Depends on how old/new you want to go.
I like to run stuff that can go on on it's own once started, as I typically do other stuff than look at the screen all the time (The old quote "how often do you play 3DMark?" comes to mind) That way I can kick the run off and do other stuff at the side.
Besides the usual synthetic stuff
3DMark:
- 99MAX, (DX 6.1)
- 01SE, (DX 8 )
- 03, (DX8.1)
- 05, (DX 9.0/SM2 for full run)
- 06, (DX 9.0c/SM3 for full run)
PCMark (2002, 2004, 2013),
Cinebench (2003, R9.5, R10)
Sandra (2001, 2003, 2004)
Everest/AIDA64 (usually for the cache/memory benchmark)
SuperPi
FurMark (one of the first I ran back in the day, so I keep the old version around for comparability)
in terms of synthetics I also like to run Aquamark:
- Runs on everything with DX8 and up. (tested with a GF3 under 98 SE)
- For Vista and later a patch is required.
- Later OSes do better with the wrapper version form HWBot, but both versions run on XP
I even went through and benched the x264 benchmark on some configs, it takes ages and was more for curiosity, but it can run.
Basically the complete set from Phil's DOS Benchmark Pack
For actual games, it depends on the age of the build:
Unreal (typically the menu flyby as it can run on it's own without you requiring to constantly input something)
Quake 3
UT2004
Crysis (2007, for late DX9/DX10 cards, using the CrysisBenchmarkingTool)
For stuff past the XP era it's usually stuff like Bioshock Infinte, CS:GO or the 2013 Tomb Raider, so nothing too unusal for recent builds.
P3 933EB @1035 (7x148) | CUSL2-C | GF3Ti200 | 256M PC133cl3 @148cl3 | 98SE & XP Pro SP3
X5460 @4.1 (9x456) | P35-DS3R | GTX660Ti | 8G DDR2-800cl5 @912cl6 | XP Pro SP3 & 7 SP1
3570K @4.4 GHz | Z77-D3H | GTX1060 | 16G DDR3-1600cl9 @2133cl12 | 7 SP1