Viewperf is a portable OpenGL performance benchmark program written in C. It was developed by IBM. Later updates and significant contributions were made by SGI, Digital and other OPC project group members. Viewperf provides a vast amount of flexibility in benchmarking OpenGL performance. Currently, the program runs on most implementations of UNIX, Windows NT, and Windows 95/98.
The OpenGL Performance Characterization (OPC) project group has endorsed Viewperf as its first OpenGL benchmark. Performance numbers based on Viewperf were first published in the Q4 1994 issue of The GPC Quarterly.
OPC group member companies have ported the Viewperf code to their operating systems and window environments. The OPC project group maintains a single source code version of the Viewperf code that is available to the public.
Viewperf parses command lines and data files, sets the rendering state, and converts data sets to a format that can be traversed using OpenGL rendering calls. It renders the data set for a pre-specified amount of time or number of frames with animation between frames. Finally, it outputs the results.
Viewperf reports performance in frames per second. Other information about the system under test -- all the rendering states, the time to build display lists (if applicable), and the data set used -- are also output in a standardized report.
A "benchmark" using Viewperf is really a single invocation of Viewperf with command-line options telling the Viewperf program which data set to read in, which texture file to use, what OpenGL primitive to use to render the data set, which attributes to apply and how frequently, whether or not to use display lists, and so on. One quickly realizes that there are an infinite number of Viewperf "benchmarks" (an infinite number of data sets multiplied by an almost infinite number of command-line states).
OPC project group members recognize the importance of real-world benchmarks. From the beginning, the group has sought benchmarks representative of the OpenGL rendering portion of independent software vendor (ISV) applications. Along these lines, the project group has come up with what it calls a viewset. A viewset is a group of individual runs of Viewperf that attempt to characterize the graphics rendering portion of an ISV's application.
Viewsets are not developed by the OPC project group; they come from the ISVs themselves. Members of the OPC project group often "sponsor" the ISV. Sponsorship entails helping the ISV in several areas, including how to obtain the Viewperf code, how to convert data sets to a Viewperf format, how to use Viewperf, how to create Viewperf tests to characterize the application, how to determine weights for each of the individual Viewperf tests based on application usage, and finally to help offer the viewset to the OPC project group for consideration as a standard OPC viewset. Any ISV wishing to develop a viewset should contact an OPC representative listed on the GPC Organization page.
Currently, there are five standard OPC viewsets: ProCDRS viewset is intended to model the graphics performance of Parametric Technology Corporation's CDRS industrial design software. IBM's Data Explorer (DX), which has 10 different tests, is a visualization application. Intergraph's DesignReview (DRV), which has 10 different tests, is a 3D computer model review package. Alias/Wavefront's Advanced Visualizer, with 10 tests, is an animation application. And Discreet Logic's Lightscape Visualization System, with four tests, is a radiosity visualization application. All five viewsets represent relatively high-end applications. These type of applications typically render large data sets. They almost always include lighting, smooth shading, blending, line antialiasing, z-buffering, and some texture mapping.
The input to Viewperf is the command line. Here are the current command line options for Viewperf 6.1.1:
Program options:
Viewperf v6.1.1 Program options: -polygon -pg <file> : Viewpoint object to be used in the tests -triangle -tr <file> : Viewpoint object to be used in the tests -quad -qd <file> : Viewpoint object to be used in the tests -mesh -mh <file> : Mesh object to be used in the tests -rendermode -rm <mode> : POINT, VECTOR, LINE, POLYGON, TMESH, TFAN, TRIANGLE, or QUAD - default LINE -vcriteria -vcrit : AUX Visual selection criteria - EXACT, MIN - default MIN -vid <id> : Ask AUX for visual with ID = <id> -vaccum -vac : Ask AUX for an accumulation buffer visual -valpha -val : Ask AUX for an alpha buffer visual -vdepthbuffer -vz : Ask AUX for a depth buffer visual -vstencil -vst : Ask AUX for a stencil buffer visual -indirectrender -ir : Render indirect - default direct -nodither -ndi : Disable dithering -ortho -or : Parallel/Orthographic projection - default Perspective -displaylist -dl : Render with display list mode -vertexarray -va : Render with vertex array mode (OpenGL1.1) -interleaved -il : Packing vertex data interleaved in memory -colorper -cp <mode> : FRAME = Color per Frame, PRIMITIVE = Color per Primitive, VERTEX = Color per Vertex - default FRAME -texture -tx <file> : Image for texturing -texgen -txg <file> <mode> : <file> is image for enviroment mapping <mode> is SPHERE_MAP, OBJECT_LINEAR, EYE_LINEAR - default EYE_LINEAR -texobj -txo <file> : Texture object mode <file> is list of images -magfilter -magf <flt> : NEAREST, LINEAR - default NEAREST -minfilter -minf <flt> : NEAREST, LINEAR, NEAREST_MIPMAP_NEAREST, LINEAR_MIPMAP_NEAREST, NEAREST_MIPMAP_LINEAR, LINEAR_MIPMAP_LINEAR - default NEAREST -texenv -te <env> : Texture enviroment, MODULATE, DECAL, BLEND - default DECAL -texcomp -tc <num> : Texture components where <num> is 1,2,3, or 4 -default 3 -blend -bl : Enable Blending -srcblendfunc -sbf : ZERO, ONE, DST_COLOR, ONE_MINUS_DST_COLOR, SRC_ALPHA, ONE_MINUS_SRC_ALPHA, DST_ALPHA, ONE_MINUS_DST_ALPHA, SRC_ALPHA_SATURATE - default SRC_ALPHA -dstblendfunc -dbf : ZERO, ONE, SRC_COLOR, ONE_MINUS_SRC_COLOR, SRC_ALPHA, ONE_MINUS_SRC_ALPHA, DST_ALPHA, ONE_MINUS_DST_ALPHA, - default ONE_MINUS_SRC_ALPHA -linewidth -lw <width> : Linewidth for wire/vector tests - default 1.0 -xwinsize -xws <side> : Size of test windows X dimension - default 700 -ywinsize -yws <side> : Size of test windows Y dimension - default 700 -numframes -nf <num> : Number of frames to be rendered during measurement. Takes priority over -mp -numilights -nil <num> : Turns on <num> infinite lights - default 0 -numllights -nll <num> : Turns on <num> local lights - default 0 -colormaterial -cm <side> <mode> : <side> is FRONT, BACK, FRONT_AND_BACK - default FRONT <mode> is AMBIENT, DIFFUSE, EMISSION, SPECULAR, AMBIENT_AND_DIFFUSE - default AMBIENT_AND_DIFFUSE -backface -bf : Cull Backfacing primitives - default off -frontface -ff : Cull Frontfacing primitives - default off -singlebuffer -sb : Single buffer mode-fog -fg : Enable fog -linesmooth -ls : Enable line antialiasing -polysmooth -ps : Enable polygon antialiasing -facetnormal -fn : Use facet normals when lighting -linestipple -lp : Enable line stipple -polystipple -pp : Enable polygon stipple -batch -bt: Batch primitives together per glBegin/glEnd. Valid with POINT, VECTOR, TRIANGLE, and QUADS -polymodefront -pmf : POINT, LINE, or FILL - default FILL -polymodeback -pmb : POINT, LINE, or FILL - default FILL -flat -f : Set shademodel to FLAT - default GOURAUD -zbuffer -zb : Enable zbuffer for tests - default off -clip -c : Align object on 3D clip boundary -lighttwoside -l2s : Light both sides of model -localview -lv : Define local viewer for lit tests -normalize -nm : Enable normal normalization -minperiod -mp <num> : Set minimum testing period in seconds -mblur <num> : Use motion blur with num being amount of decay -aa_multi <x> <r> : Full scene antialiasing rendered x times at an offset of r. r should be tuned to the viewset -walkthru -wt : Walkthru mode-grab : Screen capture -grabonly -go : Don't run benchmark, just do screen capture -swap <true/false> : Force byte swapping -notitle -nt : Disable title screen -startframe -sf <num> : Set starting frame of a walkthru -framepause -fp : Pause after each frame waiting for enter key -newview -nv : Enable new view frustum calculation -fov <angle> : Set field of view in degrees -spin x y z dx dy dz : Set rotation initial values and speeds (degrees)
The -threads option is applicable only if Viewperf has been compiled with the C Preprocessor variable MP defined. Viewperf should only be compiled this way if the vendor supplied makefile has defined the MP flag (-DMP).
Here is an example of the command line from test #3 of the CDRS-03
viewset:
viewperf -mh mower-ts -dl -rm TMESH -vz -bl -zb -nil 1 -cp
PRIMITIVE -mp 10 -nf 10
This command line is providing the following directions:
The following significant defaults are in effect during this test: direct rendering, perspective viewing, no texture mapping, window size is 700 x 700 pixels, no culling, double buffering, smooth shading, no clipping, and single-sided lighting.
Upon entering the command line, the system under test will run the benchmark for at least 10 seconds or 10 frames. This is to insure a valid test result. During the test, the Viewperf code renders the data set, mower-ts.msh, which is half of the shell of a lawnmower, rotating it about the center of the window with the above specified characteristics.
What follows is the output of Viewperf 6.1 running the first test from ProCDRS-01 on an SGI OCTANE/MXE:
Viewperf Version 6.1
Viewperf Arguments -mh newtruck-wire -dl -linesmooth -srcblendfunc SRC_ALPHA -dstblendfunc ONE_MINUS_SRC_ALPHA -f -xws 1260 -yws 980 -newview -mp 20 -grab grab1.scr
Month 11
Day 6
Year 1998
Host pptemp5
Operating System IRIX64
Operating System Version 6.5 07271714
Host Vendor SGI
Host Model IP30
Host CPU 250 MHz R10000
Host CPU Count 2
Host Memory Size (MB) 128
Host Primary Cache Size (KB) 32/32 (D/I)
Host Secondary Cache Size (KB) 1024 (D+I)
Window System X11R5
Driver Version N/A
OpenGL Vendor SGI
OpenGL Version 1.1 Irix 6.5
OpenGL Extensions GL_EXT_abgr GL_EXT_blend_color GL_EXT_blend_logic_op GL_EXT_blend_minmax GL_EXT_blend_subtract GL_EXT_convolution GL_EXT_copy_texture GL_EXT_histogram GL_EXT_packed_pixels GL_EXT_polygon_offset GL_EXT_subtexture GL_EXT_texture GL_EXT_texture3D GL_EXT_texture_object GL_EXT_vertex_array GL_SGI_color_matrix GL_SGI_color_table GL_SGI_texture_color_table GL_SGIS_texture_filter4 GL_SGIS_detail_texture GL_SGIS_texture_border_clamp GL_SGIS_texture_select GL_SGIS_texture_lod GL_SGIX_pixel_texture GL_SGIX_texture_multi_buffer
OpenGL Renderer IMPACT/2/2/4
OpenGL Client Vendor SGI
OpenGL Client Version 1.2 Irix 6.5
OpenGL Client Extensions GLX_EXT_import_context GLX_EXT_visual_info GLX_EXT_visual_rating GLX_SGI_make_current_read GLX_SGI_swap_control GLX_SGI_video_sync GLX_SGIS_multisample GLX_SGIX_fbconfig GLX_SGIX_pbuffer GLX_SGIX_swap_barrier GLX_SGIX_swap_group GLX_SGIX_video_resize GLX_SGIX_video_source
GLU Version 1.2 Irix 6.5
GLU Extensions GLU_EXT_abgr GLU_EXT_nurbs_tessellator GLU_EXT_object_space_tess GLU_EXT_packed_pixels GLU_EXT_texture GLU_SGI_filter4_parameters
Direct Rendering True
Double Buffer True
Stereo False
RGBA True
Color Index Size -1
Red Size 12
Green Size 12
Blue Size 12
Alpha Size 0
Accum Red Size 16
Accum Green Size 16
Accum Blue Size 16
Accum Alpha Size 16
Depth Size 0
Stencil Size 0
Auxiliary Buffer Count 0
Frame BufferLevel 0
Visual ID 0X38
Visual Class TrueColor
Window Width (pixels) 1260
Window Height (pixels) 980
Screen Width (pixels) 1280
Screen Height (pixels) 1024
Display :0.0
OpenGL Server Vendor SGI
OpenGL Server Version 1.2 Irix 6.5
OpenGL Server Extensions 1.2 Irix 6.5
GLX Server Version 1.1
GLX Server Extensions GLX_EXT_import_context GLX_EXT_visual_info GLX_EXT_visual_rating GLX_SGI_make_current_read GLX_SGI_swap_control GLX_SGI_video_sync GLX_SGIX_fbconfig GLX_SGIX_pbuffer GLX_SGIX_swap_group
Screen Number 0
Shared Memory Connection False
Visual Selection Criteria MINIMUM
Number of Execution Threads 1
Geometry File newtruck-wire
Input Mode -mh
Minimum Test Period 20.000000
Number of Frames 0
Number of Primitives 18691
Number of Vertices per Frame 202481
Number of Vertices per Primitive 10.833075
Toggle Mode NONE
Batching Count 0
Render Mode MIXED
Color per COLOR_PER_FRAME
Orthographic Projection FALSE
Display List TRUE
Vertex Array (OpenGL1.1) FALSE
Interleaved Data FALSE
Clip Geometry FALSE
Walkthrough Mode FALSE
Back Face Cull FALSE
Front Face Cull FALSE
Front Polygon Mode FILL
Back Polygon Mode FILL
Polygon Stipple Enable FALSE
Polygon Antialiasing Enable FALSE
Line Width 1.000000
Line Stipple Enable FALSE
Line Antialiasing Enable TRUE
Number of Infinite Lights 0
Number of Local Lights 0
Color Material Enable FALSE
Color Material Face FRONT
Color Material Mode AMBIENT_AND_DIFFUSE
Facet Normals FALSE
Two Sided Lighting Enable FALSE
Local Viewer Enable FALSE
Flat Shading TRUE
Fog Enable FALSE
Normal Normalization FALSE
Texture Enable FALSE
TexObj Enable FALSE
Texture Generation Mode NO_TEXTURE_GENERATION
Texture File NONE
Texture Minification Filter NEAREST
Texture Magnification Filter NEAREST
Texture Environment Mode DECAL
Texture Components 3
Depth Test Enable FALSE
Blend Enable FALSE
Source Blend Function SRC_ALPHA
Destination Blend Function ONE_MINUS_SRC_ALPHA
Dithering Enable TRUE
Motion Blur Amount 0.000000
Full Scene Antialiasing Redraws 0
Full Scene Antialiasing Jitter Amount 0.000000
0.0900 sec (DL Build) -- -mh newtruck-wire -rm MIXED -mp 20 -cp FRAME -dl -f -ls -xws 1260 -yws 980 -nv
Number of frames run: 406, Test period: 20.120001 (sec)
20.2 frames/sec -- -mh newtruck-wire -rm MIXED -mp 20 -cp FRAME -dl -f -ls -xws 1260 -yws 980 -nv
ÿÿ
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The output provides all the Viewperf state information, as well as the configuration
parameters for the system under test. The display list build time was 0.09 seconds,
the number of frames was 406, and the actual test time was 20.12 seconds.
Viewperf does a test to see how many frames need to be rendered to meet the minimum
time period. In this case, the calibration calculates the number of frames
necessary to meet the minimum, bumps up the number of frames if the minimum is
not met, then reruns the test.
The last line is the number of frames per second, which is the fundamental metric
for each test. This is the result that is printed in the summary and individual
report pages within the GPC News OPC section. Also printed in the summary and
individual report pages is a single composite number for each viewset. This
composite number is derived using a weighted geometric mean methodology
(essentially the product of the results of each test raised to the power of the
test weightings).
Viewperf 6.1.1
The latest version of Viewperf includes a number of new features intended to allow it to more closely model the performance of OpenGL graphics applications. The new features include support for:
For more information, please read the documentation provided with the Viewperf source code.
Rob Putney / Simon Green.