Batch Run Wizard

The Batch Run Wizard is a powerful tool that lets you automate the process of testing a 3D accelerator with different benchmark settings. You can click on the settings and tests you want to run and let the computer do the rest. All project files will be saved to a folder on your computer and you'll be able to launch the ResultBrowser with all your benchmark runs in one database.

The Batch Run Wizard is only available in 3DMark2000 Pro.

Step 1 of 4 - Rendering and CPU options

Here you can select how many "Benchmark Runs" the batch run will create. You are able to select from multiple resolutions, color depths, Z-buffer depths, Frame Buffer Depths and CPU optimizations. The number of benchmark runs that the current settings will create is displayed at the bottom of the dialog. The estimated time will tell you how long the whole batch run will last. The total time is also depended of Wizard's "Step 2 of 4" where the tests to be run are selected.

Note: Unlike in the normal "Display and CPU options" dialog, here you are able to select settings that might not be possible to initialize on your system, such as a very high resolution and 32bit rendering. These Benchmark Runs will create a project file without any results in it and a text "Failed"in the project and file name.

Step 2 of 4 - Select the tests to be run

You are able to select which tests will be included in your Batch run. The amount of tests selected affects the overall Estimated Time display.

Step 3 of 4 - File Saving and Project Name settings

In this step you can choose the save location, format and saving of all of the individual benchmark runs.

The results will be saved as .3dp [3DMark Project] or .txt [3DMark project text export] files to a folder on your computer. You are able to select the folder where the files will be saved to (if the folder you've selected doesn't exist, it will be created) and you are able to customize the naming of the projects. 3DMark can create an automatic file name based on the 3D Accelerator name and the used test settings. If you prefer to use your own naming convention, you can do so as well.

An example 3dp file name saved by the batch run could look like:

"C:\My Batch Run\My 3D Accelerator 0000 800x600x16 Z16 TB AMD 3DNow!(tm).3dp"

This means that the project was run with a "My 3D Accelerator" 3D card, the 0000 is the sequence number in the batch, 800x600x16 means the screen resolution was 800*600 in 16-bit color, Z16 means 16bit Z-buffer was used and TB means triple frame buffering. AMD 3DNow!(tm) denotes the used CPU optimization.

Same kind of automated settings can be used for the Project Name that will be visible to you in ResultBrowser.

Note: It is recommended to run a few smaller batch runs before moving to large batches, to make sure you understand how the file saving and project settings work.

Step 4 of 4 - Begin

Batch Run now has enough information to start testing. A summary of your selections is displayed in this dialog.

You can also choose 'Save Settings' to save your customized batch run settings to a .brs file. This file can be used to launch 3DMark Batch Run from the command line, and therefore further automate your testing.