3DMark Vantage

Modern video games require a solid configuration to flawlessly render all details. Using specialized tools like 3DMark Vantage, a benchmarking application, avid gamers can test their system's performance and check if their computers meet the necessary requirements.

When you first initialize the application, 3DMark Vantage performs an automatic scan on your computer, in order to analyze its hardware and software performance - this can take several minutes.

The user interface is modern and very attractive but, unfortunately you cannot maximize the GUI. In the main window you can run two graphics tests and two CPU tests - they usually take a very long time to load.

In the Options section, you can view test settings (e.g. resolution, texture and shadow shader quality, post processing), graphics test, CPU tests, and feature tests (e.g. texture fill, color fill, GPU particles). But the twist is that you cannot configure anything.

System Info contains a detailed report of your computer's hardware and software configuration, and it is revealed to you in a web browser. You cannot access this report without an Internet connection.

You can upgrade 3DMark Vantage Basic Edition to Advanced Edition or Professional Edition for extended features. There's also a well-developed online help file available.

CPU and memory are minimally used when a benchmark is not running, but highly demanded otherwise.

The fact of the matter is 3DMark Vantage is a perfectly reliable benchmarking application. Its rendering engine is able to test all kinds of hardware and deliver the correct score for your system’s performance. Whether you're wondering whether or not your configuration needs an upgrade or simply want to see how well it can perform under pressure, this is the proper tool to use.