The Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation (SPEC) has announced this month the availability of the SPECapc for Maya 2024 benchmark, a new version of the worldwide standard for measuring the performance of computing systems running Autodesk Maya, one of the 3D software industry’s leading applications.
Maya is popular across creative industries, from film and television to architecture and design. As such, the SPECapc for Maya 2024 benchmark is a useful industry tool to help creative professionals optimize their computer system selections as part of their workforces and digital pipelines.
SPECapc for Maya 2024
Unlike other SPEC-based benchmarks (see, Xpresso, “How SPEC/GWPG Benchmarks Exist to Help Users Optimize Workstation Selection,” August 2022, in Special Feature), the “apc” versions require the benchmark user to actually have the software that is being used in the benchmark. With this latest 2024 release, users of Autodesk Maya 2024 can test their computer system’s performance running the software and compare that to other systems.
SPEC has released the new SPECapc for Maya 2024 benchmark. (image of their website).
“We are pleased to deliver this timely update to the SPECapc for Maya 2024 benchmark, allowing users to measure the performance of existing and new computing systems when running the latest version of Maya,” said Jessica Heerboth, Chair of the SPEC Application Performance Characterization Committee. “With the inclusion of the SPEC Workload Development Kit, enterprising users can gain greater insight into the performance of the workloads that matter most to them.”
43 Tests
There are 43 total tests in the new benchmark using 11 different models and animations. There are eight separate graphics tests in various modes and five different CPU tests. The graphics-oriented tests use six different Maya view settings — Shaded, Shaded SSAO, wireframe on shading, wireframe on shaded SSAO, textured, and textured SSAO. Various tests measure both animation and 3D model rotation performance. Five CPU tests within the benchmark perform CPU ray tracing and evaluation caching in various modes.
In addition to updating the benchmark for Maya 2024, the SPEC Application Performance Characterization Committee added the SPECapc for Maya 2024 WDK, a framework allowing users to run their own GPU-specific workloads using the same measurement and output techniques.
Available Immediately
The SPECapc for Maya 2024 benchmark is available as a free application for everyone except vendors of computers and related products and services. For those users, membership in the SPEC Graphics and Workstation Performance Group (SPEC GWPG) includes a vendor license for all SPEC GWPG benchmarks. Current SPEC GWPG members include:
- AMD
- Dell
- HP (Hewlett Packard)
- Intel
- Lenovo
- Nvidia
Non-member computer product and service vendors can purchase the benchmark for USD 2,500.
About SPEC
SPEC is a non-profit organization that establishes, maintains and endorses standardized benchmarks and tools to evaluate performance for the newest generation of computing systems. Its membership comprises more than 120 leading computer hardware and software vendors, educational institutions, research organizations, and government agencies worldwide.