Welcome to 3DMark®06

Congratulations on installing 3DMark06, the worldwide standard in advanced 3D graphics performance benchmarking from Futuremark Corporation. 3DMark06 is a fundamental tool for every PC user interested in 3D graphics and performance. 3DMark06 will measure your PC's 3D performance in next generation games, reliably compare the latest high-end gaming hardware, and show you amazing real-time 3D graphics. By using 3DMark06 and the Online ResultBrowser web service, you will get:

• The 3DMark score - a globally recognized and comparable measurement of the 3D performance of your PC.
• SM2.0 Score - a new comparable measurement of the 3D ShaderModel 2.0 performance of your PC.
• HDR/SM3.0 Score - a new comparable measurement of the 3D ShaderModel 3.0 & HDR performance of your PC.
• CPU Score - a comparable measurement of the CPU performance of your PC.
• A comparison of your machine and the fastest PCs on the planet.
• An educated estimate as to how much better your system will perform with certain upgrades.
• A view into the next generation of real-time 3D graphics.

Introduction to 3DMark06

3DMark06 is concentrated on measuring the performance of the latest DirectX 9 generation of 3D hardware using the technology of next generation games. Earlier 3DMark versions have usually been launched with the introduction of a new Microsoft DirectX version and with the introduction of a new generation of hardware. This has somewhat limited how much 3DMark has utilized the new hardware features. At the time of this writing, DirectX 9 was introduced nearly three years ago, and there is now DX9 generation hardware available from the very high end to value and mobile parts. 3DMark06 can fully utilize 100% of the features of DirectX 9. In fact, DirectX 9 hardware with support for ShaderModel 3.0 is required to run all the tests of 3DMark06, resulting in the ultimate tool for DirectX 9 hardware performance comparison. DirectX 9 graphics cards limited to ShaderModel 2.X are still capable of running most of the tests, and getting a perfectly valid and comparable 3DMark result.

3DMark06 highlights:

• Two HDR/SM3.0 graphics tests, requiring DirectX 9 hardware with support for SM3.0, 16 bit floating point textures and 16 bit floating point blending.
• Two SM2.0 graphics tests, requiring DirectX 9 hardware with full SM2.0 support.
• Two completely new CPU test, both supporting threading and multiprocessors, requiring DirectX 9 hardware with SM2.0 support.
• Feature tests focusing on key characteristics of graphics performance.
• The 3DMark06 demo the ultimate display of real-time 3D graphics featuring an original sound track.
• A wide range of benchmark settings and professional tools for image quality inspection, texture filtering quality testing, automated batch runs and a lot more.
• A mini-game based on the CPU test for users to run the game-engine used in CPU test.

Note: The results and final score of 3DMark06 are not comparable with any previous version of 3DMark.

System Requirements

• DirectX®9 compatible graphics adapter with support for Pixel Shader 2.0 or later, and graphics memory of 256 MB or above.*
• Intel® or AMD® compatible processor running on 2.5 GHz or above.
• 1GB system memory or more.
• 1.5GB of free hard disk space.
• Windows®XP operating system with the latest Service Pack and updates installed.
• DirectX 9.0c (December 2005) installed (download) with the latest updates.
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 installed, for some 3DMark functionality (download).
• Microsoft Excel 2000, 2003 or XP for some 3DMark functionality.
• Microsoft DirectX 9.0c (December 2005) System Development Kit (download) is required to run the image quality test using the reference rasterizer.

It is possible that 3DMark06 will run on PCs that do not meet the requirements above, but the benchmark performance may be seriously affected. For example, insufficient video memory will result in texture swapping - this will cause fluctuations during the tests, reducing the reliability of the generated scores.

3DMark06 Advanced & Professional Edition Features

3DMark06 is a powerful benchmark tool that is very easy to install and use. Just a single click is enough to obtain a 3DMark score, a comprehensive measurement of the 3D performance of your system. 3DMark06 is also an important tool for professional hardware reviewers. 3DMark06 Professional is an extended commercial version of the Advanced and Basic Editions of the benchmark, with loads of additional benchmarking settings and tools for professionals and skilled enthusiasts.

The additional features of 3DMark06 Advanced and 3DMark06 Professional Editions:

• Full control over the benchmark display configuration, including resolution, shader profiles, anti-aliasing and texture filtering.
• Feature tests measuring shader performance, and other essential graphics performance features.
• A mini-game based on the CPU test.
• Professional tools, including image quality analysis and graph creation of runtime statistics.
• Result import to MS Excel tool for easier result management and report creation.
• Access to the Pro-Online Result Browser, a must have for all professional system testers and enthusiast overclockers.

Features only available in 3DMark06 Professional Edition:

• Command line functionality enabled.
• Batch run functionality for automated testing.
• License to use 3DMark06 for commercial purposes, e.g. publishing hardware scores in reviews or advertising, product promotion at tradeshows.
• Demo Loop option.

3DMark06 was built using the following third party software components:

• DirectX® 9 SDK by Microsoft® (www.microsoft.com/directx).
• Graphics adapter analysis software from Powerstrip of Entech Taiwan (www.entechtaiwan.com) - this is used to correctly determine the speeds of the graphics processing and video memory chips, plus supply additional hardware information.
• AGEIA™ PhysX™ physics library by AGEIA (www.ageia.com).
• OpenAL sound library by OpenAL.org (www.openal.org).
• Orchestral samples included in the soundtrack from the Vienna Symphonic Library (www.vsl.co.at).

Other Futuremark Benchmarks

PCMark®05
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SPMark™Java06
SPMarkJava06 is a richly featured handheld device benchmark designed to measure and evaluate the system’s performance in running Java applications. Targeted for MIDP 2.0 and JSR 184 capable handheld devices, the benchmark’s workloads consist of 3D gaming, 2D gaming, video playback, image processing, Java Virtual Machine (JVM) testing, and battery testing. Additionally the benchmark displays detailed system information of the device and its Java implementation. Coupled with Futuremark’s original Online ResultBrowser (ORB) service it is now possible to submit results and compare those against any other phones in the database. More info...

3DMark®Mobile06
3DMarkMobile06 is an all new benchmark from Futuremark measuring the OpenGL ES 1.0 and 1.1 performance of the most advanced mobile phones with 3D hardware. 3DMarkMobile06 tests 3D performance of games for smart phones and the theoretical performance of various 3D features. As all Futuremark benchmarks, 3DMarkMobile06 was developed in cooperation with the leading mobile phone hardware manufacturers. More info...

BAPCo/Futuremark SYSmark®2004 SE
BAPCo/Futuremark's SYSmark2004 SE is the latest version of the premier performance metric that measures and compares PC performance based on real world applications. SYSmark® 2004 SE extends the SYSmark 2004 productivity benchmark, which has been widely accepted by IT Managers, PC OEMs, press and analysts worldwide to support Windows® XP Professional x64 Edition. More info...

BAPCo/Futuremark Mobilemark®2005
BAPCo/Futuremark's Mobilemark2005 is the latest version of the premier notebook battery life and performance under battery life metric based on real world applications. Recognizing the increasing diversity in the use of notebook computing, MobileMark 2005 features two new additional test modules, DVD and wireless browsing. These new modules are provided in addition to the existing core office productivity and reader run modes. More info...

The above products are available for purchase at www.futuremark.com/products.

On-Line Services

Online ResultBrowser
The Online ResultBrowser (ORB) lets you review your results in detail on-line and compares your scores with results from PC users all over the world. The ORB also gives you valuable insight on ways you can improve your computer's performance. More info...