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To test your PC’s performance, choose a benchmark that matches what you want to know: PCMark 10 for everyday productivity, 3DMark for gaming graphics, or Cinebench for CPU rendering. Then repeat the same test under similar conditions if you want to check consistency. Scores only make sense alongside the benchmark and version that produced them.
Choose a benchmark for the workload you care about
| Benchmark | Best suited to | What it measures | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCMark 10 | Everyday office and whole-system performance | Common workplace tasks and activities | The Applications benchmark requires Microsoft Edge and Microsoft Office 2013 or later; requirements vary by edition. UL’s PCMark 10 product page lists minimum system requirements. |
| 3DMark | Gaming and graphics performance | Graphics tests, GPU stress tests, CPU Profile, and storage testing, depending on the selected test | Choose a test that fits your hardware and graphics API; individual tests may have additional requirements. The Steam listing gives Windows minimum requirements. |
| Cinebench | CPU performance in rendering workloads | Performance in professional 3D workloads | Record the version with the result. Cinebench 2026 uses a newly calibrated scoring range that is not comparable with earlier versions. Maxon explains its methodology. |
| Repeat the same test | Checking whether results are consistent | Whether the score changes when the same benchmark is rerun | Microsoft’s documented 3DMark procedure records the result, waits 15 minutes, then reruns the test; this is that procedure, not a universal rule for every benchmark or PC. See Microsoft’s Windows performance lab testing methodology. |
1. Use PCMark 10 for everyday office performance
PCMark 10 is the most relevant of these choices when you want a broad view of how a PC handles common workplace tasks rather than gaming. UL describes it as a complete-system benchmark based on real-world apps and activities. Its workplace focus means its overall score is not a substitute for a graphics test when your question is gaming performance. UL lists PCMark 10’s product details and requirements; its user guide explains its workloads and edition differences.
UL’s PCMark 10 product page, which listed version 2.3.2912 on February 3, 2026, gives these minimum requirements: a dual-core CPU, 4 GB of memory, DirectX 11 graphics, and 6 GB of free space. The separate Applications benchmark requires Microsoft Edge and Microsoft Office 2013 or later, so check the requirements for the specific test and edition you plan to use.
2. Use 3DMark for gaming and graphics
3DMark is the better fit when you want to compare graphics performance or check gaming-related workloads. Its tests are not interchangeable: select one that matches the PC and graphics API you are assessing. For example, UL describes Steel Nomad as a demanding, non-ray-tracing test. The product also includes GPU stress tests, CPU Profile, and a storage benchmark, but availability and requirements can depend on the selected test and edition. UL’s 3DMark page describes the available tests.
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The Windows minimum requirements shown in the Steam listing are Windows 10 64-bit, a 1.8 GHz dual-core processor, 4 GB of RAM, and DirectX 11 graphics. Those are minimums for the product, not a guarantee that every individual test will run on every system that meets them. The product page listed a version dated August 3, 2026.
3. Use Cinebench for CPU rendering workloads
Cinebench evaluates CPU performance using rendering workloads intended to reflect professional 3D work. It answers a different question from a whole-system office benchmark or a gaming graphics test. Maxon’s Cinebench page describes the benchmark and its measurement methodology.
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Always note the version beside the score. Maxon says Cinebench 2026 uses a newly calibrated scoring range, so a 2026 result cannot be directly compared with scores from earlier versions. A score without its benchmark version is incomplete context.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.4. Repeat a benchmark to check consistency
A single result tells you what the PC scored in that run; repeating the same test can show whether the result is consistent. Microsoft’s Windows performance lab methodology records the 3DMark score, waits 15 minutes, and then runs the test again. Follow that interval if you are reproducing Microsoft’s documented procedure, rather than treating it as a rule that applies to all benchmarks and computers. Microsoft’s procedure, updated June 27, 2025, also documents running Geekbench 6 with default settings and recording the result.
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How to compare results without drawing the wrong conclusion
- Compare like with like: use the same benchmark, test, and version on both PCs.
- Write down the PC’s configuration and the conditions for each run so you can interpret differences in context.
- Do not treat a score by itself as a diagnosis of a fault. The official benchmark sources cited here do not establish one universal “good PC score” that applies across systems and workloads.
- Do not compare Cinebench 2026 scores directly with earlier Cinebench versions; the scoring scale changed.
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