Futuremark is working on new game-tests for its 3DMark benchmark suite. One of these is a game test that takes advantage of DirectX 12, but isn't as taxing on the hardware as "Time Spy." Its target hardware is notebook graphics and entry-mainstream graphics cards. It will be to "Time Spy" what "Sky Diver" is to "Fire Strike."

The next, more interesting move by Futuremark is a benchmark that takes advantage of the Vulkan 3D graphics API. The company will release this Vulkan-based benchmark for both Windows and Android platforms. Lastly we've learned that development of the company's VR benchmarks are coming along nicely, and the company hopes to release new VR benchmarks for PC and mobile platforms soon. Futuremark is expected to reveal these new game-tests and benchmarks at its 2017 International CES booth, early January.

Futuremark, the Finnish software development company best known for its 3DMark benchmarking suite, has just announced the availability of another benchmark suite. Aptly named VRMark, this suite teste your system's ability to run VR games and experiences, since the performance required for VR is much higher than for typical PC games - just consider that the recommended frame-rate for an optimal VR experience stands at 90fps. Run VRMark to see if your PC has what it takes to deliver a great VR experience on the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. VRMark benchmark tests run on your monitor, no headset required. If your PC passes, it's ready for the two most popular VR systems available today.

Futuremark released the latest addition to the 3DMark benchmark suite, the new "Time Spy" benchmark and stress-test. All existing 3DMark Basic and Advanced users have limited access to "Time Spy," existing 3DMark Advanced users have the option of unlocking the full feature-set of "Time Spy" with an upgrade key that's priced at US $9.99. The price of 3DMark Advanced for new users has been revised from its existing $24.99 to $29.99, as new 3DMark Advanced purchases include the fully-unlocked "Time Spy." Futuremark announced limited-period offers that last up till 23rd July, in which the "Time Spy" upgrade key for existing 3DMark Advanced users can be had for $4.99, and the 3DMark Advanced Edition (minus "Time Spy") for $9.99.

Futuremark 3DMark "Time Spy" has been developed with inputs from AMD, NVIDIA, Intel, and Microsoft, and takes advantage of the new DirectX 12 API. For this reason, the test requires Windows 10. The test almost exponentially increases the 3D processing load over "Fire Strike," by leveraging the low-overhead API features of DirectX 12, to present a graphically intense 3D test-scene that can make any gaming/enthusiast PC of today break a sweat. It can also make use of several beyond-4K display resolutions.DOWNLOAD: 3DMark with TimeSpy v2.1.2852

Futuremark teased its first benchmark for DirectX 12 graphics, the 3DMark "Time Spy." Likely marketed as an add-on to the 3DMark (2013) suite, "Time Spy" tests DirectX 12 features in a silicon-scorching 3D scene that's rich in geometric, textural, and visual detail. The benchmark is also ready for new generation displays including high resolutions beyond 4K Ultra HD. Existing users of 3DMark get "Basic" access to "Time Spy" when it comes out, with the option to purchase its "Advanced" and "Professional" modes.

Under the hood, "Time Spy" takes advantage of Direct3D feature-level 12_0, including Asynchronous Compute, heavily multi-threaded CPUs (which can make use of as many CPU cores as you can throw at it), and DirectX explicit multi-adapter (native multi-GPU, including mixed setups). Futuremark stated that the benchmark was developed with inputs from AMD, Intel, NVIDIA, Microsoft, and other partners of the Futuremark Benchmark Development Program.A teaser trailer video follows.

Futuremark released a new stress-test mode for the popular 3DMark suite, which lets you test the stability of your machine, after all the overclock/volt wizardry is done. What this mode does is runs a continuous 3D scene from the bench of your choice ("Fire Strike" (standard, Extreme, and Ultra,) and "Skydiver"), in a continuous rendering, without stopping for any loading screens or other breaks. This is different from the "loop" custom test setting, which runs each test over and over again, with pauses to reload the scene.

In the free edition, you can stress for up to 10 minutes. The Professional Edition key lets you scorch your hardware for up to 40 hours. Stressing your hardware is not all that this mode does, there's also a stability-test component, which checks for frame-rate stability through the defined cycles of your stress. The app would flag your hardware as "passed" only if it can achieve a frame-rate stability of at least 97% (it should tell you if your overclock is not sustainable as it runs into a thermal throttle). Simply update your 3DMark installation to the latest version, to use this feature.

Some of the first 3DMark performance numbers of NVIDIA's upcoming GeForce GTX 1080 graphics card made it to Futuremark's online database. The results page hint at samples of the GTX 1080 running on early drivers, on two separate machines (likely from two different sources). The first source, who ran the card on a machine with a Core i7-5820K processor, scored P19005 on 3DMark 11 (performance preset). The second source, who ran the card on a machine with a Core i7-3770K processor, scored 8959 points on 3DMark FireStrike Extreme. Both scores point at GTX 1080 being faster than a GTX 980 Ti.

Futuremark dropped an early Holiday present for enthusiasts, with a beta of 3DMark 2016. While it doesn't pack the all-awaited "Time Spy" DirectX 12 game-test, you still get a lot. To begin with, it includes a preview to VRMark, a 3D VR benchmark designed for VR headsets. It's a very early release, and as such doesn't generate a score. It doesn't yet support multi-GPU setups. You still get a groovy VR rendition of the "Fire Strike" game test universe. The beta also comes with a brand new user-interface that's a little more easy on the eyes, and quick to get your way around. The beta is being distributed through Steam and open to everyone who owns the paid version of 3DMark on Steam. Grab it from the link below.DOWNLOAD: 3DMark 2016 Beta

At a media event held in China, graphics card maker GALAX revealed Futuremark's next big 3D graphics benchmark. The unnamed next-gen 3DMark suite will include DirectX 12 game tests, including one titled "Time Spy." This game test (GT) features a museum-like 3D scene, rich in eye-popping lighting effects, and GT scenes from previous-generation 3DMarks serving as miniature exhibits within the test.

From the looks of it, your DirectX 12 compatible GPU is in for a trial by fire, in what promises to be an exciting next-gen 3D benchmark. The benchmark renders at 1080p, 1440p, or 4K, and is said to be "5 times" heavier on your GPU than "Fire Strike," Futuremark's DirectX 11 test that featured in the 2013 release of the suite. What's more, the benchmark will explicitly require Windows 10 64-bit, since it requires Direct3D 12 API support, and needs >2 GB of memory. Futuremark mentioned an "early" Q1-2016 launch for this benchmark.A video presentation follows.

With the public release of Windows 10 coming up next week it's a good time for us to review our current line up. As a result, we have decided to move Peacekeeper, our browser benchmark, to our list of unsupported products.

Peacekeeper is a universal browser benchmark for measuring JavaScript performance. More than seven and a half million people have tested their browsers and mobile devices with Peacekeeper since its release in 2009. But today, competition between browsers has largely shifted from speed to features.

Modern browsers are typically fast enough on a wide range of hardware, and the differences in speed in everyday use are trivial. A browser's features, extensions, and memory use are now much more likely to be the deciding factors reducing the relevance of pure JavaScript performance benchmarks.

Futuremark is excited to introduce our new 3DMark API Overhead feature test - the world's first independent test for measuring differences in DirectX 12, DirectX 11 and Mantle API performance. It's also the very first public application to use DirectX 12 full stop. This is cutting edge stuff! Developed with input from AMD, Intel, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and the other members of our Benchmark Development Program, the 3DMark API Overhead feature test lets you compare the performance of DirectX 12, DirectX 11, and Mantle.

The purpose of the test is to compare the relative performance of different APIs on a single system, rather than the absolute performance of different systems. The API Overhead feature test is not a general-purpose GPU benchmark, and it should not be used to compare graphics cards from different vendors. (We are working on a DirectX 12 benchmark with game-like workloads, which we expect to release soon after the public launch of Windows 10.)

DOWNLOAD: Futuremark 3DMark v1.5.884

Futuremark rolled out an update to its SystemInfo component, which ships with its 3DMark and PCMark benchmark suites, and helps detect hardware and software on the test system. The latest version (4.30) addresses compatibility issues faced by users of Intel's latest X99 Express high-end desktop (HEDT) platform, which cause benchmarks to crash or freeze. Those using the two suites through Steam will get the update automatically. Everyone else can grab the update from the link below.DOWNLOAD: Futuremark SystemInfo 4.30

Futuremark today announced 3DMark Sky Diver, a new DirectX 11 benchmark test for gaming laptops and mid-range PCs. 3DMark Sky Diver is the ideal test for benchmarking systems with mainstream DirectX 11 graphics cards, mobile GPUs, or integrated graphics. A preview trailer for the new benchmark shows a wingsuited woman skydiving into a mysterious, uncharted location. The scene is brought to life with tessellation, particles and advanced post-processing effects. Sky Diver will be shown in full at Computex from June 3-7, or find out more here.

Jukka Makinen, Futuremark CEO said, "Some people think that 3DMark is only for high-end hardware and extreme overclocking. Yet millions of PC gamers rely on 3DMark to choose systems that best balance performance, efficiency and affordability. 3DMark Sky Diver complements our other tests by providing the ideal benchmark for gaming laptops and mainstream PCs."

Futuremark is proud to announce that Quanta Computer has joined its Benchmark Development Program. Quanta will work with Futuremark to create new benchmarks for PC and mobile platforms. Futuremark creates the world's most widely used benchmarks, software that helps people compare the performance of the devices they depend on every day. 3DMark and PCMark are used throughout industry, business and government, by more than a thousand specialist press publications, and millions of people worldwide.

Quanta Computer is the world's largest notebook computer ODM company. Quanta manufacturers one out of every three laptops sold globally and is an ODM partner for every one of the top ten PC companies. In recent years, Quanta has extended its businesses into enterprise network systems, home entertainment, mobile communication, automotive electronics and digital home markets.

Futuremark rolled out a major update to its 3DMark (2013) graphics benchmark suite. Version 1.2.250 introduces "Ice Storm Unlimited" to the Windows version, letting you test Ice Storm at its maximum setting, and compare scores with iOS and Android devices. The suite also overhauled its hardware detection, and uses a detection engine developed by TechPowerUp. Hardware monitoring graphs will show clock speeds and temperatures of GPUs and CPUs again.DOWNLOAD: Futuremark 3DMark v1.2.250

Futuremark announced 3DMark for Windows RT, the ARM-friendly variant of Windows popularized by the Surface RT, and Surface 2. The 3D graphics benchmark suite includes three tests based on the "Ice Storm" test scene, namely "Ice Storm," "Ice Storm Extreme," and "Ice Storm Unlimited." The "Ice Storm" test stresses DirectX 11 feature level 9 test. "Ice Storm Extreme" runs the same scene at 1080p resolution, and with added detail, such as higher resolution textures and post-processing. "Ice Storm Unlimited" is designed to stress all key components, including the CPU and GPU, display resolution scaling, and other OS-related factors.DOWNLOAD: 3DMark for Windows RT

Futuremark has just made available a new version of its PCMark 8 benchmarking software. This latest build (1.1.111) brings Windows 8.1 and Internet Explorer 11 compatibility, fixes, an updated SystemInfo (v4.21), detailed hardware monitoring graphs, faster SystemInfo scanning, plus new options for OpenCL testing (the Home and Creative benchmarks can now utilize OpenCL acceleration).

PCMark 8 is currently available only in the Professional Edition (which costs $1495) but Futuremark is planning to also release Basic (free) and Advanced ($49.95) editions.

Coinciding with exciting new processor launches from AMD and Intel, Futuremark is proud to announce the release of PCMark 8 Professional Edition - the Complete Benchmark for Windows. Designed around common scenarios in the home and office, PCMark 8 is an essential benchmark for the latest Windows 8 notebooks, tablets and desktop PCs, especially those powered by new AMD Richland and Intel Haswell processors. PCMark 8 Professional Edition is licensed for commercial use and is intended for business, press and industry users. Additional PCMark 8 editions for home users will be released later in June.

Futuremark announced PCMark 8, the latest entry to its line of benchmark suites that target all PC subsystems. Designed for the new generation of Windows 8 PCs (although it should run fine on Windows 7), PCMark 8 introduces a few new tests transferred from the company's PowerMark suite, which lets you test battery life on notebooks and tablets. It introduces a few new tests that simulate load from popular Adobe and Microsoft creativity and productivity applications. PCMark 8 is developed in collaboration with a number of industry giants, including Acer, AMD, Condusiv Technologies, Dell, HGST, HP, Intel, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Samsung, SanDisk, Seagate and Western Digital. The software can be purchased towards the end of June.

EVGA and Vince "k|ngp|n" Lucido have once again dominated the 3DMark Fire Strike World Records with a brand new record for every 3DMark Fire Strike category; the newest and by far most demanding benchmark from Futuremark:

• #1 3DMark Fire Strike (SLI) = 22,054
• #1 3DMark Fire Strike Extreme (SLI) = 11,559
• #1 3DMark Fire Strike (Single Card) = 14,600
• #1 3DMark Fire Strike Extreme (Single Card) = 7,308

These records were obtained using the upcoming EVGA X79 Dark motherboard and two EVGA GeForce GTX TITAN cards in SLI. EVGA Precision X 4.0 was also used to overclock the graphics cards. See the full details at the Futuremark 3DMark Hall of Fame.

ASUS today announced that the ASUS GeForce GTX Titan graphics card has established four new 3DMark world records, supervised by in-house ROG overclocking experts Andre Yang and Shamino. The ASUS GeForce GTX Titan is the most powerful single-GPU graphics card currently available, as demonstrated with record-breaking 3DMark11 scores of 36658 marks in the Entry preset, 37263 marks in the Performance preset, and 22076 marks in the Extreme preset. It has also set a world record of 21818 in 3DMark Fire Strike, the latest and most demanding benchmark from Futuremark.

ROG overclocking expert Andre Yang set the new 3DMark11 records using liquid nitrogen-cooled ASUS GeForce GTX Titan cards in a four-way NVIDIA SLI configuration with an ROG Rampage IV Extreme motherboard and an Intel Core i7-3970X processor. Additional information on these world records and the configurations used can be found here. The 3DMark Fire Strike world record was achieved by Andre Yang and fellow ROG team member and overclocker Shamino using two ASUS GeForce GTX Titan cards in NVIDIA SLI. This achievement also used an ROG Rampage IV Extreme motherboard and an Intel Core i7-3970X processor.

Futuremark and GALAXY announced the start today of GALAXY Ice Storm, the first official overclocking contest using the new version of 3DMark released in February. For the next four weeks, overclockers worldwide can win more than $16,000 USD in prizes by submitting the highest scores in the new 3DMark Ice Storm, Cloud Gate and Fire Strike benchmark tests. The competition is open to all overclockers using GALAXY or KFA2 brand graphics cards. For details of how to enter, please visit the competition website.

Futuremark released updates for PCMark 7 and PCMark Vantage today. These updates bring Windows 8 compatibility and fix a few issues. You'll find the complete release notes for both updates below. Please note that PCMark 7 scores ARE affected by the changes in this update. If you use PCMark 7 in your testing you should NOT compare scores from PCMark 7 v1.4.0 with any previous version. PCMark Vantage scores are not affected by the update to v1.2.0.

DOWNLOAD: PCMark 7 v1.4.0 | PCMark Vantage v1.2.0

Futuremark updated 3DMark 11 to version 1.0.4, which makes the benchmark fully compatible with Windows 8. The update also addresses other compatibility issues and a few uncommon bugs. Benchmark scores are not affected and scores from this new version can be compared with scores from the previous version 3DMark 11 v1.0.3.DOWNLOAD: 3DMark 11 v1.0.4

The world's leading brand in motherboard and graphics cards, MSI and the renowned system performance testing software company Futuremark, together release a new generation of 3D performance testing software 3DMark; the overclocking heat wave will again sweep the globe. MSI is the exclusive sponsor of the Fire Strike demo, the showpiece of the new 3DMark and a stunning demonstration of what high performance DirectX 11 gaming PCs can do.

MSI will bundle selected MSI graphics cards and motherboards with the 3DMark Advanced Edition during the coming winter season. To celebrate the launch of 3DMark and the bundle, MSI starts the 'MSI 3DMark Challenge', an overclocking competition based on MSI's top-overclocking motherboard MSI Z77 series.

Futuremark released the newest installment to its 3DMark franchise. It's the first 3DMark to lack a version name, making it a "reboot" of sorts. For starters, the new 3DMark is a collection of three independent benchmark suites, each with its own demos, game tests, physics tests, and combined tests, and scoring.

Among the three suits are "Ice Storm," designed for tablets, mobile devices, and entry-level desktops, which needs nothing more than a DirectX 9.0c GPU to get going; "Cloud Gate," for notebook and home desktops, which needs a DirectX 10 feature-level GPU; and "Fire Strike," an over-the-top suite designed for today's gaming desktops, which can make even the fastest graphics cards sweat (for example, our GTX 680 in the screenshots below). The physics tests of each of these can benefit from having multiple cores and advanced instruction sets. TechPowerUp is a premier launch partner, hosting downloads on behalf of Futuremark. Grab yours below.DOWNLOAD: 3DMark (2013)