FurMark 2.0: Iconic GPU stress test software returns after 16 years with major upgrades

After a 16-year hiatus, FurMark, the renowned GPU stress test and graphics card benchmark software, has launched its second version. The new release, FurMark 2, brings a host of foundational changes, such as technical upgrades, cross-platform additions, new 3D APIs, and quality-of-life improvements.

FurMark 2 now supports Windows 32-bit, Windows 64-bit, and Linux 64-bit. It is compatible with OpenGL 3.2 and Vulkan 1.1, and features both a GUI (graphical user interface) and a command line tool. The developers have also hinted at the inclusion of Linux 32-bit, Raspberry Pi, and potentially macOS support in the next update.

FurMark, for the uninitiated, is a GPU stress-testing app, known for rendering a fur-covered donut shape to push the GPU to high operating temperatures. In this new version, the iconic fluffy donut is joined by a new “knot” mode that renders a complex, furry knotty shape for the GPU to process.

In addition to these new features, FurMark 2 has also refined its score reporting system. It now records the power consumption of Nvidia GPUs when they set their scores, providing a more comprehensive overview of the GPU's performance under stress.