DirectX 9 video card benchmark for gamers

Space pirates attack a transport vessel in this Shader Model 2.0 test that reflects the 3D performance of shooter games. Most of the surfaces materials in this test use Blinn-Phong reflection with exponents implemented using lookups. There are 26 light sources: 2 directional, 12 small non-overlapping shadow-mapped spot lights and 12 point lights. Most of the lights cast shadows and some, such as the rotating warning lights, are masked and animated.

Under the light of the Moon, magic fireflies dance through the dark forest. This Shader Model 2.0 test showcases cascaded shadow maps and high resolution shadow mapped point lights. The vegetation is dynamically distributed and detailed depending on the camera's distance and movements. The sky is created using a procedural light scattering shader. The moonlight is directional and generates cascaded shadow maps. The ground materials have diffuse, normal and specular maps.

An airship has a close encounter with a sea dragon in this Shader Model 3.0 test. The water uses HDR reflections, refractions and depth fog. Its surface is distorted using normal maps and Gerstner wave functions. The sky uses a complex atmospheric light scattering algorithm and heterogeneous fog makes the air appear humid. The ship and the crewmen use the Strauss shading model. The canyon material has three color maps, three normal maps and Lambertian diffuse shading.

Deep Freeze takes you to an Antarctic research base in a movie-like scene with a hint of horror. This Shader Model 3.0 test showcases HDR rendering and long, dynamic soft shadows as the sun sets. The snow uses the Blinn-Phong shading model, two normal maps, a color map and sub-surface light scattering. Other surfaces use the Strauss shading model. Heterogeneous fog and particles create the snow-storm effect. The sky uses procedural atmospheric light scattering.

CPU tests use the D* Lite path finding AI algorithm, Aegia PhysX library and game logic to provide a multi-threaded workload. These tests run at 2 FPS and are locked to 640x480 resolution to ensure equal CPU loading and decrease the influence of rendering on CPU performance. Test 1 uses a high level of path finding complexity and tight AI synchronization intervals over 40 frames. Test 2 uses a low level of path finding complexity and lax AI synchronization intervals over 60 frames.

Feature Tests

3DMark06 Advanced and Professional Editions include seven additional feature tests. These tests do not affect the 3DMark score, however, they can provide performance insights that cannot be obtained from other sources. The feature tests include fill-rate, pixel shader, vertex shader, shader particles and perlin noise.

Demo Mode

The 3DMark06 demo contains extended versions of all four graphics tests enhanced with rich sound and music. 3DMark06 Basic Edition includes the first part of the demo, while the Advanced and Professional Editions run all parts. The Professional Edition includes an option to loop the demo.

Professional Tools

3DMark06 Professional Edition includes a set of three tools for the professional tester: Image Quality tool, Texture Filtering and Antialiasing tool and a Graphs tool.