3D rendering and animation software MAXON Computer announced Wednesday that it has updated its 3D benchmarking software for Apple’s new Power Mac G5 system. Cinebench 2003 is available for download from Maxon’s Web site.
Cinebench 2003 is a free utility used to benchmark the 3D performance characteristics of Mac and Windows-based computers. Based on Maxon’s own Cinema 4D R8 engine, Cinebench 2003 tests raw processing speed and other issues that affect system performance like OpenGL, multithreading and multiple processor support.
The G5-optimized version, which is currently available for download as a public beta, has been tweaked with the help of Apple, according to Maxon. Maxon said that it has achieved speed increases of about 20 percent using the G5, and anticipates even further improvements once G5-optimized compilers available. The company expects such tools to be released during the first quarter of 2004, and will roll in G5 optimization to Cinema 4D and BodyPaint 3D at that time.