3d Studio Max 7
We start our test series with the 3d Studio Max 7, the computer-generated picture software. The first of two scenes uses a classic Raytracing-type result based on the « Architecture » scene of specAPC.
At 2 GHZ, the Pentium M performances are higher than a Pentium 4 3.0 GHz or an Athlon 64 2.2 GHz (3500+ S939, 3200+ S754). These performances are quite good, but after Overclocking the Pentium M is even able to reach equivalent performances to the most efficient Pentium 4 and Athlon 64.
Developed by Studio PC, the second scene mainly uses radiosity, an effect that has a more realistic lighting effect and is slower. 85% of this scene is based on this type of effect.
This time the 2 GHz clocked Pentium M performances are between the Pentium 4 3 and 3.2 GHz, and the Athlon 64 clocked at 2.2 and 2.4 GHz. After Overclocking to 2.4 and even 2.5 GHz performances are improved and are slightly better than the Pentium 4 EE 3.46 GHz.
Maya 6
With Maya 6 we also used two scenes provided by Yann Dupont of 3 DVF, whom we thank for their use. The first one uses the Maya Software engine and the second, the Mental Ray.
In the first scene the Pentium M has more difficulty than its bigger sibling, because at 2 GHZ it is only able to reach the performance of a Pentium 4 2.8 GHz. Pentium 4 performances are however quite good with this test. Compared to the A64, the P-M reaches a worthy performance comparable to the A64 3500+ S939 or 3200+ S754. After Overclocking the P-M is even faster than a Athlon FX-55, but is still slower than a P4 EE and P4 3.8 and 3.6 GHz.
In the second scene and with the Mental Ray engine, the P-M 2.0 GHz provdes the same results as a P4 3.0 GHz and is between the 3500/3200+ S939 and 3200+/3000+ Socket 754. At 2.5 GHz Pentium M performance is almost comparable to the P4 570 3.8 GHz / Athlon FX-55.
