Does 3DMark Predict Game Performance?

aendeuryu writes "Sidhian has up an interesting op-ed and summary piece on whether or not graphics benchmarks like 3dMark are helpful in determining the suitability of a video card for gameplay. It goes on to show how certain tests correlate to specific cards and game engines. The article is from last month, but Sidhian's pretty good for refreshingly frank hardware articles, and this might be good background information for evaluating ATI's upcoming Crossfire line of dual-izable video cards."

Comments

Synthetic

[DeadBugs]

I prefer the use of actual games when benchmarking a card. The synthetic benchmarks from 3dMark do not tell me anything other than how the card will perform in 3Dmark. With various game engines using a wide range of features such as OpenGL, DirectX, SM3.0, HDR, etc. you need to benchmark by using a wide range of "actual" games.

Hardocp dropped 3Dmark benchmarks along time ago for this reason (among others)
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=816850&p age=1&pp=20