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Home - How to Test Gaming PC Performance (Without Frying It)

How to Test Gaming PC Performance (Without Frying It)

Nico Nicolaou
May 23, 2025
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This guide walks you through how to test gaming PC performance—and not just with pretty graphs. We’ll hit your GPU, CPU, temps, FPS, and stress levels (yours and your PC’s). I’ll keep it simple, blunt, and useful. No BS.

Why Bother Benchmarking?

3DMark benchmark results showing gaming PC performance — Synthetic benchmarks like 3DMark help test raw power.

Let’s be honest: most of us just want smooth gameplay and brag-worthy frame rates. But knowing how to benchmark your gaming PC has some serious upsides:

You can spot weak points before your PC starts gasping mid-battle.
You’ll know if your upgrade money actually bought anything useful. Check out why the RX 6700 XT is a smart upgrade.
You can finally shut down that one friend who keeps saying “just get a console.”

Firstly, Is Your PC Even Good for Gaming?

If you’re googling “how to test if your PC is good for gaming,” you probably already suspect something’s off. Or you just want confirmation that your rig isn’t trash.

Here’s how I’d check:

Compare your specs to the recommended requirements for a few modern games. If your PC struggles with Fortnite on low, we’ve got bigger problems. Try testing with games from our list of top FPS games.
Run a benchmark test. Details below. It’s easier than it sounds.
Play something beefy, like Cyberpunk 2077. Crashes? Stutters? Toasty temps? Yeah, that’s data too.

Want a safer way to monitor temps while benchmarking? Check out our guide to Steam’s CPU temperature overlay — and why it sometimes freaks out for no reason.

Best Software to Test Your Gaming PC (Without Spending a Dime)

how to test gaming PC performance - HWMonitor showing temperature readings during gaming — Too hot to handle? Keep your thermals in check.

Let’s talk tools. You don’t need to drop cash to get answers. Some of the best free benchmark software on how to test gaming PC performance does the job just fine.

For GPU Testing:

3DMark (Free & Paid): The flashy one. Runs cinematic tests like Time Spy. You’ll feel like you’re in a Marvel movie.
Unigine Heaven/Valley: Great for watching your graphics card sweat.

For CPU Performance:

Cinebench R23: Think of it as gym day for your processor. Pushes it hard, shows you the score.
CPU-Z: Lightweight, no-nonsense data dump.

For Stress Tests:

FurMark: This one’s brutal. Run it carefully. It’ll expose cooling issues fast.
Prime95: Good for maxing out CPU loads.
OCCT: Covers everything—CPU, GPU, power supply. You’ll know what’s breaking down and when.

For Real-Time Monitoring:

MSI Afterburner: My go-to. Tracks FPS, GPU temps, usage, and more. Overlay it in-game and feel like a hacker.
HWMonitor/HWiNFO: For those who want all the nerdy voltage and temperature readings.

Let’s Talk FPS: What’s “Good” Anyway?

how to test gaming PC performance - FPS overlay showing frame rate performance in Cyberpunk 2077 — Real-world testing beats synthetic scores every time.

People ask me, “What’s a good FPS for a gaming PC?” And I say, it depends. But here’s the no-BS answer:

30 FPS – You’ll survive. Barely.
60 FPS – Nice and smooth. The standard. Learn why capping FPS might actually be smarter.
120+ FPS – Competitive edge. Makes a difference if you’ve got the monitor to match.
240 FPS – Either you’re a pro or you really like overkill.

Use MSI Afterburner or FRAPS to measure FPS. Or just watch your gameplay. If it looks like a slideshow, it’s not “cinematic”—it’s broken. Once you know how to benchmark your rig, use Your Temps Are Lying, The Hidden Throttles Killing FPS to spot hidden throttling that simple tests often miss.

How to Benchmark GPU Performance (Without Guessing)

gpu-upgrade-benchmark showing gpu upgrade mistakes avoided with 3DMark test — Running 3DMark before upgrading helps spot real GPU limitations.

Here’s how to benchmark your GPU the proper way:

Close everything. Seriously, Chrome eats RAM for breakfast.
Open 3DMark or Unigine Heaven.
Run the benchmark, don’t touch your PC, and grab a snack.
Take note of the FPS, temperatures, and final score.
Compare it online. If you’re 30% below similar builds, something’s up. You can also run a quick check using NovaBench.

How to Test CPU Performance for Gaming

Bent CPU pins on a used AMD processor — Look for bent pins, old thermal paste, or burn marks.

CPUs don’t get the spotlight like GPUs, but they run the show behind the scenes. If your games stutter or your frames drop in busy scenes? Blame the brain.

Use Cinebench R23:

Run both single-core and multi-core tests.
Watch your temps climb—don’t panic unless they go over 90°C for long.
If it throttles (aka slows down to stay cool), you’ve found your bottleneck.

How to Run a PC Stress Test for Gaming

This is where you break your PC on purpose. Kinda.

Want to know how to run a stress test on a gaming PC the safe way?

Use FurMark to stress the GPU.
Use Prime95 or OCCT for the CPU.
Watch MSI Afterburner like a hawk—temps should ideally stay under 85°C.

If anything crashes, overheats, or screams, congratulations: you’ve found the weak link.

Is Your Gaming PC Underperforming? Here’s How To Test Gaming PC Performance Loss

How to Test a Used CPU - HWinfo setup guide - Real-time sensor data in the HWiNFO64 monitoring window — A look at the HWiNFO64 sensors window showing CPU, GPU, and system stats in real time.

If you’re here because you feel like your rig isn’t performing right, you’re probably right.

Signs of a system slacking off:

In-game stuttering at random times
Load screens that last longer than your patience
GPU fans going turbo just to hit 40 FPS
Benchmark scores that look… embarrassing

Running a gaming PC performance test gives you proof. It’s not just vibes. For more help, check our platform performance tips for modern RPGs.

Quick Fixes to Optimize Gaming PC Performance

Before you buy new gear, try this:

Update your GPU drivers. Always. No excuses.
Kill background apps. Discord and Chrome are sneaky.
Tweak in-game settings. Lower shadows and post-processing before you sacrifice resolution.
Clean your case. Dust is the silent performance killer.

Still underwhelmed? Time for an upgrade.

Bonus: “Can My PC Run This Game?”

Want to know how to test your PC for gaming compatibility before buying a new title?

Head over to Can You Run It. It scans your rig and compares it with game requirements. Easy, no stress, no signup needed.

Final Word (And a Friendly Nudge)

You don’t need to be a tech wizard to run a benchmark test on PC. You just need the right tools, a little time, and maybe a fan blowing on your CPU.

If your performance sucks, don’t just accept it—test it, fix it, flex it. We used similar checks on our ultra-budget 2025 build, and it delivered reliable 1080p frames. After benchmarking, For a full breakdown of safe, smart optimization methods, check out our complete PC Maintenance & Optimization Guide.

BONUS: If you have just built a new machine and cant get it powered on! Read: Fix First Boot Mistakes

Now go make your PC earn that RGB lighting.

P.S. Want help choosing the right upgrades or finding the best free tools? Just ask. I’ve broken enough PCs to know what not to do.