Benchmark Structure:
3DMark03 is a collection of 3D tests that include a set of 4 game tests, which are the only tests to calculate to overall 3DMark03 score. But that's just the beginning! The benchmark also includes a set of CPU, feature, image quality and sound tests (yes, sound tests!). Each of these test measures specific 3D-related functionality, but their result is not included in the overall score.

Real-Time Rendering:
Each 3DMark03 game test is a real-time rendering of a 3D scenerio. It's important to note that these renderings are not merely animations, like an MPEG movie clip for example, they are designed to function like real 3D games work and are rendered in real-time.

DirectX:
All tests have been compiled and linked with DirectX 9.0 libraries, but only a small portion of the benchmark requires DirectX 9.0 hardware. Since DirectX 8 is hardware is more commonly available, a major portion of the tests requires DirectX 8 hardware support. A very small portion can be run with only DirectX 7, but it is not recommended, and is not reliable.

Frame-Based Rendering:
For the first time ever, 3DMark provides two different real-time rendering mechanisms; Time-Based and Frame-Based rendering! Each game scene has a timeline, or natural pace of action. Time-based rendering adjusts the frame rate to maintain this timeline. For very low-end hardware, the user may experience a "slide show" effect if the frame rate slows too much. Earlier 3DMark versions included only time-based rendering.
3DMark03 however, includes frame-based rending and is user configurable so that each test is forced to generate exactly the same number of total frames regardless of the PC used. Of course, the hardware will render these frames at the fastest pace that it can handle, so a fluctuating frame rate will still be observed. Frame-based rendering is a great mechanism for comparing performance of 2 PC's running exactly the same workload.

Shader Technologies:
3DMark03 focuses on vertex shaders and pixel shaders. Both are programmatic models the allow the 3D graphics developer to bypass fixed vertex and pixel processing in the Direct3D rendering pipeline. The developer can execute small programs directly on the graphics hardware. With this freedom, the developer can generate the stunning graphical effects found in 3DMark03.

3D Engine:
Previous versions of 3DMark used the MAX-FX 3D engine. 3DMark03 is based directly on top of the DirectX 9.0 3D platform. This allows the benchmark to be independent of specific technologies embedded in a single 3D engine implementation. This also allows lightweight wrapper routines on top of DirectX to aid in code re-use.

Realtime Physics:
Besides 3D rendering, typical games include CPU workloads. In 3DMark03, physics calculations are used to represent this workload. Natural movements such as falling characters and crashes in 3DMark03 use real-time physics. Havok's Game Dynamics SDK provides the real-time physics functionality.

• Wings of Fury.
• Battle of Proxycon.
• Troll's Lair.
• Mother Nature.

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Other Tests:

CPU Test - The 3DMark03 CPU test allows users to evaluate CPU performance for 3D graphics workloads. It's important to note that this test is only intended for 3D graphics application, and not for general PC usage. A benchmark such as PCMark (also available from Futuremark) is more appropriate for this.

Feature Performance - 3DMark03 includes a set of feature tests that do not affect the overall score. These include;

• Fill Rate (Single and multi texturing)
• Vertex Shader
• Pixel Shader 2.0
• Ragtroll
• Sound Test
• Image Quality Tools
• 3DMark03 Demo

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Score Calculation:

As with previous versions, 3DMark03 scores will initially range between 1000 and 5000 3DMarks. They are scaled such that an entry-level system will score approximately 1000, and a high-end system will score approximately 5000.

An entry-level system is one with a DirectX 8.0 graphics card and a 1Ghz CPU (approximately). A high-end system is one with a DirectX 9.0 video card and 3Ghz CPU (approximately). Of course with time, the 3DMark range will continue to increase. For example, when 3DMark2001 was released, the best score immediately following launch was close to 5000, and today's high scores are over 20,000 3DMarks!





Online Result Browser:

This has become one of the most popular features of 3DMark Without a mechanism to compare your system to others, it's difficult to say if your you have a top-end, mid-range or low-end PC. So, to allow benchmark users to come together and compare results, Futuremark provides a service called the "Online Result Browser", or ORB.
Users can decide to share their results by explicitly publishing them. This allows them to show their results to the rest of the world. For many users, such as myself, the 3DMark score is a point of pride. For some, their positioning on the top performing rankings is the source of a bit of fame. Many proud PC owners even include ORB URL links in their email and forum signatures!



Conclusion:


3DMark03 is by far the best 3D benchmarking tool created to date, but be warned that the downloadable file is approximately 180MB in size! Even on broadband, it takes a little while to download. On dialup it would be nearly impossible unless you are a VERY patient person. I installed 3DMark03 on 3 different test machines; and P4 2.4Ghz @ 2.8 with a Ti4400, a P4 Celeron 2.0Ghz @ 2.66 with an ABIT Ti4200-8X OTES, and a P4 Celeron 2.0 (not overclocked) with a Ti4200.

It ran fine on the two P4 Celeron systems, but caused my P4 2.4Ghz system to blue screen and reboot, even after several reinstallations. I haven't had enough time to diagnose the exact problem, but will be working with Futuremark to figure it out and keep you posted.

I would like to know how many of you have this problem as well. Please email me with your system stats and the problem.


Other than this glitch, I absolutely love 3DMark03 and highly encourage you to download it, and check it out!


If you want to see a preview of the graphics without having to download the entire 180MB file, right-click the pic below and select "save target as". It is approximately 18MB in size, but will give you a glimpse of the awesome graphics capabilities included in 3DMark03!




We will be a mirror download site for 3DMark03 next month, but until then you can go here for a list of mirrors to download your copy!








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