How to Test Graphics Card on a Mac

Testing the performance and health of your Mac’s graphics card can be done using a combination of built-in tools, third-party applications, and stress tests. Below are methods to help you test your graphics card on a Mac:

Check Graphics Card Information:

1. About This Mac:
   • Click on the Apple menu () in the top left corner of your screen and select “About This Mac.”
   • Click on the “Overview” tab, then click on “System Report.”
   • Under the Hardware section, select “Graphics/Displays” to see information about your graphics card.

Monitor Graphics Performance:

1. Activity Monitor:
   • Use the built-in Activity Monitor to check graphics card usage.
   • Go to Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor.
   • Click on the “Energy” tab to see if any applications are heavily using the graphics card.

Use Third-Party Applications:

1. Third-Party Monitoring Tools:
   • Applications like iStat Menus or Hardware Monitor can provide detailed information on GPU temperature, usage, and more.

Run Benchmark Tests:

1. Geekbench:
   • Geekbench includes a GPU Compute Benchmark that tests your graphics card’s performance.
   • You can download Geekbench from the official website.
2. Unigine Benchmarks:
   • Unigine offers a variety of benchmarking tools (such as Heaven, Valley, or Superposition) that can be used to assess graphics performance.
   • Download them from the Unigine website.
3. Cinebench:
   • Cinebench is a tool that can benchmark both the CPU and GPU. It’s especially useful for testing the rendering capabilities of your graphics card.

Stress Test Your GPU:

1. Use Terminal Commands:
   • Terminal commands can be used to perform simple stress tests. For example, the yes command can load the CPU, which indirectly affects the GPU:
     yes > /dev/null &

   • To stop it, use killall yes.
2. Use GPGPU Test Suites:
   • Some third-party applications can perform stress tests on your GPU through intense graphical tasks.

Check for Artifacts:

While running any graphically intensive task, watch for artifacts on the screen, which can be a sign of GPU issues.

Check System Logs:

1. Console Application:
   • Use the Console application found in Applications > Utilities to check system logs for any error messages related to the graphics card.

Apple Diagnostics:

1. Run Apple Diagnostics:
   • Restart your Mac and hold down the ‘D’ key as it boots to start Apple Diagnostics. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the diagnostic, which will check your hardware, including the GPU, for issues.

Consider External Factors:

1. Cooling and Power:
   • Ensure your Mac is properly cooled and that the power supply is adequate, as these can impact GPU performance.
2. Software Updates:
   • Make sure macOS and your graphics drivers (especially for external GPUs) are up to date, as updates can resolve performance issues.

Professional Help:

If you suspect a hardware problem and your Mac is still under warranty or covered by AppleCare+, consider taking it to an Apple Store or contacting Apple Support for professional diagnostics.

It’s important to note that continuous heavy stress testing can cause wear and lead to overheating or failure, so monitor your Mac’s temperature and performance closely during any tests. If you encounter graphics issues during normal use, such as screen flickering, distorted display, unexpected shutdowns, or performance degradation, it could indicate a potential hardware problem with your GPU.