3DMark is a computer benchmarking tool created and developed by UL (formerly Futuremark), to determine the performance of a computer's 3D graphic rendering and CPU workload processing capabilities. Running 3DMark produces a 3DMark score, with higher numbers indicating better performance. The 3DMark measurement unit is intended to give a normalized means 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.

Many versions of 3DMark have been released since 1998. Scores cannot be compared across versions as each test is based on a specific version of the DirectX API.[1] 3DMark 11 and earlier versions, being no longer suitable to test modern hardware, have been made available as freeware by providing keys to unlock the full version on the UL website.[2]

Versions

Version Description Released Operating System DirectX API Support Status
3DMark99 The first 3DMark 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.[3] The graphics tests use an early version of Remedy Entertainment's MAX-FX engine, which was later used in the game Max Payne. October 26, 1998 Windows 95
Windows 98 		DirectX 6.0 Discontinued after the release of 3DMark99 MAX
3DMark99 MAX 3DMark99 MAX is a content update to 3DMark99.[4] March 8, 1999 Windows 95
Windows 98 		DirectX 6.1 Unsupported[5]
3DMark2000 The second generation 3DMark, making use of key features from DirectX 7 (such as hardware accelerated transform and lighting).[6] December 6, 1999 Windows 95

Windows 98

Windows 98 SE

Windows 2000

DirectX 7 Unsupported
3DMark2001 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.[7] March 13, 2001 Windows 98
Windows 98 SE
Windows ME
Windows 2000
Windows XP 		DirectX 8.0 Discontinued after the release of 3DMark2001 SE
3DMark2001 SE 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).[8] 3DMark2001 SE is the last version of 3DMark to use the MAX-FX engine. February 12, 2002 Windows 98
Windows 98 SE
Windows ME
Windows 2000
Windows XP 		DirectX 8.1 Unsupported
3DMark03 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.[9] 3DMark03 does not use a 3rd party engine for any of the tests; light DirectX wrappers are used instead.

The final score is a weighted sum of the game tests. The results of CPU and other tests are not taken into account.[10]

As a complete package, 3DMark03 consists of:

  • 4 game 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
 February 11, 2003 Windows 98
Windows 98 SE
Windows ME
Windows 2000
Windows XP 		DirectX 9.0 Unsupported
3DMark05 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.[11] While the tests only make use of Shader Model 2.0, by default the highest compilation profile supported by the hardware is used, including 3.0.

The final score is a geometric mean weighting the game tests equally. The CPU results are not taken into account.[12]

In the free version only the part 1, "Return to Proxycon", of the demo is shown now.[13]

September 29, 2004 Windows 2000
Windows XP (SP2) 		DirectX 9.0(c) Unsupported
3DMark06 The sixth generation 3DMark.[14] The three game tests, renamed "graphics tests", from 3DMark05 were carried over and updated, and a fourth new test "Deep Freeze" was added.

The scoring formula was changed to incorporate CPU tests results: "For the first time in its history, the CPU result affects the final 3DMark score. This was done due to the fact that there are more and more games using complex AI algorithms and complex physics calculations."[15]

Some of the graphics tests have the following features:

  • 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 from 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.

The free version only shows the part 1, "Return to Proxycon", of the demo.[16]

January 18, 2006 Windows XP
Windows Vista
Windows 7
Windows 8
Windows 8.1
Windows 10 		DirectX 9.0c Unsupported
3DMark Vantage Futuremark released 3DMark Vantage on April 28, 2008.[17] 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. Unlike all of the previous versions there is no demo mode in 3DMark Vantage.

Initially the 3DMark Vantage range included a free trial which allowed a single run, the Basic Edition priced at US$6.95 and the Advanced Edition priced at US$19.95. On March 15, 2011 Futuremark released an update for 3DMark Vantage that discontinued the trial edition and made the Basic Edition free to download.[18]

April 28, 2008 Windows Vista
Windows 7
Windows 8
Windows 8.1
Windows 10 		DirectX 10 Unsupported; no longer receiving updates other than SystemInfo
3DMark 11 3DMark 11 made extensive use of all the new features in DirectX 11 including tessellation, compute shaders and multi-threading. It was released on December 7, 2010.[19]

3DMark 11 included four Graphics tests - Deep Sea 1 & 2, High Temple 1 & 2 - for measuring GPU performance, a Physics test measuring CPU performance, and a Combined test targeting CPU and GPU performance.

3DMark 11 included a Demo that adds a soundtrack to the visual content.

December 7, 2010 Windows Vista
Windows 7
Windows 8
Windows 8.1
Windows 10 		DirectX 11 Unsupported; no longer receiving updates other than SystemInfo
3DMark Development of a new version of 3DMark was announced on 14 November 2011 with the final product, simply named 3DMark, released on February 4, 2013.

Scores from Windows, Android and iOS can be compared making this version of 3DMark the first to enable cross-platform performance comparisons.

Unlike previous versions, 3DMark features separate benchmark tests with each producing its own score.

Ice Storm is a DirectX 11 feature level 9 / OpenGL ES 2.0 test targeting smartphones, tablets and entry-level PCs. Ice Storm Extreme is a variant of Ice Storm that uses more demanding settings to provide a suitable test for high-end mobile devices.

Sling Shot is a mobile-only test introduced in March 2015 for Android and iOS, which is aimed at recent mobile devices and flagship phones.

Cloud Gate is a DirectX 11 feature level 10 test for typical home PC and notebooks.

Sky Diver is a DirectX 11 test aimed at gaming laptops and mid-range PCs that cannot achieve double-digit frame rates in the more demanding Fire Strike test.

Night Raid is a DirectX 12 test designed for systems using integrated graphics, such as tablets, laptops, and desktops lacking dedicated graphics hardware.

Fire Strike is a DirectX 11 test for gaming PCs. Fire Strike Extreme is a variant of Fire Strike used to test high-performance gaming PCs with multiple GPUs. Fire Strike Ultra is yet another variant of Fire Strike, which is meant to test enthusiast-grade PCs that are able to game at 4K resolution.

Time Spy is a DirectX 12 test added in July 2016.[20][21] DirectX 12 is only available in Windows 10 and newer, so the test is not available on older OS versions. As with Fire Strike Extreme, Time Spy Extreme is a variant of Time Spy used to test high-end gaming PCs.

February 4, 2013 (Windows)
April 2, 2013 (Android)
September 9, 2013 (iOS)
October 14, 2013 (Windows RT) 		Windows Vista
Windows 7
Windows 8
Windows 8.1
Windows 10

Windows 11[22]
Windows RT
Android
iOS

DirectX 11 with
Direct 3D feature
levels 9, 10 and 11.
Time Spy test -
DirectX 12 with
feature level 11_0
supported 		Supported
3DMark Port Royal 3DMark Port Royal is to test and compare the real-time ray tracing performance of any graphics card.[23] January 8, 2019 Windows 10 October Update DirectX Raytracing Supported

See also

References

  1. ^ "What is 3DMark?". Futuremark Corporation.
  2. ^ "Futuremark Legacy Benchmarks - Benchmarks by UL Solutions". Retrieved 2023-01-07.
  3. ^ "Futuremark Corporation Releases 3DMark99". Futuremark Corporation. Archived from the original on 2011-06-03. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  4. ^ "Futuremark Corporation Releases 3DMark99 MAX". Futuremark Corporation. 1999-03-08. Archived from the original on 2011-06-03. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
  5. ^ "3DMark99 MAX download". Futuremark Corporation. Archived from the original on 2011-02-18. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  6. ^ "MadOnion.com Releases 3DMark2000". MadOnion.com. 1999-12-06. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
  7. ^ "MadOnion.com Releases 3DMark2001". MadOnion.com. 2001-03-13. Archived from the original on 2008-07-07. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
  8. ^ "MadOnion.com Releases 3DMark2001 Second Edition". MadOnion.com. 2002-02-12. Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
  9. ^ "3DMark03 Released". Futuremark Corporation. 2003-02-11. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
  10. ^ "3DMark03 Whitepaper" (PDF). Futuremark Corporation. 2003-02-11. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
  11. ^ "Futuremark Unveils 3DMark05". Futuremark Corporation. 2004-09-29. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
  12. ^ "3DMark05 Whitepaper v1.1" (PDF). Futuremark Corporation. 2005-04-26.
  13. ^ "3DMark05 FAQ". Futuremark Corporation.
  14. ^ "Futuremark Overhauls "The Gamers' Benchmark" With 3DMark06". Futuremark Corporation. 2006-01-18. Archived from the original on 2008-05-01. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
  15. ^ "3DMark06 Whitepaper v1.0.2" (PDF). Futuremark Corporation. 2006-01-18. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
  16. ^ "3DMark06 Advanced and Professional Features". Futuremark Corporation.
  17. ^ "Futuremark Launches 3DMark Vantage". Futuremark Corporation. 2008-04-28. Archived from the original on 2008-05-01. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
  18. ^ Murray, Matthew (2011-03-15). "3DMark Vantage Now More Compatible, Basic Version Free". pcmag.com. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  19. ^ "Futuremark Confirms 3DMark 11 Release Date". Futuremark Corporation. 2010-12-02. Archived from the original on December 13, 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
  20. ^ "INTRODUCING 3DMARK TIME SPY DIRECTX 12 BENCHMARK TEST". Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  21. ^ "3DMARK TIME SPY - DIRECTX 12 BENCHMARK TEST AVAILABLE NOW". Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  22. ^ "3DMark - The Gamer's Benchmark". benchmarks.ul.com. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  23. ^ "3DMark Port Royal ray tracing benchmark now available". benchmarks.ul.com. Retrieved 4 September 2019.

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