Qualcomm, Acer, Intel join Futuremark’s development of 3DMark for Android

Futuremark’s 3D benchmarking program has long been an industry standard when it comes to analysing performance of PC hardware. The company has now announced that Acer Incorporated, Intel, Qualcomm Incorporated and SingTel-Optus have joined its Benchmark Development Program to create a new 3DMark gaming benchmark for Android-based tablets and smartphones. The Futuremark Benchmark Development Program gathers input and expertise from the world's best and most technologically advanced companies to create industry standard benchmarks for performance measurement. 3DMark for Android is expected to be released later this year.

3DMark for Android will measure gaming performance using graphics rendering, CPU and physics tests with real-time graphics that will push OpenGL ES2.0 to the limit. The results from 3DMark for Android will be comparable to the results from the new 3DMark for Windows, also to be released later this year. Jukka Makinen, Futuremark CEO said, “For more than 10 years, we have worked with the world's leading PC hardware manufacturers to create 3DMark and PCMark.  As we bring 3DMark to a new OS for the first time, we are excited to expand our cooperation to include Acer, Intel, Qualcomm and SingTel-Optus, technology leaders who will bring unparalleled insight, experience and vision to the development of 3DMark for Android." Futuremark's Benchmark Development Program is an initiative for building partnerships with leading hardware and technology manufacturers. Members include AMD, Imagination Technologies, Intel, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Qualcomm, Samsung and many other world class companies.

Futuremark started development of 3DMark for Android in November, 2011. Since Android games and apps are only getting more complex and with a huge fleet of devices to choose from, a standard for distinguishing performance amongst devices was desperately needed. A dedicated benchmarking software helps provide industry engineers and press reviewers with the tools to produce consistent results that are repeatable, reliable and relevant. 3DMark is a purpose built benchmark for measuring gaming performance. It uses bespoke workloads designed specifically to stress test graphics hardware and highlight bottlenecks in the system. Some of the features that we can expect it to have include:
Measures gaming performance using rendering, CPU and physics tests.
Stunning real-time graphics push the OpenGL ES API to the limit.
Complementary online service to compare results between devices.
Results will be comparable with 3DMark for Windows 8.
Currently in development, expected to be released in late 2012.

The Benchmark Development Program (BDP) is a Futuremark initiative for building partnerships with hardware and technology manufacturers. The BDPs for 3DMark for Windows and PCMark include companies such as AMD, NVIDIA, Intel, Imagination Technologies, Dell and HP. An open process of close co-operation with BDP members results in high-quality benchmarks that reliably provide consistent, vendor-neutral results for the benefit of both the industry and consumers.