may have to buy an advanced edition of the program. Nevertheless, here are the software programs that will allow you to overclock your GPU and test its stability.

  • Unigine
  • 3DMark
  • FurMark
  • MSI Kombustor
  • OCCT
  • AIDA64 Extreme

1. Unigine

Unigine creates one of the best gaming engines in the world. Apart from that, it also offers a few gaming tests that can stress test your GPU to no end. Few of the popular tests are Superposition, Heaven, and Valley. You can go with any of the mentioned tests, but if you truly want to stress your GPU, go with Superposition.

The best part about Unigine and Superposition, in particular, is that it renders an interactive environment that even the most detailed games don’t have. And on top of it, you can stress-test the graphically intensive environment for an extended time to check the GPU stability. Not to mention, Unigine also offers a benchmark score so you can easily compare your GPU score with other systems around the world.

3DMark is another popular way to stress test the GPU that also offers a benchmarking score. Similar to Unigine, it also brings a number of benchmark tests to measure your GPU’s capability. Some of the popular ones are Time Spy, Fire Strike, Tomb Raid, and more.

Many believe that FurMark is overkill for stress testing GPU and rightly so. It puts a tremendous load on the GPU to the point it can damage your hardware due to overheating. However, you can take its basic test which is a standard OpenGL test for measuring the GPU’s stability. You can even provide a custom preset such as resolution, dynamic background, screen mode, throttle time and more.

While the tests are highly advanced, you can’t monitor many essential metrics with the FurMark application. You will have to use a software like MSI Afterburner utility to keep an eye on GPU’s usage and temperature. To conclude, go with FurMark if you have the experience and expertise required in stress testing GPU.

MSI Kombustor is MSI’s well-known tool for stress testing and benchmarking the GPU. It’s specially designed to push your graphics card to the absolute limit through several intensive simulations and demos. Among other things, MSI Kombustor also measures the thermal performance and tests the stability of the GPU.

While OCCT is popularly known for stress testing CPU, it can also torture the GPU to its absolute brink. You can use OCCT to test the stability of your overclocking parameters like voltage, frequency, and resolution. It deploys OCCT’s version of the GPU stability test which is called the furry donut. The graphics rendering engine is so powerful that historically it has blanked out screens of computers powered by a major graphic card. As a result, the test has revealed major design flaws in the architecture of the GPU chipset.

Having said that, the best part about OCCT is that it’s not just a stress testing software, but also allows you to detect GPU errors and monitor the active readings. You can take advantage of the GPU: MEMTEST to find errors in the graphic’s card memory. All in all, OCCT is a multi-purpose tool to stress test the GPU and you should definitely give it a try. The only downside is that you don’t get a benchmark score, but that is passable.

Besides the CPU test, AIDA64 Extreme also offers a GPU stress test known as the GPGPU Benchmark test. It has a system stability test that includes the GPU and you can run a series of graphically intensive tasks to drive the computer to its brink. AIDA64 Extreme deploys a 64-bit multi-threaded stress testing module and uses OpenGL API to push the GPU to its maximum capacity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is GPU stress test safe?

It is safe to stress test your GPU and push its limits. However, it is not recommended to repeat these tests for a prolonged time as it may affect the thermals of the graphics card.

An ideal duration to stress test your GPU would be an hour. You can also make short 15-minute stress test sessions to make sure everything is working as intended.

The easiest way to find if your GPU is failing is to check if it crashes during a stress test. In addition, look out for glitches or frame drops in the process. You can also keep a check on the thermals to know if the GPU is getting overheated, which is an indication that your GPU is not in good condition.

That depends on why the GPU failed to function. For what it’s worth, you can try out the oven method in extreme cases if you have the resources.