Wave Issue 0108 2/8/01 Article 4-01

***SPECapc Releases Benchmark for Systems Running 3D Studio MAX
(February 7)

SPEC/GPC's Application Performance Characterization (SPECapc)
project group has released a standardized benchmark for
evaluating performance of systems running 3D Studio MAX R3.1. The
benchmark is available for free downloading on SPEC/GPC's web
site. Initial performance results are scheduled for posting on
the site on February 14.

SPECapc for 3D Studio MAX R3.1 is a digital content creation
(DCC) benchmark in SPECapc's suite. It was developed exclusively
for SPECapc by CAT Production, a German computer animation and
special effects studio. The benchmark contains four scenes
reflecting typical uses of 3D Studio MAX R3.1:

>>An architectural visualization containing more than a million
polygons, with multiple objects and light sources, glass walls
for refraction and opacity tests, and multiple textures.

>>Two particle-system animations with multiple light sources.

>>A character animation using NURBS surfaces, inverse kinematics,
multiple light sources and a moving camera.

>>A landscape with multiple textures and texture blends.

The benchmark joins a suite of standardized SPECapc benchmarks
based on Pro/ENGINEER, SolidWorks and Unigraphics CAD/CAM
applications. The SPECapc group plans to continue updating its
benchmarks in concert with application versions, including 3D
Studio MAX R4. It is also looking to develop additional
benchmarks based on DCC, CAD/CAM and visualization applications.

SPECapc is a project group of the Graphics Performance
Characterization (GPC) Group, which in turn is part of the
Standard Performance Evaluation Corp. (SPEC). SPEC is a non-
profit corporation formed to establish, maintain and endorse a
standardized set of relevant benchmarks that can be applied to
the newest generation of high-performance computers. SPEC's
membership includes computer hardware and software vendors,
leading universities, and research facilities worldwide.