Next, we ran the new Cloud Gate test in the recently-revamped 3DMark suite, as well as the benchmark tool built into Far Cry 2. The game provides a look at the laptop’s DirectX 10 capabilities, while the synthetic benchmark gives the Z400 Touch a chance to redeem itself after that rough 3DMark 11 performance.
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| Futuremark 3DMark Cloud Gate |
| Synthetic Gaming Performance |
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The flagship benchmark in Futuremark’s catalog, 3DMark is a popular choice for testing everything from gaming PCs to mobile devices. Of course, the technology differences between a gamer a smartphone significant, so 3DMark has a separate test suite for each device category. The Cloud Gate test is aimed at entry-level PCs and laptops, and has two subtests: a processor-intensive physics test and two graphics tests. Cloud Gate uses a DirectX 11 engine, but the graphics are designed to be compatible with DirectX 10 systems. We run the test suite at its default 1280 x 720 resolution and at default rendering quality settings. Keep in mind that 3DMark Cloud Gate scores aren’t comparable to scores from say, 3DMark Fire Strike (gaming PCs) or Ice Storm (smartphones and tablets).
Because 3DMark Cloud Gate is so new, the Lenovo IdeaPad Z400 Touch is the first laptop we’ve used with this test. So, comparing the score isn’t possible with this test, but keep an eye out for our upcoming laptop reviews – we’ll be including this score in our charts as the comparison pool grows. For now, let’s take a look at a test for which we have plenty of comparison scores: Far Cry 2.
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| Far Cry 2 |
| DX10 Gaming Performance |
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When it comes to lush vegetation in a steaming, sinister jungle, no one pulls it off quite like Ubisoft does in its Far Cry series. Far Cry 2 uses high-quality texture, complex shaders, and dynamic lighting to create a realistic environment. The game’s built-in benchmark gives us a good look at a system’s performance with DirectX 10.
Here, the Z400 Touch put up a decent score. The frame rate of 20.32 won’t turn any heads, but it’s not bad; you can play Far Cry 2 on this laptop without getting teased by your buddies. (Well, it depends on who they are, we guess.)
;)
