Magnetic disk drive systems and associated methods are described for testing magnetic disk performance for certification with a plurality of magnetic disk drive systems prior to installation. The test system may position a slider at a first spacing between the magnetic disk in the slider and simulate the recording performance of a disk drive system with the magnetic disk at the first spacing. The disk drive test system may then transfer a control signal to a heating element in the slider to move the slider to a different spacing between the magnetic disk and the slider to simulate the recording performance of another disk drive system. The test system may, thus, use a single slider to certify a magnetic disk with a plurality of disk drive systems.