Futuremark Adds Sapphire as Latest Benchmark Development Program Member

World leading graphics accelerator supplier to become first board manufacturer in 3DMark program

Saratoga, California / Hong Kong - August 22nd, 2006 - Futuremark Corporation, a leading provider of system performance-analysis software and services for PCs, smartphones and other handheld devices, in joint cooperation with Hong Kong based Sapphire Technology Ltd, the world's leading manufacturer of ATI based video graphics accelerators and mainboards, announced today that Sapphire has become the first board manufacturer to join the 3DMark Benchmark Development Program.

The 3DMark Benchmark Development Program (BDP) enables Futuremark to build partnerships with leading hardware and technology manufacturers in order to design unbiased professional benchmark software. Futuremark provides BDP Members with specifications and pre-production versions of benchmarks and, in turn, evaluates the feedback provided by the Members.

"We are pleased to welcome Sapphire to the 3DMark BDP. Sapphire brings a substantial commitment to the program, expressing that they plan to be fully engaged in the benchmark development process, cooperating at each step in the BDP process" said Oliver Baltuch, Futuremark's VP of Sales and Marketing, North America. "They are strong proponents of utilizing universally accepted 3DMark performance numbers as marketing and engineering tools, so their membership in the program is strategically important to their global sales efforts."

Sapphire Technology is one of the world's largest VGA suppliers, utilizing the latest acceleration technologies and GPUs available. Sapphire develops, manufactures and distributes ATI based video graphics boards and mainboards, maintaining the strictest adherence to quality control and production criteria, throughout their ISO9001 and ISO4001 certified manufacturing facilities.

"Sapphire is delighted to join the 3DMark benchmark development program," commented Adrian Thompson, VP of Marketing for Sapphire Technology. "As we implement more capable graphics systems based on the latest technologies and architectures, we recognise the importance of utilising independent benchmarks that can be verified by our customers and users through their own tests. As a partner of this program we will ensure that the end user can have confidence that every aspect of the products' feature set and performance are reflected in future tests."

About Futuremark® Corporation

Futuremark® Corporation is the leading provider of performance analysis software and services for PCs and smartphones. Futuremark® is known around the world for its benchmark products, including the 3DMark® and PCMark® Series and SPMark™ (with more than 30 million copies distributed worldwide) and value-added services powered by a database of over 13 million real life benchmarking results. Futuremark® maintains offices in Saratoga, California and Helsinki, Finland. For more information, please visit http://www.futuremark.com

About Sapphire Technology Ltd

Sapphire Technology Ltd designs, manufactures and distributes the most complete range of ATI based video graphics accelerators worldwide. Additionally Sapphire produces mainboards based on ATI's newest IGP chipset technology. Sapphire is based in Hong Kong with two ISO9001 and ISO14001 manufacturing facilities in Dongguan, China. The factories have a total capacity of 1.8 million graphic boards per month. Sapphire currently employs over 3000 employees worldwide with local representation in North America, Europe, South Africa and Asia. For further information please visit www.sapphiretech.com

© 2006 Futuremark® Corporation. 3DMark®, PCMark® and SPMark™ trademarks and logos, Futuremark® character names and distinctive likenesses, are the exclusive property of Futuremark Corporation. All other trademarks are property of their respective companies.

Futuremark Contact:

Futuremark Corporation
Phone: +1-408-517-0910
Oliver Baltuch
Vice President of Sales and Marketing, North America
Email: ollie@futuremark.com

Sapphire Contact:

Sapphire Technology
Adrian Thompson
VP of Marketing
Email: adrianthompson@sapphiretech.com