The Overall 3DMark06 score

As with previous 3DMark tests, the overall 3DMark score is created by a formula that combines the results of various subtests. In the case of 3DMark06, there are three main sub-tests. First is a Pixel Shader 2.0 test consisting of two game scenes. Next is a Shader Model 3.0 score with high dynamic range rendering, also consisting of two game tests. Last is a CPU benchmark, which runs the same CPU benchmark two times with two different workloads. This is new for 3DMark—previous versions of the benchmark included CPU tests, but did not incorporate them into the total 3DMark score.

The formula for the total 3DMark06 score is:

3DMark Score = 2.5 x 1.0/(( 1.7/GS + 0.3/CPU Score )/2)

In other words, it's 2.5 x weighted harmonic mean of GS and CPU Score. What is this "GS" score? Well, that depends on what hardware you're running. GS is the Game Score, and for Shader Model 3.0 hardware that is capable of running all the tests, it's equal to 0.5 x (SM2S + HDRSM3S). In other words, it's the average of the SM 2.0 and SM 3.0 + HDR tests. What if you have hardware that can't do the floating-point blending required for HDR, or doesn't support Shader Model 3.0 at all? In that case, the overall "GS" value is .75 x SM2S, or 3/4ths of the shader model 2.0 score.