SPECapc for 3ds Max 2011 explained and tested on FirePro and Quadro cards

Although SPECapc for 3ds Max may just seem like another benchmark, it is worth noting that millions of buyers head straight for the SPEC website as their point of choice in the decision making for purchase.  So it is useful to better understand what this benchmarks tests.  3DProfessor does just this in his new SPECapc for 3ds Max 2011 article.

Here’s the gist: “SPECapc for 3ds Max 2011 is a comprehensive test suite that exercises diverse aspects of 3ds Max 2011 performance, including modelling, interactive graphics, CPU and GPU (including use of the Autodesk Quicksilver engine). It includes 58 separate tests - including tests that build and render a city scene containing nearly 32-million polygons (faces) in real time - providing a complete performance picture for systems running 3ds Max 2011.” A complete run of the tests can take up to 3 - 4 hours.

The professor runs tests on the new FirePro V7900 ($746 on Amazon), as well as the FirePro V8800 ($1160 on Amazon) and 4 GB FirePro V9800 ($3120 on Amazon).  He also runs tests on the Quadro 4000 ($729 on Amazon), 5000 ($1781 on Amazon), and 6000 ($3950 on Amazon). 

The notables are:  the FirePro V7900 has some amazing performance levels (even still with early drivers!), that I am attributing to GeometryBoost, beating out the price-comparable Quadro 4000 but also the FirePro V8800 and V9800 for large model composite score and not far behind the Quadro 5000.  If price and power consumption are no object, then the Quadro 6000 is also a notable powerhouse for large models.