Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation

SPECapc releases new 3ds Max 8 benchmark

BOSTON, Mass., August 2, 2006 – SPEC/GPC’s Application Performance Characterization (SPECapc) project group has released new performance evaluation software for systems running Autodesk 3ds Max 8. Later today during a press luncheon at the SIGGRAPH 2006 trade show in Boston, the non-profit group will preview upcoming performance evaluation software for Autodesk Maya 7 and UGS Solid Edge V17.

The SPECapc for 3ds Max 8 benchmark features new models and functionality that reflect the content and workflow of today’s application users. It results from the cooperative efforts of Autodesk, independent 3ds Max animators, and SPECapc members. Major new features include:

• Larger models with greater complexity that provide more rigorous workloads for system components and better represent content created by 3ds Max professionals.
• DirectX (DX) shaders that exercise advanced shader functionality within graphics systems.
• Shorter run times achieved by streamlining code and eliminating tests that don’t contribute to a better understanding of system performance.
• New and improved tests for radiosity, inverse kinematics and other advanced features in 3ds Max 8.

“SPECapc for 3ds Max 8 benefits from the most widespread collaboration of any application benchmark ever developed by the SPECapc group,” says Dan Bennett, SPECapc chair. “The input from multiple sources, coupled with SPEC’s standardized performance measurement methodologies, ensures that the benchmark is relevant, intensive and repeatable.”

In addition to content provided by vendors, 3ds Max professionals contributed to the benchmark, including Mike O’Rourke of Fritz Studio (www.fritzstudio.com), Andy Murdock of Lots of Robots (www.lotsofrobots.com), Gary M. Davis of visualZ (www.visualz.com), and Zack Baker.

Available now

SPECapc for 3ds Max 8 is available for free downloading on the SPEC/GPC web site: www.spec.org/gpc. The SPECapc group also provides free benchmarks for systems running Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 2.0, UGS Solid Edge V14, SolidWorks 2005, UGS NX 3, and Maya 6.5.

Coming soon

In addition to releasing its new 3ds Max 8 benchmark, SPECapc will preview upcoming performance evaluation software for Maya 7 and Solid Edge V17 during the group’s annual SIGGRAPH press conference at noon today in the Boston Convention Center.

SPECapc for Maya 7, expected by the end of the year, will include larger, more complex models and a set of tests to measure rendering performance. Solid Edge V17, due at the end of this month, will include updated tests, better run-to-run repeatability, and improved scoring algorithms.

About SPECapc

SPECapc was formed in 1997 to address performance evaluation based on graphics-intensive software applications. It is a project group of the Graphics Performance Characterization (GPC) Group, which is part of the Standard Performance Evaluation Corp. (SPEC). SPEC is a non-profit corporation formed to establish, maintain and endorse a standardized set of relevant benchmarks that can be applied to the newest generation of computers. For more information, visit: www.spec.org.

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