The Advanced 3D Graphics Test has been designed to benchmark the how well your video card performs when using the most common features of DirectX. It renders a number of scenes to the screen in windowed or full screen mode. As such, PerformanceTest requires DirectX version 9 or above. The Unigine suite has been the go-to benchmarking software for graphics cards for years. If, for example, an overindulgent overclock has the possibility to damage your GPU over the long run, Unigine engines will make sure they benchmark and stress-test the GPU to ensure maximum performance and stability.
Why should I consider installing a GPU Benchmark Software for Windows?
Put simply, the GPU or Graphical Processing Unit, which comprises video and graphics cards, helps your computer render video, images, and 2D and 3D animation.
Now imagine this scenario, you put in a shiny new graphics card but still don’t get to see the performance you expect out of it in a game. Why is that happening? Is your graphics card any less than one of its counterparts.
It is at this point that a GPU benchmark test can prove to be useful. This test is used to compare the performance, efficiency, and speed of your Graphics Processing Unit. We have eased out things for you. Here we have mentioned some of the best GPU Benchmark Software.
First thing’s first, what is a GPU Benchmark Software? Read on!
What Is A Graphic Card Benchmark Software?
A graphics card benchmark software or GPU benchmark software is an accurate way of putting GPUs to the test and pushing them to their maximum limit. This let us insight on important facets such as temperature, FPS, clocking speed, load, model name, how much stress is put on the GPU, etc. Plus, they are also a great way to check the graphics card configuration.
What Are The Types Of Benchmarking Software?
There are two types of benchmarks – (i) Real-time and (ii) Synthetic.
Real-Time Benchmarking:
It is also known as real-world benchmarking, which gives accurate insights on frames per second, and that is while a gamer is playing a game or while a video is run.
Synthetic Benchmarking:
Are more like artificial programs that try to match characteristics of a set of large programs. It displays big numbers that are not as accurate as real-time benchmarking.
Top 15 Best Graphic Card Benchmark Software
We’ll now look at some of the best Software for GPU benchmarking, which you can install or access for free.
1. MSI Afterburner
Undoubtedly one of the best free GPU benchmark software available gives you the complete control of your graphics card and keeps track of its overclocking. With MSI Afterburner, you can strike the right balance between GPU temperature and performance.
Other Features:
- Can be used with all brands of graphic cards
- A variety of overclocking tools that give access to your graphics card settings
- OC Scanner for performance boost
- The hardware monitor keeps tabs on clock speed, temperature, usage, and voltage
- Custom fan profile
2. 3DMark Basic Edition
This is another graphics card test software that tells you how the graphics card in your computer fairs up compared to other graphics cards. For installing the free version, you can head to the steam store and click on the “download demo” button. Supports Time Spy, Fire Strike, Night Raid, and Sky Diver benchmark tests for Windows 10 PC.
Other Features
- Automatically detects your hardware and suggests the best benchmark.
- Comprehensively displays clock speeds, changes in frame rate, and GPU temperatures
- Customizable settings
- Available in several languages
3. Catzilla
Be it a high-resolution video or a game; the GPU has to be powerful enough to sustain both. And, if you have a spec of doubt whether your computer will be able to handle such games and videos, test it with Catzilla. It is a free GPU benchmarking program that uses algorithms found in high-resolution PC video games and other graphic-intensive applications.
Graphic Card Benchmark 2019
Other Features (of the free version):
- You can enable a 720-pixel test
- Record and compare scores with others and send them to Catzilla’s top list
- After benchmark results pertaining to hardware and software are provided, you can tweak PC settings
- Also tells you if your Windows needs and updates and if drivers are outdated
4. GFXBench
When talking about GPU test software, a name that immediately comes to mind is GFXBench. It is a high-end GPU benchmarking application created for the Next-Gen graphics. Once you select your desired API, you can start the test and compare the tests with other similar graphics card.
Other Features:
- Easy to use interface which lets you perform in-application comparisons
- Detects API of your device and runs high-level tests accordingly
- Can even test low-level API’s like DX12, Metal, and Vulkan
Also Read: How To Reinstall Graphics Card Driver
5. UserBenchmark
UserBenchmark is graphics card test software that has already been tested by millions of users on their computers. With this application, you can test how speedy your GPU is in less than a minute. If you are making a buying decision for your next GPU, you can visit their website and look at the topmost graphic cards and compare them with other counterparts.
Other Features:
- Stresses GPU to estimate 3D gaming performance via DirectX
- Measures GPUs ability to render frames
- Calculates GPUs performance with regards to geometry shading
6. Unigine 2
Is one of the best free GPU benchmark software which tests the graphics performance of your computer. It even tests your GPU’s stability and checks if it can work in a high-intensive gaming environment. You can trust the results given by Unigine Heaven as it offers 100 % GPU bound benchmarking. Apart from measuring the performance of the GPU, it even monitors clocking.
Other Features:
- Real-time scene rendering
- Supports multi-monitor configurations as well as stereo 3D
- Checks your PC for the cooling system and power supply
- Presence of different themes – Valley, Superposition, Tropics, Sanctuary, and Heaven
7. MSI Kombustor
MSI Kombustor is a dedicated GPU benchmark and stress test software that uses cutting edge Vulkan and OpenGL API. It is based on the renowned FurMark software. MSI Kombustor is not just a GPU test software, but it even pushes your GPU to perform to the maximum limit.
Other Features:
- Decent and easy to use customizable interface
- Shows exact temperature and how much load a game or video is putting on it
- A burn-in benchmarking tool which tests your GPU’s thermal performance as well as stability
8. OCCT
Is a no-nonsense GPU test software that is known to put heavy loads on your computer’s hardware, but it gives accurate hardware errors. It tests overclocking parameters like frequency, voltage, and resolution.
Other Features:
- Use MEMTEST to check errors in graphic card memory and POwer supply test for testing PSU
- Has a powerful graphics rendering engine
- Free for personal use and payable for corporate use
- Detects most errors in 5 minutes of deployment
9. PassMark
Another software that can tell you that your GPU is worth the money is PassMark. Using its PerformanceTest, you can test your GPU. It is supported on Windows 10/ 8/ 7 and even the lower versions as well. You can install the trial version for 30 days.
Other Features:
- Compare how your GPU is fairing up in comparison to other GPUs
- 2D graphic test include bitmaps, fonts, text, vectors, and other GUI elements
- Run PerformanceTest directly from the USB
- 3D graphic test include DirectX 9-12, OpenCL tests and DirectCompute tests
10. Novabench
A free GPU benchmarking program, Novabench assesses both the graphic and processing abilities of your computer. After determining these parameters, it gives you a score that you can further share with your friends. It is quick in delivering results and takes merely a couple of minutes.
Other Features:
- Gives a comprehensive comparison of the specs
- You may not need to install it, and it can run directly using USB
- GPU tests include OpenCL compute test and Direct3D 11/ Metal graphics test
11. FurMark
If you are a gamer and looking for a lightweight graphic card benchmark software, your search might just end at FurMark, which comes from Geeks3D. It might not be as flashy as its counterparts, but it gives you a sufficient amount of information pertaining to your graphics card. And, it is a decent GPU stress test and stability tool.
Other Features:
- Can also efficiently monitor GPU temperature
- Contains GPU benchmarks for presets ranging from 720p to 4K
- Utilizes GPU-Z, GPU Shark, and CPU burner tools
12. Superposition
Superposition comes from the makers of Heaven. It offers exceptional stability and performance tests for PC hardware, including power supply, video card, cooling system, etc. It’s free of cost, and it can compare your graphics card with the leaders on Unigine. The visuals are powered by Unigine 2 engine.
Features:
- Offers clock monitoring and GPU testing
- Comes with dynamic lighting technology
- You can check your GPU’s performance of integrated mini-games
- Customizable settings
13. Cinebench 15
Though it is primarily intended to be a CPU benchmarking application yet, it is undoubtedly one of the best software to test graphic cards. It runs on OpenGL API. It lays down a comprehensive comparison of your graphic card compared to other brands through a series of tests.
Features:
- Compares real-world tasks with a rendering of an image
- The test is based on high-resolution textures, million polygons, and various effects
- It also checks frames per second
14. CPUID powerMAX
At the outset, CPUID powerMAX tests your GPU in the most stressful environments to catch hold of errors. More specifically, it performs a burn-in test so that the GPU’s temperature and power dissipation can be maximized.
Features:
- Easy to use minimalistic interface
- CPU and GPU are simultaneously tested
- A burn-in test is performed wherein a 3D scene is run, which lays stress on GPU.
15. AIDA64
AIDA is a great GPU test software that gives you comprehensive GPU details pertaining to all major brands’ graphic cards. It also comes with a sensor panel that provides you with information pertaining to sensors on your PC. While it is not entirely free, the trial version comes for 30 days.
Other Features:
- Uses a 64-bit multi-threaded stress testing module to let the computer use its maximum limits
- Also tells you about GPU temperature.
- Keeps you updated on any hardware issues
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best GPU Test Software?
While all the above GPU benchmarking software are the best, depending on the usage and size, you could go for MSI Afterburner, Unigine 2, or even GFXBench. However, all these GPU testing applications would give you accurate results that would further optimize your GPU.
What Is The Need Of A Graphic Card Benchmark Software?
In a nutshell, it tells you if your graphics card is functioning correctly or not. And, in case it has overclocked, the graphics card benchmark software would be able to tell you if it is stable or not. It would continuously keep you updated on frames per second or any stutters that generally occur if there are any graphics card errors in a high-intensive gaming environment.
How To Check Graphic Card Configuration On Your PC?
You could either use one of the above-mentioned GPU test software or follow the path mentioned below if you are a Windows 10 PC user –
Settings > System > Display > Advanced display settings (Option under Multiple displays) > See Display information. We’d still suggest that you choose a GPU benchmarking software as it would give you a real-time picture of your GPU when pitted against a game or video.
Conclusion
So, there you have it, these are some of the best GPU benchmark software that can help you test your GPU’s capability under stressful environments and then you can optimize your computer’s settings accordingly. If the blog helped, give us a thumbs up and follow us on Facebook and YouTube.
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Graphics card benchmarking is the best way to assess your graphics card performance. GPU Benchmarking helps you to know more about the graphics card, how powerful it is compared to others and how much performance gain you will get when overclocking it. It can also help you to make a wise decision when upgrading your graphics card as you can compare your benchmarks results with that of other newer graphics cards.
There are some very good tools and softwares available for benchmarking graphics cards. They can be used to test the performance of your graphics card so that you can get a clear idea of where you stand in the crowd. But before discussing them you should know that there are two types of benchmarking and there are separate benchmarking tools available for them.
Graphic Card Benchmarks
Graphics Card Benchmarking can be categorized into two types:
Synthetic Benchmarking – This is a type of benchmarking which is done using synthetic benchmarking softwares. These softwares have their own inbuilt benchmarking tests and on the basis of it the performance score is calculated. The benchmark score is generally in some big numbers. Higher the score the better is your graphics card performance to the ones that have lower scores. These softwares are reliable and their benchmark scores are one of the most credible ways to know the performance or power of any graphics card. It is also called artificial benchmarking.
Well, the results in these benchmarks do provide a good idea about the capability of your graphics card but for gamers, they may not be of that much importance and some of them do not even know what these complex tests do or mean. For them, the performance in games means more than these synthetic benchmarks. They want to know how much frame rates they are getting in games or how much is the minimum, maximum or average fps. For this, you have to perform Real-time benchmarking which I am going to discuss next.
Real-time Benchmarking – Real-time benchmarking is also known as Real-world benchmarking. In this, you measure the frame rates with the help of fps measuring software during live gameplay. The more the fps the smoother will be the gameplay. For NO lagging you should have at least 30 fps and for super-smooth gameplay, you should get an average of 60+ fps. I have previously written an article on how you can increase the fps in games which you can find below.
Real-time Benchmarking is what gamers love to see as it gives a specific result for a particular game. This is because it may be possible that your graphics card may be running some games super smooth and some may be suffering serious FPS drops. It can also help you to make the required changes or take appropriate steps if the game you are playing is seriously lagging. It must be noted that in this real-world benchmarking all other major computer components (Processor, RAM, Hard disk) does come into play besides the graphics card. So you may take them into account also because it could be possible that you have a powerful graphics card but the performance in games is bottlenecked by CPU and RAM.
Check out:Best PC Test Bench Cases for Benchmarking & Hardware Testing
Best Synthetic Benchmarking Tools for GPU
Here are the best Synthetic Benchmarking tools for Graphics Cards. These below mentioned graphics card benchmarking softwares supports both Nvidia and AMD based graphics cards.
3DMark
3DMark is one of the most widely used and popular graphics card benchmarking tools. It is the preferred benchmarking tool for gamers and overclockers. It is a product of FutureMark which is a software company that makes various benchmarking tools for both home and business users.
There are three types of 3DMark versions available for download which are being mentioned below.
3DMark – The version of the 3DMark that includes Time Spy (DirectX 12 Test), Fire Strike, Sky Diver, Cloud Gate, and Ice Storm tests.
3DMark 11 – It is the DirectX 11 graphics card benchmark tool that includes Deep Sea and High Temple Graphics tests, a Physics test and a Combined test.
3DMark Vantage – The DirectX 10 benchmark tool for older DirectX 10 graphics cards. It includes two graphics tests, two CPU tests, and six feature tests.
Depending on your graphics card you can download any of the above 3DMark versions and benchmark your graphics card. The basic version of 3DMark is free to download and use. For more benchmarks tests and features, you have to buy its advanced edition or professional version.
PassMark
PassMark is another popular name in PC and Graphics card benchmarking. It also offers various other benchmarking, testing and monitoring softwares that include MemTest86 (for RAM testing), MonitorTest, BatteryMon, KeyboardTest, etc. For PC and Graphics Card benchmarking you have to download the PerformaceTest from the PassMark website.
Using PerformaceTest you can benchmark your CPU, Graphics Card, Hard disk and RAM. For the graphics card, there are two types of tests which are 2D and 3D graphics tests. 2D graphics tests include Vectors, bitmaps, fonts, text, and GUI elements tests and 3D graphics test include DirectX 9 to DirectX 12 in 4K resolution, DirectCompute & OpenCL tests.
PassMark supports Windows XP SP3, Vista, Server 2003, 2008, 2012, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10. You can download the 30-day trial version for free from the link below and can test your graphics card and PC performance.
Heaven UNIGINE
Heaven UNIGINE is a great GPU stress testing and benchmarking tool for gamers and overclockers. It can really stress test your graphics card and tell you how stable it. This can help you to overclock your graphics card better and tell you how effective is your graphics card cooler.
The various features of Heaven Benchmark include benchmarking presets, multiplatform support, GPU temperature & clock monitoring, hardware tessellation with DirectX and more. You can download it for free or can buy the advanced and pro versions. It is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux and you can download it from the link given below.
FurMark
FurMark is an OpenGL benchmark stress test for graphics cards. It may be not that popular as 3DMark and PassMark but it is a good GPU stability and stress test tool. It is also called a GPU burner. FurMark requires an OpenGL compliant graphics card and can also be used to monitor GPU temperature.
It supports only the Windows operating system and is available for free to download and use.
UserBenchmark
UserBenchmark is a small tool for evaluating the performance of your major components that include a processor, graphics card, memory, hard drive, and USB drive. For GPU it calculates the effective 3D speed which is a measure of performance in recent games. It can be used as a reference for comparing the performance with other graphics cards.
It is available for Windows and you can download it for free from the link given below.
Other Benchmarking Tools
Here are some other good benchmarking tools that you can also try for GPU benchmarking and testing. Most of these below-mentioned stress testing tools are free, while some are available as a trial version.
Best Realtime Benchmarking Tools for GPU
I have discussed all the best Realtime benchmarking tools in another post which you can find below. These tools can be used to find the FPS in games and can help you to assess your graphics card’s real-time performance.
Final Words
Graphic Card Benchmark Fps
In the end I would like to say that these are the only softwares that you need to benchmark or stress test your graphics card. They are compatible with both Nvidia and AMD graphics cards and few of them are multiplatform. Some of these benchmarking tools are completely free while the more famous ones offer only a basic or trial version to benchmark your GPU.