Futuremark's 3DMark became the de facto benchmark software some time ago, and with the launch of DirectX 11 it then went on to be an absolute necessity when it comes to measuring one system's performance against another.
It's designed to measure the computer's gaming performance using all the newest elements and features inherent to DirectX 11, which include tessellation, compute shaders, GPU and combined CPU stress testing and multi-threading.
There are three versions of 3DMark 11 available. The Basic version, which is free, includes everything you'll need to get the much coveted 3DMark Score locked in the Performance mode preset at 1280 x 720, with a moderate load suitable for most gaming PCs.
The Advanced Edition costs $19.95 (£12.90) and allows you to measure your system using all three 3DMark presets -Performance, Entry and Extreme - along with unlimited results storage and benchmark looping for stability testing and system burn-in. It's worth noting that the Advanced Edition is also available through Steam, as well as Futuremark.
The Professional Edition of 3DMark 11 is designed more the industry level benchmarker, as opposed to the gamer or enthusiast. As a result, it costs $995 (£643) and includes everything from the Advanced solution as well as custom testing options, command line execution and automation, demo looping, offline results and priority support. It's bought as a site licence generally, with the option for a press licence as well.
There are four different tests available: Deep Sea 1 and 2, High Temple 1 and 2, Physics Test and the Combined Test. All of these will stress your graphics capabilities by displaying spot and point lights, volumetric illumination, tessellated geometry, depth of field and shadowing. There are also pure CPU performance tests involved, using rendering techniques, multithreading simulations and collisions using the Bullet Open source Physics Library - a standard used for Hollywood effects in films such as 2012.
What all this ultimately means, though, is a final score that can be used in one of two ways. The first is to check and compare the scores with the industry standards, to see if the system you're building is showing the intended results and to check for overclocking stability when used in graphical environments. The second, however, can be taken down to the pure base level of bragging rights.
Yes, indeed, building a system that has a final 3DMark 11 score in the thousands is an incredible achievement, but there's also the fact that a weighty part of the community are purely doing this to get one up on the other gamers and testers out there.
Naturally, professional benchmarkers and system builders use the number generated to display the prowess of their systems or to highlight a new graphics card, CPU or combination of both. The motherboard manufacturers also get in on the scene, especially if their product is one that was used in a record breaking score or some other kind of extreme benchmarking result.
Futuremark 3DMark 11 is the poster child of benchmarking, but that doesn't mean it's the best all-rounder. Those who simply want a solid, cross component benchmark may need to look elsewhere. Those who want to see how their new GPU performs, 3DMark 11 is certainly the one to go for.