Futuremark's OpenGL ES 2.0 3D graphics benchmarking software has been upgraded to support new UI (user interface) technologies for mobile devices. The “enhanced” version of 3DMarkMobile ES 2.0 adds two new tests focused on new UI scenarios, according to the Finnish company.

(Click for larger view of a Game scene from 3DMarkMobile ES 2.0 benchmark)

Futuremark did not offer any specifics of the 3D user interface scenarios said to have been added to the enhanced version of 3DMarkMobile ES 2.0, but the company says its software, based on the “Kanzi” 3D engine, is designed to test next-generation mobile 3D hardware, and is equipped with “high detail game content.” The benchmark generates workloads that push the envelope of OpenGL ES 2.0 3D hardware, with a presentation that can be used for product demonstrations, the company adds.

Game scene from 3DMarkMobile ES 2.0 benchmark

3DMarkMobile ES 2.0 also provides tests for measuring the performance on shader processing, state changes, and texture filtering. In addition, the benchmarks are said to enable impartial performance measurement and comparison between different OpenGL ES 2.0 solutions.

Background

The 3DMarkMobile benchmark was first adopted in early 2006 by Imagination Technologies, which used it to test its Open GL ES intellectual property. In May 2007, ARM Ltd. announced that it was using 3DMarkMobile ES 2.0 for pre-silicon design testing, along with Futuremark's SimulationMark ES 2.0.

OpenGL ES 2.0 is the “embedded subset” of SGI's now ubiquitous OpenGL 3D graphics library. Maintained by the Khronos Group, an open industry group, OpenGL ES 2.0 was released in August of 2005, along with OpenVG v1.0 and a handful of other royalty-free standards and APIs aimed at making graphics hardware and software more interoperable.

Stated Arto Ruotsalainen, Technical Project Manager at Futuremark, “User interfaces increasingly use 3D graphics and the new UI tests in 3DMarkMobile deliver a more representative set of benchmark results across the full spectrum of mobile and embedded systems.”

Stated Neil Trevett, President of the Khronos Group, “Khronos warmly welcomes this new 3D UI benchmark as a vital piece of the mobile graphics ecosystem that is enabling rich consumer experiences on millions of handsets and devices.”

Availability

The new version of 3DMarkMobile ES 2.0 appears to be available now. More information may be found here.

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