Procyon AI image generation benchmark uses Stable Diffusion — UL to release new benchmark on March 25

A screenshot of the Procyon AI Image Generation benchmark.
(Image credit: UL Solutions)

UL Solutions, the company behind 3DMark and PCMark, has unveiled its upcoming AI Image Generation benchmark for its Procyon AI-focused benchmark software. Based on Stable Diffusion, the benchmark seeks to test the AI performance of discrete graphics cards. While testing performance in Stable Diffusion wasn't impossible before, UL's new benchmark should make it much easier and more accessible for users wanting to know how fast their GPU is at AI image generation.

Launched in 2023, Procyon is UL's benchmark suit for AI tests, forming a trio with its gaming-centric 3DMark software and PC-focused PCMark app. There are lots users can do with AI, from powering chatbots to creating code that may or may not work. However, one curious benchmark that was missing from Procyon was for testing image generation, which is one of the most (if not the most) popular ways to use AI in recent years. In that light, it is a little strange that we are only now getting a standardized benchmark to test Stable Diffusion.

The upcoming AI Image Generation benchmark, which arrives on the 25th, seeks to fill that gap. It tests performance in Stable Diffusion based on two different models: one for midrange GPUs and the other for high-end ones. Technically, there's probably nothing stopping users from running this benchmark on weaker discrete GPUs and perhaps even integrated graphics, but the score would likely be quite low.

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Matthew Connatser

Matthew Connatser is a freelancing writer for Tom's Hardware US. He writes articles about CPUs, GPUs, SSDs, and computers in general.