When buying a new laptop or laptop computer, you should check it for serviceability. And so that there are no incidents and you do not have to return the equipment, you need to know how to test the video card on a laptop or PC. We will talk about testing methods later in the article.
Why test?
After the purchase, new equipment must be tested. This will allow you to detect malfunctions in the early stages, when it is still possible to eliminate them or return the unsuccessful purchase back to the store.
It is worth knowing how to test a video card for performance, since it is the most important part of a computer, and it will help gamers to choose it for their needs.
Testing briefly
To check the video card for possible defects, it must be tested under stressful conditions. To do this, they exert a load to the maximum permissible limit. And if the computer turns off, the stress test is considered not passed, and the card is rejected.
Knowing how to test a video card for a malfunction, you can avoid breaking it. Usually, during such tests, the processor temperature and the general heating of the system unit, and sometimes the monitor, are checked, because the picture may begin to flash or colored stripes appear on the screen.
How long does the test last?
Programmers recommend not delaying such procedures and giving them about 15 minutes. During testing, the computer should not turn off, and the temperature inside the processor should exceed 70-80 ° C.
Main problems
And if glare or image distortion did not appear on the monitor, then, most likely, everything is normal with your video card and it can be operated. Knowing how to test a video card for a malfunction, you can quickly fix the flaws.
If the temperature is above 80 degrees, then in most cases you have serious problems with the ventilation cooling of the computer. You will have to do the cleaning of the cooler and radiator from dust. By the way, most of the system units provide for the installation of additional blowing systems, use this chance.
In case you know how to replace thermal grease yourself, then do it too. But if you don’t know how to test the video card and smear a fresh layer of thermal paste, then contact the store’s service center or a private specialist.
If the image is not displayed correctly, and this happens when testing a video card, you should pay attention to the processor parameters. This problem occurs when there is a high acceleration or malfunction in the system.
During stress testing, the computer may turn off, which will indicate a weak power supply and internal overheating of the processor and other systems. When testing in the summer, it is recommended to turn on the air conditioner so that the external temperature does not greatly affect the temperature inside the system unit.
Diagnostic testing
There are currently two ways to test the performance and problems of a video card. In the first case, you download a new generation of games and set the graphics settings to "ultra" or "maximum." In this case, the processor exerts maximum pressure from the program.
The second method uses special programs that will help you solve the problem - how to test the Nvidia graphics card and any others. We will talk about such a utility below.
Furmark
The program is completely in English and is suitable for all versions of Windows. Its basic task is to set the maximum load on your video card. And be careful, if the utility is used incorrectly, your computer may burn out due to extreme temperatures.
Some programmers even call FurMark the "killer" of video cards - this utility is so powerful. Testing takes place after downloading the application from the official site (it is absolutely free).
Before starting the process, you should make sure that the application is configured correctly. To do this, go to Setting and set the parameters as shown in the screenshot below.
Checking Xtreme burn-in is not recommended. This function creates too high a load and can literally destroy weak PCs. And for a routine check, two checkmarks are enough.
After that, the resolution of the computer screen is manually set. It is not necessary to choose your own monitor resolution, 1024 x 576 pixels are enough. Especially for weak PCs.
Once you have set all the parameters, you can proceed to the test itself. To do this, left-click on the GPU stress test.
You will be prompted to accept the diagnostic conditions and in English will be warned about the removal of responsibility from the program manufacturer. And besides, they will note all the nuances of the application - that the computer will heat up and this should be carefully monitored. They also warn that at high temperatures, the computer may restart. Accept this by clicking Go.
Next, a new window appears in front of the user, in which some kind of “eye” or donut is visible. He moves and does not stand still, and on his sides are fancy patterns. But do not underestimate the "all-seeing eye", this program perfectly loads your computer. Yes, so that no modern game is near.
Test results
When the program runs, the temperature rises. And they should be closely watched. It all starts from 35-40 ° C and with every moment it grows, as a result, in most cases, reaching a mark of 80-90 degrees.
At these indicators, the load on the video card stops. Here you can see the results of FPS. Recall that FPS shows the number of frames per second, and the more of them, the more productive your video card. But do not be discouraged if the rate fluctuates between 40-50. This is quite good value when working in the FurMark program.
Defects
When the temperature rises above 90 ° C, the computer shuts down and restarts. At the same time, you can smell a specific smell, and stripes of various colors appear on the monitor, which indicate that the video card is not working properly.
If you recently purchased it, and it did not pass the stress test, then feel free to take it back to the store. If your computer is old, clean it.