3dmark scores...

[phranq]

I think 3dmark05 scores should stop with last generation, and 3dmark03 with the generation before, and 3dmark01 with the pre FX/9X00 series. 3dmark05 doesn't seem to be a good test for the latest generation, HL2/Doom3/FEAR/(Quake 4) etc. should be the benchmarks for the cards of today, and maybe a benchmarking program like 3dmark down the road when something appropriate comes around.

[Mike]

Yeah I thought the exact same thing when I saw the scores R520 put up...it's just lost all applicability...

I'm trying to think about the best way to get benchmark scores entered into the database...I think ideally I would just let users submit them...but we need more users before that would become viable...so for right now I'm going to focus on optimizing the site further and getting more traffic...

Eventually the plan is to have user-submitted benchmarks in real games be the foundation for comparing cards...

[brightblack]

I don't know why, but up until a couple of years ago, whenever I installed a new piece of hardware, especially a graphics card (obviously), but even RAM, sound card, whatever, I'd run one of these benchmarks, eagerly awaiting a higher score.

What made me stop? Because it wasted precious time when I couple have been enjoying the new hardware. The fact is, I personally have researched these things before spending my hard earned cash on a piece of hardware. The pointis then, for me, whilst I look at benchmarks in reviews, I weight them well below the card scores in the kind of games I would play. Also, most of those review sites benchmark on rigs far better than mine, so the 3DMark score loses even more relevance.

What would be interesting to me, is the post purchase follow-up - in comparison of drivers and such - free things which can make a difference after your purchase.

[Mike]

For me, the holy grail is a database of benchmark scores that contains data from just about every major game, on every major card, at every resolution and with every driver revision.

That's the end goal for this site. Complete performance information. I'm already working on an overclocking database. And as more people become active on the forums I'll start organizing a clean efficient way to submit benchmark scores. Eventually I should be able to write a page that can tap all the submitted data, and allow people to see an estimated level of performance for their exact system...

But that's still a ways off...:)