Video Card Stress Test

One of the most important components of a computer, when it comes to graphic applications, is the video card. One of the most resource consuming jobs for a computer is running video applications. Unlike other operations, processing and rendering graphics takes up a considerable part of the working memory and processing power of your desktop and laptop computer. Hence a video card comes with a built in GPU (graphic processing unit) and RAM, which is completely dedicated to graphic processing. If you are using your video card for graphic intensive tasks like playing 3D games or video editing, you need to ensure that it lives up to your performance expectations.

What is a Stress Test?

Stress testing any machine or computer hardware part, is to make extreme demands on its capabilities in every possible way. Like speeding a motorcycle or testing it on a steep slope is a stress test, subjecting a video card to high resolution rendering at high number of frames per second is running a stress test.

To select the best video card, you must subject it to conditions which are similar to real world highly graphic intensive applications. You need to test the ruggedness and stability of the video card under sustained heavy load. There are many ways of running a stress test.

How to Run a Stress Test?

Only through a stress test can you determine the performance capability of a video card. The best way to do so is to subject its GPU to actual processing tasks. By subjecting it to a range of workload, ranging from low, moderate to high, you will know if the card has intensive graphic processing capability. Here are two ways of running the test.

Use a Tester Software
There are specialized software programs designed to run tests. One of the best software programs that can effectively let you test a video card is FurMark. It is an OpenGL benchmark testing software exclusively developed for the purpose of stress testing any video card. Using fur rendering algorithms, it can test and record all the video card vital parameters for you. It has a stability testing mode and a benchmark testing mode, along with close monitoring of GPU temperature changes. If you really want to systematically analyze the performance of a video card, FurMark is highly recommended.

Play a 3D Video Game
Another way of testing a video card is by running 3D PC games on it. These games have a very high frame rate and use up a substantial amount of GPU processing power. Subjecting the video card to rendering the video game on high resolution screen will help you test its mettle. It will require a trained eye to detect glitches in graphic output, as well as rendering delays. Unless you are a really experienced gamer, it is better to use a stress tester.

Before buying a video card, I suggest that you use a tester software on a machine which has it installed. That way, you won't have to repent landing up with a video card that doesn't live up to your expectations.