Months have gone swiftly past since the initial announcement that SPECapc for 3ds Max™ 9 was to be soon replaced by SPECapc for 3ds Max™ 2011 and on its first outing it did have many onlookers aghast with awe with the improvements shown.   The previous version of SPECapc for 3ds Max™ 9 did certainly show for many, how good their own professional graphics cards performed upon specific systems shown within the SPEC website.   Until now it has been dominated by the Tier 1 vendors though with the new SPECapc for 3ds Max™ 2011 benchmark this should not be the case.    This new revisited SPECapc benchmark provides so much information not only the System Integrators and VARS but to the actual end-users. 

Many organisations tend to use their own in-house viewsets to test each of the professional graphic cards supplied out by both AMD and Nvidia.  Though with systems becoming far more complicated the SPECapc committee sat back with Autodesk to produce a unified benchmark that not only tests the professional graphics card  but the complete system I/O.   Therefore, whenever and wherever possible they reduce the possible bottlenecks and this in turn allows end-users to meet the demands of their customers on time and within budget with the best possible system for each task requirement.  The benchmark and submissions are not just aimed at the Tier 1 companies, but to every System Integrators and Value Added Reseller.  This is turn means that when supplying out to companies and end-users utilising the benchmark allows all to finely tune their systems for Autodesk® 3ds Max®

Autodesk® 3ds Max® and Autodesk® 3ds Max® Design software provide powerful, integrated 3D modelling, animation, rendering, and compositing tools that enable artists and designers to more quickly ramp up for production. The two versions share core technology and features, but offer differentiated experiences and specialised toolsets for game developers, visual effects artists, and graphic designers on the one hand, and architects, designers, engineers, and visualisation specialists on the other.

Provides a comprehensive, integrated 3D modelling, animation, and rendering solution for game developers, visual effects artists, and graphic designers.

Enables a comprehensive, integrated rendering, 3D modelling, and animation software solution for architects, designers, civil engineers, and visualization specialists to help tell the story behind their designs.

❶  For games is a powerful, reliable, and accessible 3D modelling, animation, rendering, and compositing package. It's also a favourite among character
         animators and game artists.
❷  Within the film industry helps provides highly compatible, out-of-the-box access to a wider range of 3D functionalities for digital artists working on film
         effects.
❸  The Television Industry it brings out-of-the-box 3D capabilities to broadcast graphics, short-form post content, and episodic television projects.
❹  3ds Max Design enables architects, designers, and civil engineers to get a deeper understanding of how projects work before they’re built.   Designers 
         can create better designs; make informed decisions; test, refine, and validate concepts; and market buildings and products that don’t yet physically
         exist.
(Information courtesy of Autodesk®)

Therefore we see one powerful package of software for those who do not fully understand what it consists of. With a package of this magnitude it in turn requires a benchmark to fully encompass the primary system I/O components. The new SPECapc for 3ds Max™ 2011 most certainly does set out to complete this accomplishment.

For those new to SPECapc/gpc and the varying committees and what they do we have to give a brief insight to you; so each understands what takes place behind these secretive closed door sessions.

Standard Performance Evaluation Committee (SPEC/GWPG (SPEC Graphics and Workstation Performance Group))

Many questions are asked who or what consists of the SPEC committee, as this is a non-profit organisation that sponsors the development of standardised, application-based benchmarks that have value to the vendor, research and user communities. Supported by the main project group members. Therefore for those not in the know, it consists of AMD, Dell, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Lenovo, NEC and NVIDIA. Simply put; these Tier 1 vendors sit down around the table regularly and thrash out what we annually look forward to - the new professional benchmarks (apc/gpc) that stretch professional graphic workstations to the limits.

It allows the professional end user the chance to evaluate their own system in situ – or possible new system about to be purchased an exceptional idea of guidance on how it will perform to their own individual needs. It also means that with the returned figures shown within the SPEC website from its members users can see which system or professional graphics card suits their needs. Therefore when it’s time to make that all important purchase from the Tier 1 or some of the more famous system integrators guidance can be gained on how it might perform. One important point that some System Integrators and VAR’s overlook is that they can submit their individual systems for consideration and their benchmark results reviewed and, if accepted, posted upon the SPEC web site. Once this achievement has been made the individuals results are seen many Corporate and Government CTOs and IT managers who rely on SPEC results as a key component in their decision-making process for purchasing new computer equipment. The payback can be very considerable indeed.

SPECapc Brief History
The SPECapc (SPEC Application Performance Characterization) group was formed in 1997 to address performance evaluation based on popular workstation applications. Current members include AMD, Dell, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Lenovo, NEC and NVIDIA.

Since its inception, SPECapc has worked with independent software vendors (ISVs) to ensure that its benchmarks represent what application users experience in the real world. The credibility of SPECapc benchmarks is proven by the number of SPECapc results reported by publications, websites, vendors and analyst organizations throughout the world. In addition to SPECapc for 3ds Max 2011, SPECapc provides benchmarks for Autodesk Maya, Lightwave, Pro/ENGINEER, SolidWorks and Siemens NX

Therefore we can see that the committee have been around for considerable amounts of time and the current serving committee members have been within the industry for many years with a wealth of great experience.

Page 1 - Introduction
Page 2 - SPECapc for 3ds Max™ 2011 Description
Page 3 - System Builds and Software Used
Page 4 - AMD Professional Graphic Cards on Dual Socket Intel Xeon System
Page 5 - Nvidia Professional Graphic Cards on Dual Socket Intel Xeon System
Page 6 - AMD Professional Graphic Cards on Single Socket Intel Xeon System
Page 7 - Nvidia Professional Graphic Cards on Single Socket Intel Xeon System
Page 8 - Conclusions