The long awaited Futuremark 3DMark Vantage will be released on April 22nd it has been learned from a picture posted on PCPOP.com. Most notably 3DMark Vantage will differ from previous 3DMark video benchmarks with its DirectX 10 API. DirectX 10 support also means the program will work on Windows Vista only. When started 3DMark Vantage will run through three tests to determine your PC's performance - Jane Nash, Calico and Aeroplanes. If your PC is equipped with an AGEIA PhysX card, there will be a fourth test for physics only. The full list of all NVIDIA/ATI video cards capable of running 3DMark Vantage can be found here. An online test to see if your PC is up to the task for 3DMark vantage is also running online.

Overclockers Kinc and Elmor from NordicHardware, have managed to break the 3DMark06 world record this weekend using two of ATI's latest dual GPU video cards. With Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 (C1 stepping) @ 5.719GHz (439.9x13), ASUS P5E64 WS Pro motherboard, 2x ASUS EAH3870X2 TOP overclocked to 990MHz/1125MHz core/memory and Windows Vista OS they were able to reach 32,601 3DMark. The cooling used for the CPU was liquid nitrogen (LN2) while both graphics cards were air cooled.

Futuremark has released a 2.5MB hotfix for their popular benchmark applications. Set to work with 3DMark03 Build 3.6.0, 3DMark05 Build 1.3.0, 3DMark06 Build 1.1.0 and PCMark05 Build 1.2.0, this hotfix updates the GPU core/memory clock detection library for enhanced compatibility and support for new hardware. It also adds three new files: Direcpll.dll (4.10.1.94), Entech.sys (5.0.1.1), Entech64.sys (5.0.1.1).

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Approaching the February 20th release date, Futuremark's 3DMark Vantage was pictured once more. This time we have some benchmark scores. The 3DMark Vantage RC0 build interface and some of the future tests are pictured below. The card that was running the benchmark and scored 4203 marks is supposed to be a GeForce 8800 GTX.

Futuremark is proud to announce the formation of a group named the Futuremark Games Studio. The Games Studio will be Futuremark's first try in the game publishing business, as the division plans to work and develop "world class games" awaiting some good results in future. "Futuremark Games Studio is committed to developing original IP games with the highest quality game play combined with our established track record of creating blow-your-socks-off visuals", said Tero Sarkkinen, CEO of Futuremark Corporation. "For years, our fans have been asking us when will we start making games. Very soon they are going to get it - and then some!" Futuremark Games Studio personnel will be attending GDC 2008 in San Francisco where they can be found at the Nordic Games Studios Pavilion.

According to Nick Evanson - Editor-in-Chief, a new version of the popular 3DMark video benchmark is coming "soon...". Signs indicating that the new 2008 version is indeed almost ready are illustrated on the exclusive Futuremark screens below.

Futuremark has launched the Benchmark Ticker, a new online results tool. Launched today in beta stage, the Ticker is a flash based real-time statistics site that displays actual PCMark and 3DMark results as they get uploaded into the Online ResultBrowser also known as the ORB. Not only does it show what product the person has used, but highlights where they're from, what score they achieved and what their PC's hardware is. The Ticker also shows the latest and the greatest scores submitted, which country submitted the most results, the most popular graphics card used and more. Make sure you have the latest version of Flash Player installed on your PC and enter here.

The German hardware site K-Hardware has unveiled the minumum and recommended requirements for Futuremark's next gen 3DMark 2008. Unfortunately, there's no additional information, only specs this time, no release date either.

Scheduled to be released on October 18th 06:00AM PST, PCMark Vantage is now available for download. PCMark Vantage is an easy-to-use benchmark with the correct tools for performance measurement of every type of Personal Computer with Microsoft's new Microsoft Windows Vista operating system, from Office Productivity computers and Gaming Machines to PCs configured for the creative user.

Key Benefits of PCMark Vantage:

• Unparalleled ease-of-use: Single Click Benchmarking
• Unified Benchmarking for desktop, laptop PCs and workstations
• Newly developed to natively support 32 and 64-bit Microsoft Windows Vista
• System Information tool that displays advanced system configuration information
• Advanced Online Results Browser functionality with Result Analyzer

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There's a new unified hotfix available for all the latest benchmarks: 3DMark03, 3DMark05, 3DMark06 and PCMark05. The hotfix updates the GPU core/memory clock detection library for enhanced compatibility and support for new hardware. This hotfix does not affect any of the benchmark results. A new full install for 3DMark06 Build 1.1.0 (with the hotfix included) will soon be available. Meanwhile, all 3DMark users should download this hotfix and install it now.

Futuremark Corporation, the world's leading developer of performance-analysis software, is gearing up to release a new version of its PCMark benchmark. Nicknamed PCMark Vantage, the upcoming benchmark is set to provide single click benchmarking for 32-bit and 64-bit Microsoft Windows Vista. A release date for the new benchmark has not been given. Click on the "Read full story" marker to see the minimum system requirements of PCMark Vantage.

It is already known that Futuremark is currently working hard on the next version in the popular 3DMark series. Codenamed 3DMark Next, the upcoming version will bring DirectX 10 support, will require Windows Vista and will be released by the end of the year. But the 3DMark story won't be put on pause as Futuremark has one more 3DMark up its sleeve. As stated by Nick Renqvist in a recent blog post, the development of both next generation PC benchmarks is going great and although there is no release date suggested, we might very well see one new 3DMark released this fall and one around mid-2008.

Futuremark Corporation, developers of 3DMark, the worldwide standard in advanced 3D game performance benchmarking went live today with the beta version of YouGamers, the World's First Intelligent Gamer Website. YouGamers (www.YouGamers.com) is a new destination site for PC gamers offering original game content, previews, gaming industry news, exclusive interviews, and full game reviews. YouGamers initially launches with an English website, with localized language options in the future. In Version 1.0, YouGamers will provide a full gamer community with forums and blogs, offering users' homepages, personal profiles, game lists, and game hardware details. The game database contains approximately 100 top PC titles at launch, with ESRB ratings and publishers' system requirements. The website also offers an easy to use, integrated comparison shopping service with direct shopping links for all games and recommended hardware. Users will also be able to categorize the site's information by tagging, a Web 2.0 feature.

Game Developers Conference 2007, San Francisco, California - March 5, 2007 - Futuremark Corporation, the world's leading developer of system performance analysis software and services for cell phones, handhelds and PCs, today announced the release of world's first benchmark for devices with Khronos OpenGL ES 2.0 programmable mobile graphics API. 3DMarkMobile ES 2.0 has been developed in co-operation with members of Futuremark's Handheld Benchmark Development Program (BDP), an organization comprised of the industry's most influential technology developers, semiconductor companies, device manufacturers and vendors.

At 3DMarkMobile ES 2.0's core are next generation gaming workloads that are defined and programmed by Futuremark in conjunction with the BDP member companies. Licensees will be able to objectively assess real-world gaming performance by executing the workloads on their platforms and products. 3DMarkMobile ES 2.0 strengthens Futuremark's highly regarded international reputation in both the handheld and PC industries for producing accurate, fair, and unbiased benchmark tests.

"We're building upon the success of 3DMarkMobile ES 1.1 with this release, harnessing that expertise, and rolling out the world's premier 3D performance benchmark for the OpenGL ES 2.0 API" said Petri Talala, Vice President of Futuremark's Mobile Business Unit. "Every top mobile device vendor is currently implementing ES 2.0 in their next generation product lines, proving the immediate need for 3DMarkMobile ES 2.0. The benchmark was highly anticipated and already today it is providing meaningful performance data for our BDP members working on next generation mobile device 3D hardware."

Futuremark has announced their Comic Strip competition.

The idea is to ask users to download a comic-strip template created by Futuremark and then have them draw their own mini comic-strip (subject is free). Futuremark will then pick out the winners based on the idea's originality and how funny it is.

The prizes are:
Alienware Area51-M5750 Gaming Notebook, Alienware Ozma 7 Headphones, Alienware Odyssey Backpack and 10 Alienware T-Shirts.