3DMark is the latest benchmark from Futuremark designed to measure the performance of computer hardware. This version includes three different tests, each designed for a specific type of hardware ranging from smartphones to high-performance gaming PCs. More tests will be added over time.

Each 3DMark test is designed for a specific class of hardware or device. Make sure you use the most appropriate test for the hardware's capabilities. For example choosing the Ice Storm test for a high and PC will not really tell you much - except maybe how your PC would stack up in the 90's.

This benchmark is intended to be cross platform, but the Android/iOS versions have not been released as yet. On Windows, this version of 3DMark is the first to include tests for DirectX 11, DirectX 10, and DirectX 9 level hardware within one application. All three tests, even those targeting DirectX 9 and DirectX 10 compatible hardware are powered by modern DirectX 11 engines using Direct3D feature levels.

The 3 tests, Ice Storm, Cloud Gate, and Fire Strike really have their own designed applications and hence target specific areas differently. Ice Storm is meant for lower powered / mobile devices, Cloud Gate is meant for mid-level machines and FireStrike is meant for the wicked high end stuff. It WILL make your machine beg for mercy if it is not up to the task. It can run at a resolution of 2560x1440 (1440p)and sets aside 1-1.5 Gig of memory, just to start.

With the pro version, you can run each test individually and in demo mode by choose the "custom" option on the menu bar. This will allow you to change some of the presets to tune the output to your particular machine. However, you will only get an official 3DMark test score when you run a test with the default settings. (darn it)

The DirectX 11 "extreme settings" are only available in to Advanced and Pro edition. Pricing on the advanced edition for consumers is $24.95 and there is a "Pro" for $995.00 for professionals.

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IMPROVEMENTS

- Keyboard focus is no longer checked during the demo or when running the benchmark in a loop. Note that if the display switches to the desktop due to a popup window during the benchmark, the run will still be aborted as the display mode is no longer the same.
- 3DMark 11 now remembers the last custom resolution used.
- GPU count detection for multi-GPU systems is now correct even when SystemInfo is explicitly disabled.
- 3DMark 11 will now prevent Windows from entering Sleep during the test.
- The license key is now reset when the benchmark is reinstalled, allowing removal of invalid keys.

COMPATIBILITY

- SystemInfo updated to version 4.15 for full Windows 8 compatibility.
- Updated DirectX redistributable.
- Now using static Visual C++ 2010 runtime libraries to fix rare installation issues on some systems.
- Removed dependency on EvaDotNet.dll and EvaDotNet.DirectX.dll for GPU enumeration to fix compatibility issues with some systems.

BUG FIXES

- Fixed display initialization code that caused "SetFullscreenState failed: DXGI_ERROR_NOT_CURRENTLY_AVAILABLE" errors on some systems.
- Fixed several memory and texture leaks, improving stability during very long looping runs.
- The HUD timer no longer rolls over if a single test takes more than ten minutes. (Yes, this could happen during the Combined Test on some low end DirectX 11 cards.)

PROFESSIONAL EDITION ONLY

- Fixed submitting saved files to 3dmark.com from the command line.
- Image Quality Tool no longer gives a cryptic error if the output directory does not exist.