CPU Only: powerMAX With AVX Or SSE & Heavy Load
CPUID powerMAX
This combined CPU and GPU stress test wasn’t our first choice when it came to evaluating graphics cards. However, it does do a better job loading down CPUs. Being able to switch easily between AVX and SSE code paths is also a definite plus. Download powerMAX here.
powerMAX With AVX
powerMAX tops out a bit below Prime95 with AVX, but it nearly matches the popular stress test's results. The loads powerMAX generates are well above average, making it a suitable tool for testing CPU coolers.
Conversely, you won't want to use it for stability-testing overclocked PCs operating close to their limits unless the goal is to identify temperature issues.
| CPU Package(PECI) | Core Average | SensorSocket | Memory | CPU (Watts) | System (Watts) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measurement | 79°C | 79°C | 98°C | 28°C | 160W | 232W |
| Compared to Maximum | 90.8% | 91.9% | 93.3% | 77.8% | 93.0% | 92.1% |
| Assessment | High package temperatureVery high socket temperatureSomewhat low memory temperatureVery high CPU and system power consumption | |||||
| Use for | Cooling test for high-performance coolers | |||||
powerMAX With SSE
On our test platform, utilizing the SSE code path resulted in temperatures that averaged ~10°C lower than before. System RAM was the exception; it actually heated up more than when we sent AVX instructions down the CPU's execution pipeline.
| CPU Package(PECI) | Core Average | SensorSocket | Memory | CPU (Watts) | System (Watts) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measurement | 69°C | 68°C | 98°C | 30°C | 132W | 191W |
| Compared to Maximum | 79.3% | 79.1% | 93.3% | 83.3% | 76.7% | 75.8% |
| Assessment | Medium package temperatureModerate memory temperatureMedium CPU and system power consumption | |||||
| Use for | Stability test for overclocked systems | |||||
Heavy Load
Heavy Load works if you're trying to generate a realistic CPU load, and by realistic we mean the types of loads you'd encounter in a game applying average demands to your components. Running Heavy Load won’t tell you anything about your CPU cooler's limits. But it is a decent indicator of how a CPU might fare during everyday operation. It’s also safe to use on older or mobile hardware without worrying about breaking anything. In that sense, it's not really a conventional stress test. Download Heavy Load here.
What the CPU test actually does remains a developer secret. It doesn't seem to explicitly use modern instruction set extensions, though.
| CPU Package(PECI) | Core Average | SensorSocket | Memory | CPU (Watts) | System (Watts) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measurement | 58°C | 61°C | 60°C | 30°C | 105W | 156W |
| Compared to Maximum | 66.7% | 70.9% | 57.1% | 83.3% | 61.0% | 61.9% |
| Assessment | Low core and package temperatureModerate memory temperatureSomewhat low CPU and system power consumption | |||||
| Use for | Stability test for low-end and older hardwareStability test for low-end mobile devicesSimulation of average everyday loads | |||||
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