3DMark 2007 goes DX10

[JPB]

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=39277
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THE UPCOMING iteration of 3DMark will only be available for Windows Vista and DirectX 10.

In a bog post to the Futuremark website, Nick Renqvist says that "the next generation 3DMark will be Windows Vista only, and will require DX10 compliant hardware."

So why no fallback to DX9? Nick cunningly anticipates this point. "You may ask: Why not fallback to DX9 then?" Yes Nick, we just did. "Well, we already have a Vista enabled DX9 benchmark (3DMark06) and the last three 3DMarks have all been DX9".

So there you have it. Unless you're in the cool boys club with a nice GeForce 8x00 or Radeon 2x00, you won't be able to run a pointless number-generating programme with no actual real-world worth. So you might want to cry a little.

Interestingly, Nick says that the latest 3DMark will contain volumetric effects, based on DX10, that will bring "cinematic rendering" quality to the series. We've been waiting for cinematic rendering on our PC ever since Nvidia announced that it would be available to us all thanks to the awesome power of the GeForce FX5800. It still isn't. µ

 

[swtethan]

yay, should i buy vista premium upgrade for $95 @compusa (store closing) ?

 

[Nightmare225]

Originally posted by: swtethan
yay, should i buy vista premium upgrade for $95 @compusa (store closing) ?

That's an excellent price, go for it!

 

[Matt2]

Originally posted by: swtethan
yay, should i buy vista premium upgrade for $95 @compusa (store closing) ?

Absolutely! That's what I did and I couldnt be happier. Although I dont have an Nvidia card, so I dont know if you'll have problems that I dont.

 

[aka1nas]

Yay! Graphics demo that will be playable on regular hardware in a mere 3 years.

 

[Ackmed]

This isnt new news. Its been known since Jan that it will be Vista/DX10 only.

 

[Sureshot324]

I only download 3dmark to watch the cool tech demos. It's pretty useless as a benchmarking program, at least compared to using actual games.

 

[Munky]

The only use of every new 3dmark version is to convice yourself that your new $600 video card needs an upgrade.

 

[yacoub]

I'll stick to XP until MS stops offering patches and critical updates.

 

[postmortemIA]

Originally posted by: munky
The only use of every new 3dmark version is to convice yourself that your new $600 video card needs an upgrade.

Yes, and who do you think sponsors futuremark... we do with such purchases

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: yacoub
I'll stick to XP until MS stops offering patches and critical updates.

Why XP?

Why not stay with 2000 or 98 SE?

I mean, who would want to use an improved OS :roll:

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: n7

Originally posted by: yacoub
I'll stick to XP until MS stops offering patches and critical updates.

Why XP?

Why not stay with 2000 or 98 SE?

I mean, who would want to use an improved OS :roll:

Don't know if I misunderstood you or not here, but if you are referring to Windows Vista as a improved OS, you really need to read up on it some more. For gamers, it is not a good thing as of right now. Down the road a piece, when Vista is patched to hell and gone, maybe I'll sing a different tune. Similar to XP when it launched.

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: n7

Originally posted by: yacoub
I'll stick to XP until MS stops offering patches and critical updates.

Why XP?

Why not stay with 2000 or 98 SE?

I mean, who would want to use an improved OS :roll:

Don't know if I misunderstood you or not here, but if you are referring to Windows Vista as a improved OS, you really need to read up on it some more. For gamers, it is not a good thing as of right now. Down the road a piece, when Vista is patched to hell and gone, maybe I'll sing a different tune. Similar to XP when it launched.

You know, as of now with the new 158 forceware and rivatuner, I'd say that Vista has 'caught up' to XP. Once DX10 games are out XP is toast.

 

[Tegeril]

Originally posted by: SickBeast

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: n7

Originally posted by: yacoub
I'll stick to XP until MS stops offering patches and critical updates.

Why XP?

Why not stay with 2000 or 98 SE?

I mean, who would want to use an improved OS :roll:

Don't know if I misunderstood you or not here, but if you are referring to Windows Vista as a improved OS, you really need to read up on it some more. For gamers, it is not a good thing as of right now. Down the road a piece, when Vista is patched to hell and gone, maybe I'll sing a different tune. Similar to XP when it launched.

You know, as of now with the new 158 forceware and rivatuner, I'd say that Vista has 'caught up' to XP. Once DX10 games are out XP is toast.

QFE, the FUD needs to really stop. Vista plays games wonderfully with the latest driver releases.

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003
Don't know if I misunderstood you or not here, but if you are referring to Windows Vista as a improved OS, you really need to read up on it some more. For gamers, it is not a good thing as of right now. Down the road a piece, when Vista is patched to hell and gone, maybe I'll sing a different tune. Similar to XP when it launched.

Read up?

Why would i need to read up on something i've been actually using for half a year already?

I'm incredibly tired of the misinformation out there regarding Vista, so yes, that was a jab @ misguided XP users.

No, Vista isn't perfect. And games are likely its weak spot right now.
But in spite of that, i'd still rather be running it than XP, thankyou very much.

Here's some reading for you: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=33&threadid=2039431&enterthread=y

Then again, i'm guessing you've not used Vista for any amount of time, which means you're just reading about it...not experiencing it.

And reading isn't what needs to be done to form an accurate opinion.

I don't know of many people who've actually run Vista for a while who hate it.


/sorry about the ranting...just very tired of hearing people whine about Vista (especially since 95% of the whiners don't even run it).

 

[Creig]

Originally posted by: JPB
So there you have it. Unless you're in the cool boys club with a nice GeForce 8x00 or Radeon 2x00, you won't be able to run a pointless number-generating programme with no actual real-world worth.

Ah, the irony... I find the Inquirer to be far more "pointless" and "with no actual real-world worth" than the 3DMark series.

 

[ArchAngel777]

Even though I commonly bash 3DMark, I do think it has its place. It isn't worthless. Sure, it might not represent scores in Quake4, or FEAR or Oblivion, but if you step back and think for a moment, the same can be said for any application. For instance, take Oblivion, a card can score well in that, but it doesn't mean it is going to score well in other games. So, each benchmark is only representative of itself, and that is all. Grant it, Oblivion IS a game, and 3DMark is not, but 3D rendering is 3D rendering.

The key to 3DMark is not in the "points" (I find the points summary worthless myself), but in how it does in the games category. Check out the FPS, image quality, etc... Forget about the theoretical crap and just look at the game numbers.

Just my thoughts on it. I am eagerly awaiting 3DMark07. Should be a pretty cool demo (hopefully).