Futuremark 3DMark04 Q&A

Danhill · Jul 28, 2004, 01:26 PM

Nearly 18 months ago Futuremark released 3DMark03 - the latest in the line of 3D performance benchmarks and their first to make use of DirectX9 technologies. While, internally, they probably realised that not all was happy in in the Beta members (the group of members that steer the benchmark - which includes the IHV's who's products will be tested by the benchmark) camp, its doubtful that anyone would have expected the rough ride that was to ensue over disagreements with what the benchmark tests and overzealous optimisations coded into drivers.

Read More: Beyond 3D

Erroneus · Jul 28, 2004, 01:49 PM

Quote:

The next 3DMark will require a fully PS2.0 capable graphics card for all game tests. None of the game tests will use shaders below version 2.0, and the benchmark is really mainly targeted at the second generation of DX9 compliant cards. Of course users with older/first generation DX9 hardware can run the benchmark and get reliable results, but the tests loads aren’t really designed for that generation.

A good move from futuremark, 3dmark03 has only 1 game test using dx9, which in my opinion is not enough for properly testing of the newest highend cards.

Quote:

None of the tests in the next 3DMark will actually require SM3.0, but if the user has a graphics card capable of doing SM3.0, it will be used by default. There is actually a new option in the settings, from where the user can choose which shader model will be used (2_0, 2_a, 2_b or 3_0). I think that widens the use of the next 3DMark even more as you can for example compare your graphics cards SM2.0 and SM3.0 performance.

Excellent, this way we can benchmark 2.0b agains 3.0 real easy

Danhill · Jul 28, 2004, 01:51 PM

Wonder if it's going to be a IQ difference between 2,0 2,0b & 3,0

rogeld · Jul 28, 2004, 03:21 PM

I don't suppose any screenshots have been released yet. I have to admit a bit of curiosity as to what it will look like.

Zardon · Jul 28, 2004, 03:37 PM

Im totally bored of these things. be good to see it from a technical viewpoint, but really I think the days of synthetic benchmarks should be kept to a users setups for home comparisons.

Erroneus · Jul 28, 2004, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rogeld
I don't suppose any screenshots have been released yet. I have to admit a bit of curiosity as to what it will look like.

On the last page there is a screenshot, but nothing fancy

rogeld · Jul 28, 2004, 05:33 PM

I don't know, that screenshot looks pretty tasty. Definitely a look at the next nature test version. Heck, all 3dmark is good for is looking at pretty pictures and I do like doing that so...I'm pleased.

BWX · Jul 29, 2004, 01:25 AM

I like it for gauging changes on my own machine- that screenshot makes me want to see more, I think it looks great.

Judas · Jul 29, 2004, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BWX
I like it for gauging changes on my own machine- that screenshot makes me want to see more, I think it looks great.

indeed

Zelig · Jul 29, 2004, 02:51 AM

I've never bothered with benchmarking programs, I really have a hard time seeing any point in it, I just use applications and games as a reference point.

Vampyromaniac · Jul 29, 2004, 03:18 AM

hopefully 04 is not crap like 03 was

gangsterant16 · Jul 29, 2004, 03:55 AM

when is it going to be released

Jul 28, 2004, 01:26 PM	#1
Danhill DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sweden Posts: 4,112 Rep Power: 0	Futuremark 3DMark04 Q&A Nearly 18 months ago Futuremark released 3DMark03 - the latest in the line of 3D performance benchmarks and their first to make use of DirectX9 technologies. While, internally, they probably realised that not all was happy in in the Beta members (the group of members that steer the benchmark - which includes the IHV's who's products will be tested by the benchmark) camp, its doubtful that anyone would have expected the rough ride that was to ensue over disagreements with what the benchmark tests and overzealous optimisations coded into drivers. Read More: Beyond 3D

Jul 28, 2004, 01:51 PM	Thread Starter #3
Danhill DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sweden Posts: 4,112 Rep Power: 0	Wonder if it's going to be a IQ difference between 2,0 2,0b & 3,0 __________________ MOBO: [color=white]ASUS A8N-SLI Premium[/color] CPU: AMD 64 3200+ (Venice) @ 2,50 Ghz MEM: 2 x 512 DDR 466, VGA: 2 x 6600 GT in SLI, HDD1: WD Raptor HDD2: Maxtor Diamond Plus 9, Case: Antec Plus View 1080, PSU: ThermalTake PurePower 500W, MX 1000, Dell 2001 FP, Aud. 2 SZ

Jul 29, 2004, 01:25 AM	#8
BWX unplugged Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: USNY Posts: 19,669 Rep Power: 110 System Specs	I like it for gauging changes on my own machine- that screenshot makes me want to see more, I think it looks great. __________________

Jul 29, 2004, 03:18 AM	#11
Vampyromaniac confutatis maledictis Join Date: May 2002 Location: somewhere dark Posts: 5,974 Rep Power: 77 System Specs	hopefully 04 is not crap like 03 was __________________ *Digitalis 3.3* Athlon 64 3000 // ASUS K8V SE Deluxe // 1024MB PC3200 (2-2-2-10 1T) ATI All-In-Wonder 9700 Pro // 20" Dell 2005FPW (DVI) M-Audio Revo 7.1 + Philips Acoustic Edge // Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 320/16 Western Digital WD3200KS + 120/8 Seagate 7200.7 NEC ND-3550A 16x DVD±RW + Lite-On 52x24x CD-RW Antec Sonata case // 480W Antec TruePower personal bests \|\| Aq'3: 46796 \| 3D'01: 20461 \| 3D'03: 6336 \| 3D'05: 2677 \| PC'04: 4605 \| PC'02: 7691,9092,1250

Jul 29, 2004, 03:55 AM	#12
gangsterant16 The tRu NigGa tO CoME 2 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 153 Rep Power: 0	when is it going to be released __________________ AMD Athlon(tm) 64 3700+ 2.4ghz(san diego) Asus Av8 motherboard revision 2 i think lol Ati Radeon x800pro Default Clock 1.5 gigs of corsair xms 3200 (2sticks of 256 and 2 of 512) Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatality Logitech 680's (1000 watts max)! 80gig sata seagate hard drive and a 100gig wd "main hd' dvd drive, dvd burner 520 watt OKIA psu(suck ass psu!)

Jul 28, 2004, 03:21 PM	#4
rogeld DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 259 Rep Power: 0	I don't suppose any screenshots have been released yet. I have to admit a bit of curiosity as to what it will look like.

Jul 28, 2004, 03:37 PM	#5
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	Im totally bored of these things. be good to see it from a technical viewpoint, but really I think the days of synthetic benchmarks should be kept to a users setups for home comparisons.

Jul 28, 2004, 05:33 PM	#7
rogeld DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 259 Rep Power: 0	I don't know, that screenshot looks pretty tasty. Definitely a look at the next nature test version. Heck, all 3dmark is good for is looking at pretty pictures and I do like doing that so...I'm pleased.

Jul 29, 2004, 02:51 AM	#10
Zelig HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 3,187 Rep Power: 71 System Specs	I've never bothered with benchmarking programs, I really have a hard time seeing any point in it, I just use applications and games as a reference point.