3DMark

3DMark is a computer benchmarking tool created and developed by Futuremark Corporation (formerly MadOnion, formerly Futuremark) to determine the performance of a computer's 3D graphic rendering and CPU workload processing capabilities.

The measurement unit 3DMark is intended to give a normalized mean for comparing different PC hardware configurations (mostly graphics processing units and central processing units), which proponents such as gamers and overclocking enthusiasts assert is indicative of end-user performance capabilities. Between 3DMark99 and 2000, MadOnion created a simpler 3D benchmark, which played only a DirectX 7 demo sequence at 640x480, with no extra tests. It was called XL-R8R and was aimed at providing upgrade information, based on the results of the benchmark.

Discontinued versions

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The number in the title corresponds with the year that the features it was designed to benchmark would be available on graphics cards released publicly. Typically each version was made and released some months in advance of the start of its title year. Scores for each subsequent version will be lower, as each new version measures new and innovative developments in the graphics field, such as DirectX enhancements like Shader Model 3.0.

3DMark99

Released on October 26, 1998, 3DMark99 is the first generation 3DMark (DirectX 6 based) and was one of the first 3D benchmarks to be aimed directly at the 3D gaming community, rather offering a generic overview of a PC's capabilities.^[1] The graphics tests use an early version of Remedy Entertainment's MAX-FX engine.

3DMark99 MAX

Released on March 8, 1999, 3DMark99 MAX is a content update to 3DMark99.^[2]

3DMark2000

Released on December 6, 1999, 3DMark2000 is the second generation 3DMark, making use of key features from DirectX 7 (such as hardware accelerated transform and lighting).^[3]

3DMark2001

Released on March 13, 2001, 3DMark2001 is the third generation 3DMark and the first 3D benchmark that supports DirectX 8, using key features such as vertex and pixel shaders, and point sprites.^[4]

3DMark2001 SE

Released on February 12, 2002, 3DMark2001 Second Edition is an updated version of the third generation 3DMark2001 (the core benchmark tests are as in 3DMark2001, but there is an additional Feature test and broader hardware support).^[5] 3DMark2001 SE is the last version of 3DMark to use the MAX-FX engine.

Supported versions

3DMark03

Released on February 11, 2003, 3DMark03 is the fourth generation 3DMark. It is the first version that supports Microsoft DirectX 9.0 and introduces several new features. The graphics tests cover a range of rendering techniques and DirectX 9 features, expanding on a similar system used in 3DMark2001.^[6] 3DMark03 does not use a 3rd party engine for any of the tests; light DirectX wrappers are used instead.^[7]

As a complete package, 3DMark03 consists of:

• 4 graphics tests:
  • GT1: Wings of Fury - SM1.1 vertex shaders are used alongside fixed function pixel processing.
  • GT2: Battle of Proxycon - SM1.1 vertex shaders / SM1.4 or 1.1 pixel shaders / stencil shadows
  • GT3: Trolls' Lair - SM1.1 vertex shaders / SM1.4 or 1.1 pixel shaders / stencil shadows
  • GT4: Mother Nature - SM1.x and SM2.0 vertex and pixel shaders
• 2 CPU tests - low resolution versions of GT1 and GT3, using software vertex shaders to provide the CPU load
• 4 Feature tests:
  • Single and multi-texturing fill rate - fixed function rendering
  • Vertex shader - SM1.1 vertex and pixel shaders
  • Pixel shader 2.0 - procedural texturing
  • Ragtroll - ragdoll physics and SM1.1 rendering
• Sound tests - a sequence of graphics tests that uses 0, 24 and 60 sound sources

3DMark05

Released on September 29, 2004, 3DMark05 is the fifth generation 3DMark. Like 3DMark03, it is based on DirectX 9 but all of the graphics tests require a minimum hardware support of Shader Model 2.0.^[8]

3DMark06

Released on January 18, 2006, 3DMark06 is the sixth generation 3DMark.^[9] The three main graphics tests from 3DMark05 were carried over and updated. Some of the graphics tests have the following features^[10]:

• HDR rendering
• Shadow mapping is used for all objects (specifically cascaded shadow mapping, with the depth textures filtered via hardware PCF)
• Water surfaces are created using pixel shaders with HDR refraction, HDR reflection, depth fog and Gerstner wave functions
• Atmospheric effects are generated via the use of heterogeneous fog, light scattering and cloud blending
• Material surfaces use either Blinn-Phong shading model or Strauss lighting model and subsurface scattering in some cases

The CPU tests in 3DMark06 are different to those found in previous 3DMark versions - instead of using software vertex shading to provide the CPU workload, path-finding, physics and engine routines are used instead, across multiple threads.

3DMark Vantage

Futuremark released its latest product, 3DMark Vantage, on April 28, 2008.^[12] It is a benchmark based upon DirectX 10, and therefore will only run under Windows Vista (Service Pack 1 is stated as a requirement) and Windows 7. A trial of the basic version of 3DMark Vantage is free where the user is allowed a single benchmark run resulting in a 3DMark Score, after that it is required to purchase the software ranging from US$6.95 for the basic version, up to $19.95 for the advanced version. This is the first edition where the feature-restricted, free of charge version could not be used any number of times.

Futuremark made a special website about 3DMark Vantage, 3DMark.com. It currently contains four screenshots from work in progress and two Developer Diary parts. The second Developer Diary part shows 3DMark Vantage in motion.

3DMarkMobile

Futuremark also produces 3D benchmark software for mobile devices. They are intended for use on development hardware to assist in product development, design evaluation and for mobile hardware media reviews of next generation devices, as made available. Current versions include:

• 3DMarkMobile ES 2.0^[13]
• 3DMarkMobile ES 1.1^[14]
• 3DMarkMobile JSR 239^[15]
• 3DMarkMobile JSR 184^[16]

See also

• PCMark, a series of computer benchmark tools
• Futuremark, the company behind 3DMark and PCMark
• GLMark, benchmark for OpenGL

References

External links

• Futuremark Corporation website
• 3DMark03 – screenshots
• 3DMark05 – screenshots
• 3DMark06 – screenshots
• 3DMark Vantage – screenshots
• 3DMarkMobile products
• 10 Year Anniversary of 3DMark