A breakthrough in GPU benchmarking has emerged with Radiance, a DX12-based tool that subjects modern graphics cards to unprecedented computational demands using pure raymarching. The benchmark, developed by an experienced hardware analyst, eliminates traditional rasterization shortcuts, focusing instead on the raw FP32 compute power of GPUs. This approach creates a scenario where even the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090—currently the flagship GPU—fails to deliver smooth performance at high resolutions and complexity levels.
Radiance represents a shift from conventional benchmarking methods by removing textures, pre-baked lighting, or any form of optimization that doesn't rely on real-time calculations. Instead, it uses signed distance functions (SDFs) to define geometry and simulates light behavior through mathematical operations alone. This method, while computationally intensive, provides a unique way to measure how efficiently GPUs can process complex scenes without relying on specialized hardware like ray tracing accelerators.
The benchmark features two presets: a default 720p configuration with moderate debris elements and an 'Extreme' preset at 1080p with significantly higher complexity. The latter pushes the RTX 5090 to its limits, delivering only 2-3 frames per second under full load—a scenario that underscores the benchmark's ability to stress-test current hardware. Despite this, Radiance is remarkably compact, with a compressed size of just 80KB, making it an efficient tool for evaluating GPU performance.
- Display:
- Default preset: 720p resolution
- Extreme preset: 1080p resolution
- Compute Focus:
- Pure FP32 compute (no texture mapping or pre-baked lighting)
- Raymarching-based rendering (no traditional rasterization)
- Performance Metrics (RTX 5090):
- Default preset: 76.2 FPS average, 58.3 debris elements
- Extreme preset: 41.8 FPS average (before debris), 2-3 FPS under full load, 123.1 debris elements
The benchmark's design ensures that it tests the core computational throughput of GPUs rather than bandwidth or specialized features like ray tracing. This makes Radiance a valuable tool for comparing how different architectures handle complex mathematical operations—a critical factor in next-generation rendering techniques.
While the RTX 5090 is currently the only GPU tested, its struggles with the Extreme preset suggest that future hardware may be required to achieve smooth performance at such settings. The developer has warned users to ensure proper cooling when running Radiance due to the extreme thermal and power demands it places on GPUs.
Looking ahead, Radiance could serve as a benchmark for evaluating the performance of upcoming GPUs, particularly those designed for advanced computational workloads. Its ability to push current hardware to its limits while remaining lightweight makes it an intriguing tool for both developers and enthusiasts.
