Futuremark Corporation, the world's leading provider of performance-analysis benchmarks, software and services for PCs and handheld devices, announced today the release of PCMark(r) Vantage-the first objective hardware performance benchmark for PCs running 32 and 64 bit versions of Windows Vista(r). PCMark Vantage provides the PC industry, IT media and consumers with an overall PCMark performance score based on Windows Vista application tests, single and multi threaded CPU, graphics and hard disk drive (HDD) tests. Additionally, in a departure from previous versions of the product, PCMark Vantage shifts its focus from only providing pure hardware performance-analysis results, to generating accurate performance ratings based on popular Windows Vista Consumer Scenarios ranging from media and entertainment to productivity and communication. PCMark Vantage incorporates an updated interface with easier access to test details and selections, results, system info and other features.

An application based approach to performance testing PCMark Vantage includes eight distinct test suites; six that provide targeted hardware scores based on typical user scenarios, plus a HDD test set and an overall PCMark performance test score. Consumer Scenario Suites include the Memories Suite for digital image and video applications, the TV and Movies Suite for HD video task applications, the Gaming Suite for game (DirectX9) graphics performance, the Music Suite for audio task applications, and the Communications and Productivity Suites for gauging performance of searching, security tasks, application launch, browser functionality and word processing. Each test suite generates performance scores that replicate real-world system performance for the applications selected.

 Test Details PCMark Vantage incorporates a sophisticated array of tests to generate accurate workloads that produce valid, fully comparable system performance scores.  Check out the full press release on this latest benchmark from PCMark right here.

The global tech publication network has worked hard to bring you these reviews out of the gate on PCMark Vantage. The big question, does this benchmark hold up? The answer....
Cluboverclocker
Accelenation.com
Techgage.com
Bjorn3d.com  (great synopsis)