After careful consideration I have decided to transfer all hardware review activities to a new domain. I purchased Hardwareasylum.com in 2012 and have been working hard to build a new and improved Ninjalane on that domain. If you are reading this you have reached one of the archived articles, news, projects and/or reviews that were left behind during the site migration.
Please update your bookmarks and be sure to visit the new and improved Ninjalane at Hardwareasylum.com
Futuremark 3DMark 11 Benchmark Review
Author: Jim Manis
Published: Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Introduction
Benchmarks are one of those things you either love or hate. We actually love benchmarks since they are a huge part of the enthusiast's arsenal. From competing on HWbot, submitting to Futuremark's ORB, or just tuning in new hardware you will be using some form of benchmark to determine your level of performance. While game tests give the results that really matter to most people synthetic benchmarks have certainly proven their worth.
Reviewers are almost guaranteed to include 3DMark numbers in their performance reviews simply because comparable numbers are invaluable in testing. The new 3DMark 11 is sure to be a staple in our testing, along with others around the web, by offering a true DX11 experience with such features as Direct Compute and Tessellation along with all of the newest features added to the DX family in recent revisions.
Reviewers are almost guaranteed to include 3DMark numbers in their performance reviews simply because comparable numbers are invaluable in testing. The new 3DMark 11 is sure to be a staple in our testing, along with others around the web, by offering a true DX11 experience with such features as Direct Compute and Tessellation along with all of the newest features added to the DX family in recent revisions.
There are six tests in 3DMark 11, all completely new. The four graphics tests use advanced rendering techniques making use of tessellation, volumetric lighting, depth of field and post processing effects enabled by the technology and performance available in DirectX 11 graphics hardware. The physics test uses rigid body simulation of a large number of objects on the CPU. The combined test features CPU and GPU workloads. The CPU handles rigid-body physics while the GPU is tasked with volumetric lighting, tessellation, post processing as well as simulating soft-body physics using DirectCompute.
Minimum System Requirements:
3DMark 11 requires DirectX 11, a DirectX 11 compatible video card, and Windows Vista or Windows 7.
OS: Microsoft Windows Vista or Windows 7
Processor: 1.8GHz dual-core Intel or AMD CPU
Memory: 1 GB of system memory
Graphics: DirectX 11 compatible graphics card
Hard drive:1.5 GB free space
Audio: Windows Vista / Windows 7 compatible sound card
OS: Microsoft Windows Vista or Windows 7
Processor: 1.8GHz dual-core Intel or AMD CPU
Memory: 1 GB of system memory
Graphics: DirectX 11 compatible graphics card
Hard drive:1.5 GB free space
Audio: Windows Vista / Windows 7 compatible sound card
