Congratulations! You have successfully installed 3DMark03 version 3.4.0. We hope that 3DMark03 will help you in testing your cutting edge PC hardware. This document contains important information about using 3DMark03. Please read it through carefully before running 3DMark03. 3DMark®03 version 3.4.0 3DMark03 v3.4.0 is an updated version of 3DMark03. Version 3.4.0 has updated prevention of 3DMark specific optimizations in the graphics drivers. This ensures that the benchmark results you get are genuinely comparable to those of other hardware. Remember to use only graphics drivers that are verfied to produce comparable 3DMark03 results. They are listed on the Futuremark web site (www.futuremark.com). NOTE: 3DMark03 results from this new version (3.4.0) are identical with the results of all earlier 3DMark03 versions, except when using drivers with built in 3DMark specific optimizations. Welcome to 3DMark®03 3DMark03 is the latest worldwide standard in advanced 3D gaming performance benchmarking from Futuremark Corporation. This unique program provides an accurate and consistent assessment of the ability of your PC to cope with the latest and future generations of 3D games. The detailed diagnostic tools allow the user to make reliable hardware judgments and help to inform decisions over upgrades. The incredible scenes in the various tests are part of the routines that 3DMark performs to measure the 3D gaming performance, as well as provide you with details about more specific abilities of your PC. By using 3DMark03 and the Online ResultsBrowser, you can get: A 3DMark score - a globally recognised and comparable measurement of the 3D gaming ability of your PC. Detail results of the game and feature tests. A comparison of your machine against thousands of others, from every corner of the globe! An educated estimate as to how much better your system will perform with certain upgrades. Introduction to 3DMark®03 3DMark03 is an analytical tool for measuring the 3D gaming performance of PCs, for today and tomorrow. Its ease of use, coupled with exciting graphics and effects, make it an essential program for any 3D gamer to own! Beginners and experts alike can use 3DMark03 - the default benchmark is activated with a single click, but it also contains various testing options and tools. Professional testers and reviewers often need to examine specific functions of the PC, such as frame image quality or the ability to process shader instructions. The Pro version of 3DMark03 contains the extra tools needed by such users; a simple online purchase is all that is required. 3DMark03 highlights: Four all new game tests, presenting graphics quality of next generation games. The fourth game test presents features of Microsoft DirectX 9 in a beautiful nature scene. The 3DMark03 demo, which is based on the game tests, but contains additional eye candy and original soundtracks. 3D sound test. A totally new test in the 3DMark series! 3D sound is an exciting part of modern 3D gaming; 3DMark03 can now assess the performance impact that 3D sound will have. The test runs a fixed scene with an increasing number of sound sources. CPU test. An older but popular test has returned! The CPU plays a very important role in any 3D game so it is only natural for 3DMark03 to assess the impact that it has. The CPU test runs game tests 1 to 3 but with settings that reduce the influence the graphics adapter has in the overall results. Professional tools for image quality inspection, texture filtering quality testing, automated batch runs and a lot more. NOTE: The results and final score from 3DMark03 are not comparable with any previous version of 3DMark. System Requirements 3DMark03 is a benchmark tool used to examine PC systems for their ability to run tests that emulate the very latest and future generation 3D games. Therefore, older systems may not have the functions or power needed. Minimum System Requirements: Intel® or AMD® compatible processor that achieves a PCMark2002 CPU score over 2500 marks (corresponds to 1 GHz clock speed on some CPU architectures). 256 MB of system memory. 1 GB of hard disk space. DirectX 9 compatible graphics adapter that has 32 MB of memory and is fully DirectX 7 compliant. Windows 98, ME, 2000 or XP operating system. DirectX 9.0a runtime installed (download). Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 installed, for some 3DMark functionality (download). Microsoft DirectX System Development Kit is required to run the image quality test using the reference rasterizer. Futuremark recommends that for the best possible benchmarking, the system requirements should be: Intel® or AMD® compatible processor that achieves a PCMark2002 CPU score over 5000 marks (corresponds to over 2 GHz clock speed on some CPU architectures). 512 MB of system memory. DirectX 9 compliant graphics adapter that has 128 MB of memory. 3DMark03 Features The primary features in 3DMark03 are: Support for DirectX 9. 4 Game tests, covering a varied level of DirectX functions. 5 Feature tests, analysing shader performance, and other functions. A new 3D Sound test. An exciting and awe-inspiring 3DMark demo, pushing your system to its limits. System Info utility, which provides an in-depth analysis of the status and features of the components in your PC. Features only available in the Pro version of 3DMark03 are: Full control over the benchmark display configuration, including resolution, colour palette, anti-aliasing and texture filtering. Professional tools, including image quality analysis and batch run functionality. Result import to MS Excel tool for easier result management and report creation. Access to the Pro-Online Result Browser, a must have for all professional system testers and enthusiast overclockers. 3DMark03 was built using the following third party software components: Microsoft® DirectX® 9 3D application programming interface (www.microsoft.com/directx/). Havok Total real-time physics library from Havok (www.havok.com) - these routines are used to accurately model the movements of objects due to forces, etc. FMOD sound library from Firelight Technologies (www.fmod.org) - this is used for the sound effects in the sound tests and the music playback in the demo. Graphics adapter analysis software from Powerstrip of Entech Taiwan (www.entechtaiwan.com) - this is used to determine the speeds of the graphics processing and video memory chips, plus supply additional hardware information. Troubleshooting Q&A Please go to www.futuremark.com/support for latest versions, up-to-date support and FAQ information, as well as a current list of problems or compatibility issues with 3DMark03. If you have problems running 3DMark03, or have any related questions, please take the following steps: Make sure you have Microsoft DirectX® 9 installed and working. If you don't have it yet, download it from Microsoft. Read the 3DMark03 Frequently Asked Questions at www.futuremark.com/support. We have answered the most common questions and it is likely you will find an answer there. If 3DMark03 doesn't run correctly with your 3D accelerator card, install the most recent display drivers. 3DMark03 requires DirectX® 9 compatible display drivers. If you have still problems with the display drivers, please contact your 3D accelerator card manufacturer's support department. For more information on how to use 3DMark03, please refer to the 3DMark03 help file. Guidelines for Testing and Publishing Results Testing Guidelines For reliable benchmarking, we highly recommend you familiarize yourself with the testing guidelines found in the 3DMark03 help and in the 3DMark03 web site at www.futuremark.com. The on-line testing guidelines may be updated from time to time. Publishing Benchmark Results When publishing your benchmark results in a printed or on-line publication, we kindly request you make sure that you follow our testing guidelines, identify the exact system setup that was used for benchmarking, include the official 3DMark03 logo and a link or referral to Futuremark Corporation. Distribution Guidelines The software may not be distributed with commercial products without a written permission from Futuremark Corporation, the only exception being distribution on magazine cover-CD. You may not charge from distributing the program without a written permission from Futuremark Corporation Inc. Legal: AMD is a registered trademark of Advanced Micro Devices. Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation. DirectX, Windows 95/98/ME/XP and Windows 2000 are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. 3DMark is a registered trademark of Futuremark Corporation Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.