New 3DMark arrives for Windows, gaming PCs brace for punishment (video)

[ ](http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/05/new-3dmark-arrives-for-windows/)

There's nothing quite so crushing to the self-esteem of a gamer as a new [3DMark](http://www.engadget.com/tag/3DMark/) build: even a year-old flagship PC can feel like a clunker as it struggles to get a decent frame rate in Futuremark's visually intensive tests. It's time to get masochistic once again, as the Windows version of the [2013 3DMark release](http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/21/next-3dmark-teased/) is at last available. The software's showcase benchmark is Fire Strike, for brag-worthy rigs with high-end [DirectX 11](http://www.engadget.com/tag/DirectX11/) graphics; there's also a Cloud Gate test for mere mortal DX 10/11 PCs, and Ice Storm for older DX 9 hardware. 3DMark is waiting both as a stand-alone download and through [Steam](http://www.engadget.com/tag/Steam/) today, while those who take their gaming on the road will have to wait for the still-in-progress Android, iOS and Windows RT releases to make their tablets cry for mercy.

Filed under: [Gaming](http://www.engadget.com/category/gaming/), [Software](http://www.engadget.com/category/software/)

**[Comments](http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/05/new-3dmark-arrives-for-windows/#comments)**

**Via:** [Steam](http://store.steampowered.com/news/9886/?snr=1_550_552&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter)

**Source:** [Futuremark](http://www.futuremark.com/benchmarks/3dmark)

URL: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/05/new-3dmark-arrives-for-windows/