|     SPECapc releases new benchmarkfor systems running 3ds max 6
 
 WARRENTON, Va., June 9, 2004 - SPEC/GPC's Application 
                Performance Characterization (SPECapc) project group has released 
                a new benchmark for systems running 3ds max 6 animation software. 
                The benchmark and performance testing results are available on 
                this web site. SPECapc for 3ds max 6 measures performance based on the workload 
                of a typical user, including functions such as wireframe modeling, 
                shading, texturing, lighting, blending, inverse kinematics, object 
                creation and manipulation, editing, scene creation, particle tracing, 
                animation and rendering. The benchmark runs under both OpenGL 
                and DX implementations of 3ds max 6, and tests all the components 
                that come into play when running the application. Test models within SPECapc for 3ds max 6 range from simple primitives 
                to complex objects and large scenes. Multiple repetitions are 
                used to test the limits of graphics cards. Based on user feedback, 
                results are weighted 80 percent for interactive tests and 20 percent 
                for rendering.  A new feature in the benchmark is the ability to generate images 
                that enable comparisons between a custom 3ds max driver and a 
                standard OpenGL driver. This gives users an easy way to visually 
                check the quality of a custom driver. "This is a huge leap from our earlier benchmarks for 3ds 
                max," says George Chaltas, SPECapc's chair. "The breadth 
                of testing provides a comprehensive picture of performance - including 
                graphics, I/O and CPU - for systems running 3ds max 6." 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 that 
                establishes, maintains and endorses standardized 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.  ### Press contacts: Bob Cramblitt, Erin Hatfield
 Cramblitt & Company
 919-481-4599; info@cramco.com
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