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SPEC/GPC Frequently Asked Questions
What is SPEC/GPC and what does it do?
SPEC/GPC is a non-profit organization that sponsors the development
of standardized, application-based benchmarks that have value
to the vendor, research and user communities. For more, see: http://www.spec.org/gpc/publish/overview.html.
What benchmarking projects are active under SPEC/GPC?
The OpenGL Performance Characterization (SPECopcSM)
group, begun in 1993, establishes graphics performance benchmarks
for systems running under the OpenGL application programming interface
(API). The group's SPECviewperf® benchmark is the most popular
standardized software worldwide for evaluating performance based
on CAD/CAM, digital content creation, and visualization applications.
For more, see http://www.spec.org/gpc/opc.static/overview.html.
The Application Performance Characterization (SPECapcSM)
group was formed in 1997 to provide a broad-ranging set of standardized
benchmarks for graphics-intensive applications. For more, see
http://www.spec.org/gpc/apc.static/apc_overview.html.
Why are some of the same applications (Pro/E, 3ds max, UGS)
included in both SPECapc and SPECviewperf benchmark suites?
The two benchmark suites have different purposes and different
types of users. SPECapc benchmarks are designed to measure, as
much as possible, total performance for graphics-intensive applications.
They typically include tests for graphics, I/O and CPU performance,
and they require that the user has a license for the application
on which they are based. SPECapc benchmarks are based on large
models and complex interactions, and tend to take a long time
to run.
Viewsets, the benchmarks that run on SPECviewperf, exercise only
the graphics functionality of the application. Because it strips
away application overhead, SPECviewperf allows direct performance
comparisons of graphics hardware. SPECviewperf does not require
users to have licenses of the applications on which its viewsets
are based. This makes it more accessible to a wider range of users.
SPECviewperf is also easier to use and faster to run than SPECapc
benchmarks.
How can someone run SPECviewperf and/or SPECapc benchmarks
and submit results for review and publication on the GPC News
web site?
SPEC/GPC provides a wide range of plans to allow those who are
not members of the SPECopc or SPECapc project groups to submit
results for publication on this web site. For more information,
see http://www.spec.org/gpc/publish/nonmember.html.
Whether submitted for publication on the GPC News site
or not, anyone publishing results for SPEC/GPC benchmarks must
comply with the benchmark license and run rules.
I cannot find benchmark results on the GPC News site
for a vendor or systems configuration that interests me. How can
I get the results I'm seeking?
Submitting benchmark results for publication on the GPC News
web site is voluntary. If you are seeking specific results that
are not published on the site, you can try the following:
- Contact SPECopc <[email protected]>
to inquire about SPECviewperf results or SPECapc <[email protected]>
to ask about application benchmark results. If the vendor is
a member of the appropriate group, a representative should be
able to answer your question, and perhaps even provide some
results.
- Conduct a web search to see if any of the major publications
- such as PC Magazine - that use SPEC/GPC benchmarks
have published the test results you are seeking.
- If you have a customer service contact for the hardware vendor
or ISV, relay your request to him or her.
- If it is feasible, run your own benchmark tests using a SPECapc
benchmark or SPECviewperf.
Who do I contact if I have trouble running SPECviewperf or
a SPECapc benchmark?
Contact SPECopc <[email protected]>
for problems with SPECviewperf or SPECapc <[email protected]>
for problems with application-based benchmarks.
How do I get my benchmark considered for adoption by SPECopc
or SPECapc?
Send a description of the benchmark and links to information and/or
downloads to the appropriate e-mail alias above.
Why should I trust results from a vendor-sponsored benchmark
organization? Isn't this a bit like the fox guarding the chicken
coop?
Industry vendors have the highest level of interest in developing
credible benchmarks. Without good performance evaluation software,
vendors would not be able to do valid system comparisons when
developing new products, or gain recognition from the trade media
and public for significant technology advances.
Members of SPECopc and SPECapc do not publish benchmarks in a
void - they develop the benchmarks based on interaction with user
groups, publications, application developers and others. Benchmarks
go through testing from different vendors working on different
operating systems and environments before they are released.
Contrary to some beliefs, "vendor-driven" benchmarks
are probably the most objective, as they are not subject to personal
biases. The competitive nature of vendors provides a natural system
of checks and balances that helps ensure objective, repeatable
benchmarks.
Have a SPEC/GPC question you want answered? Submit it to
[email protected].
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