SPECapc releases new 3ds Max 2011 benchmark

Two separate versions, plus huge city scene, serve diverse user needs

GAINESVILLE, Va., July 6, 2011 – SPEC’s Application Performance Characterization (SPECapc) group has released two versions of a new benchmark for performance evaluation of systems running Autodesk 3ds Max 2011.

The professional version of SPECapc for 3ds Max 2011, available for $495 on the SPEC website, contains 58 tests for comprehensive measurement of modeling, interactive graphics, CPU and GPU performance. It includes a 32-million-polygon city scene that is modeled, rendered and displayed in real time, testing the limits of high-end workstations with powerful CPU/GPU combinations.

Licensees of the professional version of SPECapc for 3ds Max 2011 can publish benchmark results publicly and submit them for review and possible publication on the SPEC website.

Two versions for different needs

“The professional version is for organizations that can realize major bottom-line benefits from performance improvements running 3ds Max 2011,” says Allen Jensen, SPECapc chair.

“On the user side, that includes anyone for whom increased performance, better purchasing decisions, and more accurate scheduling projections are important business drivers. On the vendor side, it includes any organization that derives benefits from developing, marketing and selling better-performing systems for running 3ds Max 2011.”

The personal version of SPECapc for 3ds Max 2011 is available for $20 on the SPEC website. It is an easy-to-use benchmark that generates a single number from a subset of tests in the professional version. The personal version is designed for those seeking more information about 3ds Max 2011 performance, but who don’t have the need for a comprehensive test suite using large models and do not wish to publish test results.

What’s new and improved

New features in SPECapc for 3ds Max 2011 include:

• Updated tests based on new functionality in 3ds Max 2011.
• An improved user interface that makes it easier to configure and run tests.
• Increased level of testing for shading and rendering in the pro version, including use of the Autodesk Quicksilver engine for accelerated CPU and GPU rendering.
• Automated benchmark results compilation in the pro version.

Pay for download – a first

SPECapc for 3ds Max 2011 is the first pay-for-download benchmark from SPECapc.

“Industry vendors who are SPECapc members pay the bills for benchmarks that benefit the entire community,” says Jensen, “and will likely continue to subsidize most of the development costs. But, we would like to see users and vendors who are not members of SPECapc but find our benchmarks valuable to their businesses make a contribution to our future efforts.”

More information and downloads

For more information, read the SPECapc for 3ds Max 2011 FAQs document or see the description page on the SPEC website. To download either version of the benchmark, visit http://www.spec.org/gwpg/downloadindex.html.

About SPECapc

SPECapc was formed in 1997 to address performance evaluation based on popular workstation applications. Current members include AMD, Dell, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Lenovo, NEC and NVIDIA. SPECapc is part of the Standard Performance Evaluation Corp. (SPEC), 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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