Almost a year ago, I started a thread just like this one to elicit your thoughts on the way we test CPUs. Based on your responses, we made a number of changes to our test suite. Of course, we weren't able to accommodate every request. But each suggestion that made sense received careful consideration.
Well, it's that time again. We want to know how you want to see processors evaluated as we alter the benchmark suite.
As before, I think we have a reasonable mix of gaming-, productivity-, media-, and synthetic-based tests in our automated CPU software package. With that said, our ears are always open.
Now, keep in mind that we’d prefer to use free/trial/open source software, making reproducibility an option for as many of our readers as possible.
Here’s our current list of metrics. We aren't doing much with OpenCL or DirectCompute right now, preferring to save those tests for the graphics suite. With that said, feature like Quick Sync and AMD's Fusion initiative merit a reconsideration about folding in benchmarks with unique support for architecture-specific optimizations. This is something we want to be very careful with, though, as to not bias the weight of our evaluation toward any one company. Keep that in mind as we open up the dialogue to accelerated apps.
- Apple iTunes
- Lame MP3
- HandBrake CLI
- MainConcept Reference v.2
- WinRAR
- WinZip
- 7-Zip
- Autodesk 3ds Max
- Adobe Premiere Pro CS5
- Adobe After Effects CS5
- Adobe Photoshop CS5
- Cinebench
- Blender
- ABBYY FineReader 10
- PCMark 7
- 3DMark 7
- SiSoftware Sandra 2011
- Metro 2033
- F1 2010
- Aliens Vs. Predator
- Just Cause 2
Occasionally you’ll see us swap out a game, exclude a more workstation-oriented app in a mainstream, or add something like Fritz, but that’s the lineup I’m using as of…well, now. So, give us some suggestions on what you’d like to see over the next year. Bear in mind that the apps we pick from the comments you leave will likely be the ones most applicable to the largest number of people, though there is room for a handful of more fringe tests, too.
Thanks again for the input. I’ll be stopping by the comments section here, of course. And if you want to reach me directly, you're always welcome to hit me up on Twitter.
Chris Angelini
Worldwide Editor-in-Chief, Tom’s Hardware