UL Solutions has revealed its upcoming 3DMark Non-Ray-Tracing Benchmark Tool called “Steel Nomad” marking 3DMark’s 25th anniversary. The new benchmark utility will be available for Windows and use DX12 but also on macOS and iOS via Metal. Android users can also test their devices with it via Vulkan. UL Solutions has said that Linux users must have Vulkan for Enterprise to use the new tool. As 3DMark turns a quarter century old Steel Nomad continues its trend by focusing on characters interacting in various environments and circumstances in order to stress-test hardware. These latest 3DMark non-ray-tracing benchmark preview screenshots show a nomad traversing wastelands, and an oasis to an unknown destination.
Per UL Solutions:
On Oct. 26, 2023, 3DMark turned 25 years old. Looking back, it’s amazing how far graphics have come, and we’re very excited to see what the next 25 years bring.
Now, it’s time to share a sneak peek of what’s coming next. Here are some preview screenshots for 3DMark Steel Nomad, our successor to 3DMark Time Spy. It’s been more than seven years since we launched Time Spy, and after more than 42 million submitted results, we think it’s time for a new heavy non-ray-tracing benchmark.
Steel Nomad will be our most demanding non-ray-tracing benchmark and will not only support Windows using DirectX 12, but also macOS and iOS using Metal, Android using Vulkan, and Linux using Vulkan for Enterprise and reviewers.
To celebrate 3DMark’s 25th year, the scene will feature some callbacks to many of our previous benchmarks. We hope you have fun finding them all! We’ll share more details about 3DMark Steel Nomad when it is closer to launching.
Other popular DX12 3DMark benchmark tools include its popular Time Spy utility that first introduced 4K testing to the suite. Time Spy was followed by Speed Way which added DirectX 12 Ultimate and ray tracing testing.