3DMark Introduces API Overhead Test Comparing Dx12 vs. Dx11 & Mantle

With AMD's Mantle in dire straits and losing ongoing support, the question of timing for its inevitable death has been fresh in our minds. Microsoft's DirectX 12 promises to accomplish many of the same objectives that made Mantle appealing – namely, putting developers “closer to the metal” – while being distributed alongside the prolific Windows OS; this, we think, has already stifled Mantle's viability to developers.

Still, in any instance where Mantle could be touted as an advantaged API for performance, we've lacked a properly dedicated benchmark for objective analysis. 3DMark now offers an “API Overhead” test, which works by gradually increasing draw calls to determine the point of failure (dropping below 30FPS) for each API. Newer APIs greatly benefit lower-powered CPUs by reducing load (overhead) and allowing the GPU to work to its fullest parallel abilities.

Futuremark had this to say of the test requirements:

• The DirectX 12 test requires a PC running an up-to-date version of Windows 10 Technical Preview (Build 10041 or later), 4 GB of system memory, and DirectX feature level 11_0 compatible hardware with at least at least 1 GB of graphics memory.
• The Mantle test requires 4 GB of system memory and AMD hardware that supports the Mantle API.
• The DirectX 11 test requires DirectX feature level 11_0 compatible hardware with at least 1 GB of graphics memory and 4 GB of system memory.

The suite is available now from Futuremark. We will be testing in the immediate future.

- Steve "Lelldorianx" Burke.