PCMark 7 Released, Offers Complete PC Testing for Windows 7

[btarunr]

PCMark 7, a new Futuremark benchmark that offers complete PC performance testing for Windows 7, was released today and is now available to download and purchase from here. PCMark 7 is available in 3 editions: the free Basic Edition that offers unlimited runs of the PCMark test suite without registration or expiry, the Advanced Edition which includes all 7 benchmark tests and the Professional Edition which unlocks all features and is licensed for commercial use. PCMark 7 is the latest benchmark from developer Futuremark and joins existing Windows PC tests PCMark05 for Windows XP and PCMark Vantage for Windows Vista.

PCMark 7 provides a set of 7 PC tests for measuring different aspects of PC performance with a high degree of accuracy. Overall system performance is measured by the PCMark test. The Lightweight test measures the capabilities of entry level systems and mobility platforms unable to run the full PCMark test. Common use performance is measured by the Entertainment, Creativity and Productivity tests. Component performance is measured by the Computation and Storage hardware tests. The Storage test is ideal for testing solid state drives (SSDs) and external hard drives in addition to the system drive.



PCMark 7 helps you choose the best component upgrades
With the launch of PCMark 7 today, everyone can use this powerful PC test and its online services found at www.pcmark.com to compare the PCMark scores from thousands of systems. By comparing the increases gained by upgrading either the CPU, GPU, RAM or system storage device, then comparing the cost of each component, it's easy for PC users to see which upgrades deliver the biggest performance increase per dollar spent.

"A benchmark is a highly complex and sophisticated piece of software, yet PCMark 7 is easy to use and requires no specialist knowledge or set up," said Jani Joki, Director of PC Products and Services at Futuremark. "Better yet, PCMark 7 Basic Edition is available as a free download so all PC users can benefit from this industrial strength PC test."

PCMark 7 is designed for the full range of modern hardware
The PC landscape is changing rapidly thanks to new hardware innovations like solid state drives (SSDs), CPUs with integrated graphics and computing capabilities and new form factors such as netbooks and tablets. PCMark 7 is the only benchmark that lets PC home users and business managers make valid performance comparisons across such a wide range of hardware and usage scenarios.

The video transcoding workloads, for example, use dedicated hardware acceleration if it is available. This allows for a better comparison between newer components which enable acceleration and older parts that rely on brute force calculation alone.

The storage workloads in PCMark 7 have been extensively developed to accurately and fairly compare systems with either SSD or HDD storage drives. An SSD may be ten times faster than an HDD, but upgrading will not make your PC ten times faster. Tests that use the storage workloads take this into account, and comparing the scores between systems with an SSD and without will give you an accurate estimate of the difference in performance for your complete system, not just that one isolated component.

PCMark 7's storage workloads use recordings of how real applications, including Microsoft Word, Windows Live Photo Gallery, Windows Live Movie Maker, Windows Media Center, Windows Media Player, Internet Explorer, Windows Defender (Security Essentials) and even World of Warcraft, access and use the PC's storage device. These recordings are used in the benchmark to replicate how real applications behave without needing to install, run and measure each individual application.

PCMark 7 is available in a range of editions to suit different needs:

PCMARK 7 BASIC EDITION

• Free download
• Free PC test offering unlimited runs of the main PCMark test
• Browse, search and compare results online
• Store one result online

PCMARK 7 ADVANCED EDITION

• $39.95
• Includes all 7 PC tests with more than 25 individual workloads
• Browse, search and compare results online
• Unlimited online results storage
• Hide results from public view
• Offline result management
• Advert-free online service

PCMARK 7 PROFESSIONAL EDITION

• $995.00
• Licensed for commercial PC system testing
• Includes all 7 PC tests with more than 25 individual workloads
• Command line automation
• Browse, search and compare results online
• Unlimited online results storage
• Hide results from public view
• Offline result management
• Advert-free online service
• Priority support

[Saidrex]

pcmark 7 professional edition $995.00

wtf? Thousand dollars for useless program that only tests computer?

[btarunr]

Originally Posted by Saidrex

pcmark 7 professional edition $995.00

wtf? Thousand dollars for useless program that only tests computer?

Thousand dollars for program that only tests computer...and lets you profit from the data it generates.

[brandonwh64]

Originally Posted by btarunr

Thousand dollars for program that only tests computer...and lets you profit from the data it generates.

How do you profit from that data?

[btarunr]

Originally Posted by brandonwh64

How do you profit from that data?

Post it in your online/print reviews and hog ad revenue, analyse IT infrastructure of big companies for $1000s, design your products based on the target performance you're offering for a set amount, etc. For each of these target-users, $995 is pocket-change.

For you (overclocker/PC-enthusiast/non-commercial user), the $40 edition gives you everything you'll ever need.

[hurrakan]

Originally Posted by btarunr

For you (overclocker/PC-enthusiast/non-commercial user), the $40 edition gives you everything you'll ever need to know that you want a faster computer.

Benchmark programs like this only seem useful if you want to play bragging number games. Otherwise, who cares? If you can play your latest game with all settings on high then your computer is fast enough. Otherwise, it is not. That's all I really need to know!

[Arctucas]

5261.

I turned off a few things, 5474.

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by Arctucas

5261.

Finally, a score! Lets see some more...

[btarunr]

Originally Posted by hurrakan

Benchmark programs like this only seem useful if you want to play bragging number games.

Well, that's why people overclock, if they already have a system that can run [insert crappy console port].

People race cars, boats, and bikes for "bragging numbers," too.

Originally Posted by hurrakan

Otherwise, who cares?

Those who test hardware for a living.

Originally Posted by hurrakan

If you can play your latest game with all settings on high then your computer is fast enough. Otherwise, it is not. That's all I really need to know!

Yes, that applies with automobiles as well. Your Fiat [insert entry level model] can drive you to work and back. It won't win races, some people make a living running those races.

Once again, if you don't see a purpose in benchmarking and fast hardware, you're on the wrong website.

[Trackr]

btarunr is right.

The 995$ version is for people who'll use that product to generate money.

The 40$ version is for people who want bragging rights in the e-peen race.

For the rest of us, game performance is all that matters, so we pay nothing.

Originally Posted by btarunr

It won't win races, some people make a living running those races.

I think what he's getting at, is that as PC Gamers/Overclockers, we WANT to have a system worthy of benchmarking, but only for the purpose of gaming.

Like revving up a cheap Sonata with a V8 to have some fun on your morning commute.

It's simply more practical. Why build a rig just to benchmark? No fun.

[OneCool]

2675 http://3dmark.com/pcm7/10329


With the old laptop

2854 with tweaking http://3dmark.com/pcm7/10661

[Cold Storm]

I for one would like to know that the computer parts that we give to the soldiers work.. Want to make sure that the video hub that is in one country can handle the raw data that is being sent in from the country's in a 360* radius.

Hell, their is division's that just do that.. see how hard they can take the system, just to get that "pop" that we all hate to hear..

[Asylum]

Originally Posted by btarunr

Well, that's why people overclock, if they already have a system that can run [insert crappy console port].

People race cars, boats, and bikes for "bragging numbers," too.



Those who test hardware for a living.



Yes, that applies with automobiles as well. Your Fiat [insert entry level model] can drive you to work and back. It won't win races, some people make a living running those races.

Once again, if you don't see a purpose in benchmarking and fast hardware, you're on the wrong website.

^^^ That about sums it up in a nut shell.

Thanks for the post btarunr.

[Enmity]

3898

[Psychoholic]

5540

http://3dmark.com/pcm7/29480

[pr0n Inspector]

Overclocking scene? Full of un-extraordinary teams and "drivers" with deep pockets.
Your mom with two weeks of training, bunch of pre-made components and a giant tank of helium could probably break a record or two too.

[Mydog]

Just tested it now on my SR-2 setup with 2x X5690 @4,5GHz, 2x HD6970 @950/1450 og 3x Vertex2 120GB in raid 0.

Think the score was rather low 5703 PCMarks