The benchmark details screen for each benchmark helps you understand how the test works. It describes the key features of each workload, the target hardware and other details such as the rendering resolution.


Screenshot: 3DMark macOS Steel Nomad benchmark detail screen


Run button

Run the benchmark at default settings and rendering resolution. #Results from running the benchmark this way are comparable with other results from the same benchmark. 



Settings


Audio Toggle

Toggle the soundtrack and sound effects during the benchmark run. Results generated with this setting enabled are still valid, and enabling sound has a negligible effect on 3DMark scores. By default, audio is set to "off".  



Display

Select the display you want the benchmark to be rendered on. This does not affect benchmark performance or change its rendering resolution.  


Please be aware that macOS doesn't necessarily recommend the native resolution of a MacBook's screen, but a lower resolution that is beneficial to the readability of the text on the screen.


3DMark user guide

Access the 3DMark user guide for the benchmark.


Explorer mode

This setting is not available for all benchmarks. Explorer mode allows you to freely explore the benchmarks' scene using a keyboard and mouse or game controller. Tweak camera controls to create your new Mac's background image, find secrets and easter eggs left by the development team, or even enable features not available in standard benchmark runs such as High Dynamic Range (HDR).  


Custom run

Many 3DMark benchmarks allow you to modify benchmark settings to your preference. 


Custom benchmark results include scores for each subtest and the average fps (frames per second) of the run, but are not comparable with results, scores or average frame rates from default benchmark runs.  


Screenshot showing 3DMark Steel Nomad's custom run options 

Clicking on the 'Custom run' button opens the custom run options. Custom settings let you further explore your Mac's performance limits by making the benchmark more or less demanding - or fitting it to an ultra-wide screen display Here is a list of the options that Custom runs can offer, depending on the benchmark:


  • Resolution 
    • Change the rendering resolution of the benchmark
  • Display
    • Change the display the custom benchmark runs on. 
  • Loop on/off
    • Toggle repeated looping of the benchmark 
  • Fullscreen 
    • Toggle between exclusive fullscreen and windowed mode
  • Audio on/off (off by default)
    • Toggle benchmark Audio and SFX where available. 
  • Enable HDR on/off 
    • Toggle High Dynamic Range (HDR) for the benchmark. This requires a system and display that support HDR.  

 


Stress Test run

Stress Test runs are designed to measure how performance of a system varies over time, instead of peak performance. Stress tests take 20 minutes, looping the benchmark 20 times.


Stress test results show the performance stability during the test - how much performance varied represented as a percentage. Since a Stress Test usually takes 20 minutes, it's good to bring some time. These are the available options: 


  • Display
    • Change the display the custom benchmark runs on.
  • Fullscreen
    • Toggle between exclusive fullscreen and windowed mode
  • Audio on/off
    • Toggle benchmark Audio and SFX where available.
  • Enable HDR on/off
    • Toggle High Dynamic Range (HDR) for the benchmark. This requires a system and display that support HDR.  


Unlimited run

Unlimited mode is for benchmarks designed to run on devices where application frame rates are limited by the maximum refresh rate of the device display. 

In Unlimited mode, the benchmark is rendered off-screen as 1200 individual frames to avoid any display frame rate limitations. 


Unlimited mode results are only comparable with other unlimited mode results, and not comparable with standard benchmark results.