New card - what should I do to test it?

[Triggaaar]

Sorry about the basic questions, this will be the first time I've ever tested a graphics card. I've just installed a 6970, and I have a stack of questions.

1) I'm running 2 monitors, which I think may make the card run hotter than if using 1, so I'm wondering if I should test it with 1 monitor off (and if I have to disconnect it, or just turn it off) so that I can more easily compare my results to the results I see others get.

2) What software should I run to watch the temperature, just the CCC (ATI overdrive page) that seems to be installed?

3) If running CCC, how do I view it whilst running a game - should I run the game in a window (and if so, how) or will that effect the way the game performs?

4) Should I use fraps to test FPS when testing games?

5) What software is worth downloading specifically to test the card?

Thanks for any advice, much appreciated.

 

[Scuzzy]

Use gpu-z for temps, use the stress tests that are with games like just cause, crysis if u have them

 

[el Kuarlos]

1) Yes it will run hotter as more work needs to be done however there are a lot of possible issues that are usually specific to the model of card and I dont run eyefinity so I m not an expert here. 6900 series is practically a refresh so you would have thought the eyefinity should be fine.

2) GPU-z is the more detailed. I would get that and keep it on your desktop. MSI afterburner is also quite good but is more overclocking focused.

3) You should be running GPUz when monitoring.

4) Thats the acid test; knowing your framerates in games. So yea good plan.

5) Heaven 2.1 is the most used current benchmark. From there take your pick. Furmark and msi combustor are not incredibly useful any more as the cards throttle when you use them, my opinion is people test for games so might as well play em and see what works!

 

[Triggaaar]

Thanks, I'll get to it

3) You should be running GPUz when monitoring.

How do you do that when running a game? Do you have to run the game in a window, and if so, how do you do that?

 

[el Kuarlos]

I usually just alt tab- in the sensors section of gpuz you can hover your mouse over the graphs and see what has happened in the past few minutes or alternativley you can just tell it to log temps by just ticking the box in the sensors section.

 

[[WU-TANG]GZA]

Thanks, I'll get to it

How do you do that when running a game? Do you have to run the game in a window, and if so, how do you do that?

You can run a log (when testing with just one monitor) and it saves it to a .txt file for you to look at later.

When testing with both monitors on - you can just have it on the other monitor - unless u mean both screens playing the same game?

3dmark11 is another good bench and there is a thread for it to post your scores. The 6970 should come in about 5200 on the gfx score.

You got yours then, eh? Happy days.

 

[Triggaaar]

Thanks

You can run a log (when testing with just one monitor) and it saves it to a .txt file for you to look at later.

I was used to watching temps while stress testing my cpu, but a log would do.

When testing with both monitors on - you can just have it on the other monitor - unless u mean both screens playing the same game?

Yeah I've just played a couple of hours of BBC2, and I had the monitors running on the second screen. I wanted to be able to see the results with 1 screen (log sounds ideal) but it was cool enough running 2 screens. Max temp was 79 C, with 36% fan. Sounds great huh, but you have no idea how cold it is in here

3dmark11 is another good bench and there is a thread for it to post your scores. The 6970 should come in about 5200 on the gfx score.

I'll check that now.

You got yours then, eh? Happy days.

Yep, ordered on christmas day for £256. Delivery company said they tried yesterday, but I don't believe them - anyway, they delivered today and I spent a few hours on the PC - installed Scythe GT fans, cut the grill out the back of the case (cm690) for more efficient and quieter exhaust.

 

[Skyrocket]

Best way to test it? Load up some games and play + monitor your temps.

 

[Triggaaar]

3dmark11 is another good bench and there is a thread for it to post your scores. The 6970 should come in about 5200 on the gfx score.

5064 graphics, P5423. No idea if it matters that a second monitor is plugged in, as 3DMark blanks it?

 

[coupe69]

Best way to test it? Load up some games and play + monitor your temps.

+1 Use the card for what you presumably bought it for and play some games!

 

[Marine-RX179]

If you want to see the GPU temp on screen in game without alt-tab, you can use MSI Afterburner for that.

 

[kedge]

I'm running 2 monitors, which I think may make the card run hotter than if using 1, so I'm wondering if I should test it with 1 monitor off (and if I have to disconnect it, or just turn it off) .

You can enable and disable or swap the output to the monitor you don't want or want to use in catalyst control centre. i used to game on one monitor whilst monitoring the temperature software on the second monitor. In my testing the graphics card temperatures were about the same with two monitors enabled. Eyefinity might produce higher temps but i have never tried it.

 

[Triggaaar]

+1 Use the card for what you presumably bought it for and play some games!

Sure, but knowing that some have problems with their set-up, I'd like to check it's running properly that's all. For example, another current thread here shows someone with the same cpu and GC as me getting 15fps in the physics test in 3Dmark, which highlighted a problem they've now fixed (now 26fps). I'd just like to find any issues while I can be bothered, as once I start gaming I'll leave the cards alone.

If you want to see the GPU temp on screen in game without alt-tab, you can use MSI Afterburner for that.

For the purpose of testing, sounds good, thanks.

You can enable and disable or swap the output to the monitor you don't want or want to use in catalyst control centre.

Excellent, thanks. I can see that drops the gpu clock to 250MHz straight away, and the idle temp has fallen to 35c. I'll do some testing of temps etc with 1 and 2 screens enabled, and if it makes a difference I can then easily disable the second screen when the weather is a bit warmer. Difficult to imagine overheating anything right now