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Futuremark is among the most respected names in benchmarking, and the company is about to launch new tools for examining the performance of the newfangled DirectX 12 and Vulkan graphics APIs.
You may have used or seen benchmarks conducted with the 3DMark software in the past, you may have even seen DirectX 12 benchmarks tested using it. The current version of 3DMark includes a DirectX 12 test called 'Time Spy' but it's intensive to run and requires a high-end rig.
The upcoming DirectX 12 test will be suitable for lower-end and laptop hardware, enabling a wider range of devices compatible with the new API to be tested.
Vulkan is similar to DirectX 12 in that it boosts graphical performance through enabling developers to have 'closer to the metal' access to hardware with lower overheads. Whereas the DirectX API is developed by Microsoft and currently exclusive to their platforms, Vulkan is open source and can be used wherever it's supported. The API is the spiritual successor to OpenGL, and carries on the work of AMD's Mantle API but with support for other vendors' hardware.
Futuremark's test for Vulkan will launch simultaneously on both Windows and Android which should help to offer performance comparisons across various devices. Vulkan's support for mobile devices is exciting, and it's clear Futuremark believes there will be a strong demand for developers and users looking to benchmark on platforms such as Android.
No release date has been provided as of yet, but more information is expected at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2017. We'll be sure to keep you updated.
Are you looking forward to running Futuremark's new benchmarks? Let us know in the comments.
