Stress testing is an essential step whether you are overclocking the CPU/GPU, troubleshooting hardware issues, or inspecting a used PC. I have tried many stress-testing apps and finally settled on OCCT (OverClock Checking Tool). Here’s why…
Content
- It’s Simple to Pick Up Yet Highly Customizable
- It’s an All-In-One Testing Tool
- You Can Stress Test Multiple Components Simultaneously
- The Variable Load Feature is a Game Changer
- Comes With a Built-in Usage Monitor That is Surprisingly Extensive
- It’s Free For Personal Use
It’s Simple to Pick Up Yet Highly Customizable
Sleek design, big buttons, with a clear explanation of every function, OCCT makes using the tool a snap even for first-time users. All the test types are listed in the left panel and you just need to select a test and hit the Start button to get started. The default configurations are enough to fulfill most users’ stress-testing needs.
While simple to start, it still offers FFT-based stress testing and advanced functions like Prime95. You can configure load type, instruction set, threading behavior, stress intensity, and many other vital functions. I won’t say it’s more powerful than a tool like AIDA64, but it does a great job of balancing simplicity and customization.
It’s an All-In-One Testing Tool
One of the biggest reasons I prefer OCCT is its all-in-one nature. Unlike popular tools such as Prime95, which focuses solely on CPU stress testing, or FurMark, which specializes in GPU stress testing, OCCT covers all main PC components.
You can stress test CPU, GPU, RAM, and even PSU using fully customizable tests. Not only that, there are also multiple types of tests for different purposes. For example, its signature CPU+RAM test is highly sensitive, capable of detecting even the slightest errors. Additionally, you can push your CPU to its absolute limits with the Linpack test or choose from three different stress tests to thoroughly evaluate your GPU.
Best of all, it’s a portable app so you can carry it around for all stress-testing needs instead of carrying multiple apps.
You Can Stress Test Multiple Components Simultaneously
Not only does it support multiple stress-testing tools, but it lets you run them all simultaneously. I particularly like this for detecting and fixing thermal issues and CPU/GPU bottlenecks. It also helps simulate practical usage stress on components as they need to work together to run a program.
Click on Combined in the tools list and you’ll find all the testing tools at the top. Select the ones you want to test at the same time and their settings will open below.
After configuring each option, click on Start to stress test all selected components simultaneously.
If your PC is unable to handle the simultaneous load, OCCT will give an error. However, you’ll still have to stop the test manually, so I recommend going to OCCT settings and enabling the Stop on Error option.
The Variable Load Feature is a Game Changer
Most of the common stress testing tools like Prime95 or FurMark put a constant maximum load on the components. This may be good for checking the stability of overclocked CPU/GPU at maximum load, it doesn’t simulate real-world performance. OCCT has a dedicated variable load feature that dynamically adjusts the stress intensity to simulate real-world workload.
By simulating real-world usage, OCCT can catch problems that may only occur with fluctuating demands. For example, the power supply can struggle with rapid spikes and drops in power. Furthermore, you can also check the effectiveness of the cooling system under different loads.
The default variable settings are quite lenient, but you can easily adjust them as per your needs. All you have to do is adjust the intensity range and the intensity percentage increase over time. For example, for bigger fluctuations, you can select a 15% increase every 10 seconds.
While tools like AIDA64 also offer variable load testing, OCCT offers granular control over intensity, which is hard to find in other apps.
Comes With a Built-in Usage Monitor That is Surprisingly Extensive
Monitoring the system during stress testing is crucial, but most stress testing apps don’t have a built-in monitor. This is why online stress testing guides usually recommend downloading a temperature monitor or hardware monitor app. OCCT on the other hand has a comprehensive system monitor built-in.
It automatically launches when you run any kind of test, but you can separately launch it as well from the list of tools. The monitor shows all system information in real-time updating every 2 seconds by default. You can see current, minimum, average, and maximum values for CPU, GPU, storage drive, RAM, battery, and network.
Along with values in the table, there is a graphs section as well showing changes over time. You can right-click on components and data types to view the specific data.
It’s Free For Personal Use
Yes, all the tools in OCCT are free for personal use with a maximum 1-hour test duration. Although there are paid professional and enterprise versions, these mainly add optional features like custom certificates, report comparisons, premium support, unlimited test durations, etc.
One drawback of the free version is that you’ll have to wait 10 seconds before a test. This minor delay is unlikely to be an inconvenience for most users. However, if you don’t like that, you can also try the professional version, which only costs $4.50 per month.
Overall, OCCT is a versatile tool, intuitive for beginners and advanced enough for experienced users. Although I mainly use OCCT for stress testing, it also has other useful tools you may want to check, like a system information tool to check system specs and a benchmarking tool.
Image credit: Unsplash. All screenshots by Karrar Haider.
Karrar Haider –
Staff Writer
Karrar is drenched in technology and always fiddles with new tech opportunities. He has a bad habit of calling technology “Killer”, and doesn’t feel bad about spending too much time in front of the PC. If he is not writing about technology, you will find him spending quality time with his little family.
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