Futuremark reveals how Async Compute works in 3DMark Time Spy

The aim of the technical guide is to bridge the gap between code-level implementation that requires expert knowledge and a typical enthusiast's understanding of modern APIs and real-time graphics. But, occasionally, there is enough interest and excitement around a new feature or technique that a more detailed look is called for. One such technique in DirectX 12 is asynchronous compute.

In this post, we'll explain how command lists, command queues, and specifically, asynchronous compute are used in 3DMark Time Spy. Before we dive into the technical details, it is worth explaining how we make benchmarks at Futuremark and the steps we take to ensure that our tests are accurate, relevant, and impartial.