It's finally done, and the countdown clock is ticking! Futuremark has just announced that 3DMark Vantage is ready, and the countdown indicates that it will launch on Monday, 28th of April 2008. Downloads should be available at 16:00 EET (13:00 GMT, 09:00 EST, 06:00 PST). Futuremark has also released a large set of new screenshots - read on for some shiny images and other details.

The definite DirectX10 benchmark will ship in four editions:

• Trial (free)
• Basic ($6.95)
• Advanced ($19.95)
• Professional ($495)

The Professional version is intended for business and commercial use, while Basic and Advanced are limited to private use. A Free Trial key allows you to test the benchmark with a single run.

Full details on the differences between the available versions will be available at launch, but to give a rough idea, Basic (6.95$) version allows you to benchmark as many times as you like with the "Performance" preset, and you get a score with all the ORB features available. Advanced ($19.95) unlocks all four presets, six additional feature tests and allows you to customize all the settings.

Final System Requirements

The final system requirements to run 3DMark Vantage Trial are:

Minimum

• x86/x64 single core CPU with SSE2 support. Performance similar to Intel Pentium D 3.2GHz or better
• Fully D3D10/SM4.0 compliant graphics card, 256MB
• 1024MB Memory
• 2GB of free disk space
• Windows Vista (Server editions not supported)

Recommended

• Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 or equivalent AMD CPU
• Fully D3D10/SM4.0 compliant graphics card, 512MB
• 2048MB Memory
• 2GB of free disk space
• Windows Vista (Server editions not supported)

Additionally, following requirements must be met to run each of the four available presets with the Advanced and Pro versions:

• Entry - 128MB DX10 Video Card and a monitor capable of displaying 1280x1024 resolution
• Performance - 256MB DX10 Video Card and a monitor capable of displaying 1280x1024 resolution
• High - 512MB DX10 Video Card and a monitor capable of displaying 1680x1050 resolution
• Extreme - 512MB DX10 Video Card and a monitor capable of displaying 1920x1200 resolution

Custom preset can be used to run the benchmark at an user-selectable resolution for individual subscores, but the 3DMark score is displayed and saved to ORB only when using one of the pre-defined presets. In other words, to get a score using the "High" and "Extreme" presets, a widescreen display is required. You probably also need a system that exceeds the recommended setup to get a reliable score at these settings - "Extreme" might be a bit too much for even the fastest systems available today.

For benchmarking older hardware and operating systems 3DMark06 is still around, and remains as the definite DX9 benchmark.

Comments

	StormPwn 2008-04-25 #1 Its about time :) I love the extreme preset requirements, 1920x1200, thats what Im using on all my systems ;)
	cortez 2008-04-25 #2 Pics look pretty nice.
	Unregistered 2008-04-25 #3 Unbelievable graphics!!! I need to get harder hardware to see that stuff in full motion... Yesh Guys! More this!
	sk121 2008-04-25 #4 totally gutted my monitor doesn't support that at least i dont think it does
	Unregistered 2008-04-25 #5 I'm assuming that the 1920x1200 res is designed to help those see how it will look at a res high enough to show off there big screen TV's. 3DMark software has always been set up to show off your system, unfortunately it usually shows off how bad you need to upgrade. :( My max res on my Sceptre X20 Gamer is 1680 X 1050. Perhaps one day I can stopping upgrading my system long enough to purchase a suitable TV... but wait then I'll need to build a Media Center rig for the Living room. So much hardware...so little cash :)
	StormPwn 2008-04-25 #6 You're not gonna get a big screen TV to display that res, the full HD res is 1920x1080, so 120 pixels missing in height.
	Jarnis 2008-04-25 #7 Quote: Originally Posted by StormPwn You're not gonna get a big screen TV to display that res, the full HD res is 1920x1080, so 120 pixels missing in height. Many 1080p displays take 1920x1200 over DVI happily. Might lose a bit top and bottom - depends on the panel.
	StormPwn 2008-04-25 #8 Quote: Originally Posted by Jarnis Many 1080p displays take 1920x1200 over DVI happily. Might lose a bit top and bottom - depends on the panel. Maybe, but you can hardly call that displaying the resolution properly.
	IeatNvidiots 2008-04-25 #9 Someone make a movie ASAP, i won't have a dx10 card until summer
	jeffa123 2008-04-25 #10 Pity its a bit late. Not enough DX10 games about though to warrant it. Better off with a Games console like an Xbox 360 or a PS3 or both. PC games have done a nose dive in the last 2 years with too much focus put on hardware and not the software to run it.
	antti 2008-04-25 #11 jeffa123, check this out: http://www.systemwars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69169 - Reasons why it's worth to be a PCgamer in 2008
	Roy_Taylor 2008-04-25 #12 jeffa123, there are plenty of great DX10 games! How about; - World In Conflict - Bioshock - Company Of Heroes - FPS Creator X10 - Crysis - Hellgate London - Gears Of War - Lords of the Ring Online - Unreal Tournament ...and we have a lot more coming.
	Rehit 2008-04-26 #13 i would think with the vast amount of users running tru HD panels at 1920X1080P this would be an included resolution. PC graphics sure are pretty on high end LCD HDTV's...