**Graphics Card Benchmark Tools on Linux**

Benchmarking your graphics card is a crucial step to understand its performance, especially if you are a gamer, developer, or just someone keen on optimizing your system. On Linux, several powerful command-line tools are available to put your GPU to the test. This guide walks you through some of the most effective methods to benchmark your graphics card and understand its capabilities, which is the first step in being able to compare it against other cards or systems.

1. Mesa Utils: Quick and Basic Benchmarking with glxgears

Mesa Utils provides a collection of OpenGL utilities, and glxgears is a simple yet effective tool within it for a quick benchmark.

Installation:

First, you need to install the mesa-utils package. Open your terminal and use the following command:

sudo apt-get install mesa-utils

Running the Benchmark:

Once installed, you can start the benchmark test by simply typing:

glxgears

This command will open a window displaying rotating gears, and in your terminal, you’ll see the frame rates (FPS – Frames Per Second) achieved. With a modern GPU, you should expect FPS rates exceeding 5,000. Keep in mind that the displayed FPS might be limited by your monitor’s refresh rate and resolution.

Ignoring Monitor Refresh Rate:

To see the maximum FPS your GPU can achieve, bypassing the monitor’s refresh rate limitation, use the vblank_mode=0 command:

vblank_mode=0 glxgears

If vblank_mode=0 doesn’t work, try using __GL_SYNC_TO_VBLANK=0 instead:

__GL_SYNC_TO_VBLANK=0 glxgears

These commands instruct the graphics card to ignore vertical sync, pushing it to its maximum rendering capability.

2. OpenGL Benchmark: In-depth Analysis with glmark2

For a more comprehensive OpenGL benchmark that provides a score adapted for modern GPUs, glmark2 is an excellent choice.

Installation:

Install glmark2 using the following command:

sudo apt-get install glmark2

Running the Benchmark:

To run the benchmark in fullscreen mode and see all available options, use:

glmark2 --fullscreen --show-all-options

glmark2 will run a series of tests, rendering various scenes and effects to assess your GPU’s OpenGL performance. The final output will be a score, which is designed to be relevant for contemporary, high-performance GPUs. Remember that the FPS score is resolution-dependent, so note the resolution settings used during the test if you intend to compare results.

Comparing Your Score:

After running the benchmark, you can compare your score with results from other systems online. A useful resource for comparison is the openbenchmarking.org benchmark page. This allows you to see how your GPU stacks up against others and provides context for your benchmark results.

3. Unigine Valley Benchmark: Advanced 3D Benchmarking

For a more visually intensive and third-party benchmarking experience, Unigine Valley is a robust tool. The free basic edition is well-suited for testing your hardware under demanding 3D scenarios.

Installation:

Download Unigine Valley from the official website. Once downloaded, you need to make the installer executable:

chmod +x Unigine_Valley-1.0.run

Then, run the installation script (no root permissions are required):

./Unigine_Valley-1.0.run

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Running the Benchmark:

Navigate to the installed directory and start the benchmark engine:

cd ./Unigine_Valley-1.0 && ./valley &

Once Valley is running, you’ll find a benchmark widget usually in the top left corner. Click on it to start the benchmark test. Unigine Valley offers different benchmark scenarios, and the Valley benchmark test is generally recommended for a comprehensive assessment of your GPU’s 3D rendering capabilities.

Understanding and Comparing Benchmark Results

After running these benchmark tools, you’ll have numerical results that represent your GPU’s performance. To effectively use these results as a Graphics Card Compare Tool, consider the following:

• glxgears FPS: Provides a very basic FPS measure. Higher FPS is better, but it’s primarily useful for a quick check if your OpenGL is working correctly.
• glmark2 Score: A more standardized score for OpenGL performance. Use online databases like OpenBenchmarking to compare your score with other GPUs and systems. Look for average scores for similar GPUs to gauge your relative performance.
• Unigine Valley Results: Provides detailed scores and FPS across different scenes in a demanding 3D environment. Compare your scores with published results for similar hardware configurations to understand where your GPU stands in terms of high-end 3D performance.

When comparing results, always consider the test settings (resolution, quality levels) and the system configuration (CPU, RAM) as these factors can influence benchmark scores. Benchmarking is the first step to understanding your GPU’s performance and how it compares to other options available in the market. By using these tools, you can gain valuable insights into your system’s graphics capabilities.