Futuremark Interview – The Next 3D Mark?

We think it’s time to spill the beans (or at least, show us the can label) for the next 3DMark? What snippets can you tell us – what shader model are you considering as the default option (SM2.0 again)? What kind of effects are you going to highlight this time – parallax bump mapping, tone mapping, soft shadow edges?

I don’t think it is a secret that we have been working very hard to bring out one more DirectX9 3D benchmark before we move over to the next big thing, Windows Vista. I don’t want to spill all the beans about the next 3DMark yet, since the benchmark is not done, and there are some things that may still change. The minimum required shader model will be 2.0, but we will also have a couple of graphics tests requiring SM3.0 with support for FP16 textures and blending of these.

Regardless of whether you love 3D Mark or think it is a nonsense benchmark, there’s no doubt that it’s fun to watch. Nothing like a nice tech demo to impress your family and friends! Check out the interesting continuation of the interview over at Beyond3D.