Next 3DMark to Support DirectX 11, 10 and 9
Futuremark has released a video of the next version of its benchmarking utility due out later this year.
The software is being teased with a video on YouTube showcasing a DirectX 11 "tech demo" that features "intelligent" tessellation, particle systems, as well as volumetric lighting real-time light scattering. Futuremark also revealed that it uses ambient occlusion for post-processing effects.
The new benchmark, which has not received an official name yet, is expected to be released after the launch of Windows 8, and will be using the DirectX 11 API to evaluate DirectX 9, DirectX 10 and DirectX 11 hardware in parallel. Futuremark said that the software will also be supporting Windows Vista and Windows 7.
There was no information on pricing. Next to the free version, the company is offering the current 3D Mark 11 as Advanced Edition for $20. The commercial Pro version runs for $995.
Yes. The $20 version is not for commercial use, and I believe it has some additional features for benchmarking systems in bulk.
Whoops, I meant the $1000 one has those features.
Yes, the savings of 49 Andrew Jacksons.
After reading the article it doesn't give any background on what 3DMark currently supports leading one to assume that it doesn't support DirectX 11, 10 or 9. So, what does 3DMark currently support?
There are versions of 3DMark for DX 9, 10, and 11, but they are all different so you can't compare directly between them. This version has the same benchmark scenario running on all 3 versions so you can directly compare them.
The only 3DMark version that really matters does exactly that.
Yes the name and price tag. Plus the commercial Pro version can be legally used for benchmarks by companies. other than that there might be a few minor extras
I hope I am wrong, but that sounds like it simply uses DX11 to simulate DX9 and 10 results, suggesting you still NEED DX11 capable hardware to actually run the benchmark (since DX9 and 10 hardware can't interface with the DX11 API at all). i.e. The point of this is, is to give a comparative score for a given DX11 card's DX9/10 performance, as opposed to being able to run the benchmark on old non-DX11 hardware..