How to Test a Video Card

This wikiHow teaches you how to test your computer's video card (also known as a 'graphics card') for performance errors and limitations. You can do this by using a benchmark test to score your video card and then comparing that score to...

Part 1 of 3:

Preparing to Test Your GPU

Place your computer in the environment in which you use it most. When testing your video card, it's best to recreate the circumstances under which you use your computer, including the temperature, location, and position.

For example, if you usually use your computer while seated in bed, you should test the video card under those circumstances for the most accurate results.

Open programs you commonly use. In the theme of testing your video card as accurately as possible, make sure any programs you frequently use are open.

For example, if you usually have iTunes and a web browser open while working, open those programs before you run your benchmark test.

Open the Novabench website. Go to https://novabench.com/ in your computer's web browser.

Novabench is a program that has some free aspects, one of which includes assigning to your video card a score that you can use to compare your video card's performance to the ideal score.

Click Download for Free. It's a green button near the top of the page.

Click Personal Use. This is on the left side of the page.

Select your operating system. Below the Personal Use, click the operating system for which you want to download the installer. This will prompt the installer file to begin downloading onto your computer.

You may need to specify a save location or click Save File before the file will download.

Install Novabench. Double-click the downloaded file, then click through the on-screen prompts until you've installed Novabench.

On a Mac, you'll drag the Novabench app icon onto the "Applications" folder icon to begin the installation process.

Lesley Montoya

Update 24 March 2020

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