Benchmarks have a natural lifespan that ends when they no longer provide meaningful results on modern hardware. When old benchmarks are used with new hardware, the results can be skewed or limited in ways that reduce their accuracy and relevance. This update marks the end of support for 3DMark Sky Diver and the API Overhead feature test.
3DMark Sky Diver
3DMark Sky Diver is a DirectX 11 benchmark for PCs with integrated graphics. Released in 2014, it is now too lightweight for modern PCs. We recommend using 3DMark Night Raid (DirectX 12) or 3DMark Wild Life (Vulkan) to benchmark laptops, notebooks, and other systems with integrated graphics.
3DMark API Overhead feature test
The 3DMark API Overhead feature test was released in 2015 to coincide with the launch of Windows 10 and DirectX 12. The test compares the draw call performance of graphics APIs. At launch, this was the most significant difference between older APIs and new, low-level APIs like DirectX 12 and Vulkan. Today, developers are more likely to choose a graphics API based on feature support and compatibility. Draw call performance is no longer the deciding factor. We have no plans to update or replace this test.
How to run unsupported tests
Unsupported tests are hidden in the 3DMark app by default. If you need to run a legacy test for some reason, you can find them by going to the Benchmarks screen and using the filter option to "Show unsupported tests."