Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Is 3D Marks still relevant?

  1. #1
    0iD
    0iD is offline
    M*I*A 0iD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Happy Llama Land
    Posts
    13,247
    Thanks
    1,435
    Thanked
    1,209 times in 757 posts
    • 0iD's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Leave my mother out of it!
      • CPU:
      • If I knew what it meant?
      • Memory:
      • Wah?
      • Storage:
      • Cupboards and drawers
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Slate & chalk
      • PSU:
      • meh
      • Case:
      • Suit or Brief?
      • Operating System:
      • Brain
      • Monitor(s):
      • I was 1 at skool
      • Internet:
      • 28k Dialup

    Is 3D Marks still relevant?

    Is 3D Mark still relevant in the comparison of one rig to another/one graphics card brand top another any more? Granted, it's a useful tool at gauring whether your overclock is worth it, but with acusations of driver optimisations and such does it give a true enough picture of overall performance?
    [
    Quote Originally Posted by Blitzen
    When I say go, both walk in the opposite direction for 10 paces, draw handbags, then bitch-slap each other!

  2. #2
    Treasure Hunter extraordinaire herulach's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Bolton
    Posts
    5,618
    Thanks
    18
    Thanked
    172 times in 159 posts
    • herulach's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI Z97 MPower
      • CPU:
      • i7 4790K
      • Memory:
      • 8GB Vengeance LP
      • Storage:
      • 1TB WD Blue + 250GB 840 EVo
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 2* Palit GTX 970 Jetstream
      • PSU:
      • EVGA Supernova G2 850W
      • Case:
      • CM HAF Stacker 935, 2*360 Rad WC Loop w/EK blocks.
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 8.1
      • Monitor(s):
      • Crossover 290HD & LG L1980Q
      • Internet:
      • 120mb Virgin Media
    Its as true as it ever was. Its certainly good for comparisons between cards, but as far as systems go somewhat less useful imo.

  3. #3
    Ah, Mrs. Peel! mike_w's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Hertfordshire, England
    Posts
    3,326
    Thanks
    3
    Thanked
    9 times in 7 posts
    In my opinion, it still has it uses. First of all, as you said, it shows improvements from overclocking (that is probably the best use). However, thanks to driver optimisations, comparisons between different brands is somewhat irrelevant. Despite this, it can be used to compare cards from the same manufacturer, or series (e.g. X800 to X800XL). It could also be used to show the differences between processors, memory and motherboards since they tend to optimised for such tests less.

    Ultimately, for testing at home, 3DMarks remain useful for showing overclocking gains. For websites on the internet, such as Hexus, I believe that the best way of comparing cards is to create their own custom benchmark. While this could still be subject to driver optimisation, it could be considered a good thing - you obviously want the driver optimisations in games.
    "Well, there was your Uncle Tiberius who died wrapped in cabbage leaves but we assumed that was a freak accident."

  4. #4
    Rys
    Rys is offline
    Tiled
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Abbots Langley
    Posts
    1,479
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    2 times in 1 post
    As a quick and easy way to see the state of play in the consumer 3D world, 3DMark does the job. However to fully appreciate a 3D chip these days, you also need many other tools and the all important games.

    It's relevant, but only in a sea of other analysis and gameplay time.
    MOLLY AND POPPY!

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Manchester
    Posts
    2,899
    Thanks
    67
    Thanked
    180 times in 135 posts
    • Butcher's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI Z97 Gaming 3
      • CPU:
      • i7-4790K
      • Memory:
      • 8 GB Corsair 1866 MHz
      • Storage:
      • 120GB SSD, 240GB SSD, 2TB HDD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • MSI GTX 970
      • PSU:
      • Antec 650W
      • Case:
      • Big Black Cube!
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7
    Quote Originally Posted by 0iD
    Is 3D Mark still relevant in the comparison of one rig to another/one graphics card brand top another any more? Granted, it's a useful tool at gauring whether your overclock is worth it, but with acusations of driver optimisations and such does it give a true enough picture of overall performance?
    It was never a good way to compare overall performance.

  6. #6
    Rys
    Rys is offline
    Tiled
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Abbots Langley
    Posts
    1,479
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    2 times in 1 post
    It was and it still is!
    MOLLY AND POPPY!

  7. #7
    ATI Technologies exAndrzej's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    London, UK
    Posts
    555
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    Quote Originally Posted by 0iD
    ...is 3D Mark still relevant...
    Yes. But only if we win.


    .
    "X800GT... snap it up while you still can"
    HEXUS
    ......................................August 2005

  8. #8
    OMG!! PWND!!
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    In front of computer
    Posts
    964
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Andrzej
    Yes. But only if we win.


    So, at the moment... irrelevant?

  9. #9
    Senior Member Dark Horse's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Aberdeen
    Posts
    999
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    1 time in 1 post
    2005 and to a lesser extent 2003 are very graphics card biassed so are mainly useful for gfx card comparisons.

    2001 is still useful as it isn't affected so much by the modern graphics cards with all their fancy new functions so is useful as a system test.

    I can never be bothered with them though as they take too long to complete and are pretty boring. I normally use superpi 1m for system performance and just oc the graphics card to its max using rivatuner and rthdribl for artifacts and then leave it there and don't fiddle.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Marks and Spencer 20% off today only Sale
    By derthballs in forum Retail Therapy and Bargains
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 02-12-2004, 10:23 AM
  2. 7002 3dm2k5 marks :D
    By froudeg in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 20
    Last Post: 04-10-2004, 07:23 AM
  3. Lord Future Marks Score for ultra and amd 3500
    By azrael1 in forum Graphics Cards
    Replies: 22
    Last Post: 30-08-2004, 10:30 PM
  4. Low 3d Marks with decent setup ?
    By Kezzer in forum Graphics Cards
    Replies: 39
    Last Post: 11-02-2004, 12:27 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •