3DMark

3DMark is a computer benchmarking tool created and developed by Futuremark Corporation (formerly MadOnion.com and initially 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 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.

Many versions of 3DMark have been released since 1998. As each 3DMark is based on a specific version of the DirectX API scores cannot be compared across the different releases.

The east and west are inverted in the games tests.

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

As a complete package, 3DMark03 consists of:

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

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

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."

Some of the graphics tests have the following features:

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 show the part 1, "Return to Proxycon", of the demo.

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.

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