Running a GPU stress test (like the GearVerify Silicon Silo) is only the first step. The real value comes from interpreting the data. Is your card stable? Is it thermal throttling? Or is it silently correcting errors that kill performance?

1. The Stability Baseline

A "stable" GPU isn't just one that doesn't crash. In 2026, stability means maintaining consistent frame times under sustained load. When using our WebGPU stress test, watch the FPS Graph.

  • Ideal: A flat line with minor micro-stutters (< 1%).
  • Throttling: A jagged "sawtooth" pattern where performance drops sharply every few seconds.
  • Unstable: Random freezes or complete browser tab crashes.
"If your GPU drops frequency by 20% after 60 seconds of load, you have a cooling issue, not a silicon issue."

2. Visual Artifacting

Artifacts are visual glitches that appear when the GPU core or VRAM calculates data incorrectly. In our browser-based tests, these manifest differently than in native games.

Common WebGPU Artifacts:

  • Checkerboarding: Small black or pink squares flickering on textures. Usually indicates VRAM instability (often from aggressive overclocking).
  • Vertex Explosions: Geometry stretching to infinity. This is a core logic error and suggests the GPU voltage is too low.
  • Color Banding: Often mistaken for artifacts, but usually a monitor issue. Use our Display Lab to verify this.

3. Temperature & Junctions

Modern GPUs have multiple temperature sensors. The "Core" temperature is what most tools show, but the "Junction" (or Hotspot) is what matters.

If your Core is 70°C but your Junction is 105°C, your thermal paste has likely dried out or "pumped out" to the edges. This 35°C delta causes the card to throttle early, leaving performance on the table.

4. Conclusion

Validation is an iterative process. Run the test, observe the thermals, adjust your fan curves, and test again. Hardware that passes the GearVerify 10-minute loop is certified stable for any modern workload.