By ByteBot
Maxon released Cinebench 2026 on December 29, 2025, delivering a benchmark that’s 6x harder on multi-threaded tests and introducing the first-ever dedicated SMT (Simultaneous Multithreading) core test. After serving as the industry standard for over 20 years, Cinebench just reset the baseline. Scores can’t be compared to Cinebench 2024, forcing hardware reviewers and IT departments to re-benchmark every system from scratch.
This isn’t just a software update. IT professionals making purchasing decisions, hardware reviewers testing new CPUs and GPUs, and PC builders comparing components now face incompatible scoring that renders existing benchmark databases partially obsolete. Moreover, the new SMT test reveals threading efficiency insights that previous versions couldn’t capture.
The Industry Baseline Just Reset
Cinebench 2026 scores can’t be compared to Cinebench 2024 or any earlier version. The updated Redshift rendering engine, new scoring methodology, and 6x workload increase create a completely different performance measurement. Maxon deliberately moved scores to a higher range to avoid confusion with previous versions.
The change stems from technical improvements across the board. Updated compilers (Clang V19) make Redshift faster on every hardware configuration, while the heavier rendering workload better reflects modern 3D production demands. Furthermore, Tom’s Hardware explicitly warns that “reviewers and users will have to treat Cinebench 2026 as a fresh baseline for future testing.”
The impact hits multiple audiences. IT departments relying on benchmarks for procurement decisions now see their comparison data obsolete. Hardware reviewers must re-benchmark all CPUs and GPUs to create new databases. PC builders can’t compare new hardware reviews to older Cinebench 2024 scores—the numbers simply aren’t comparable. After two decades of accumulated data, the industry faces a hard reset.
New SMT Core Test Reveals Thread Efficiency
Cinebench 2026 introduces the first mainstream test dedicated to measuring SMT (Simultaneous Multithreading) efficiency. The benchmark runs a single physical core with and without virtual threads active, producing an “MP Ratio” that quantifies threading overhead and benefits for the first time.
AMD research shows SMT provides a +22% average performance boost in multi-threaded workloads, but performance varies dramatically by workload type. CPU-bound tasks see +5% to +35% improvements. Computational workloads with minimal memory requirements can hit +60% gains. However, memory-bound workloads often perform worse with SMT enabled, and gaming typically shows 0% difference. The energy cost? Only ~2W additional CPU power consumption.
This test fills a critical gap in CPU evaluation. Previous benchmarks couldn’t isolate SMT benefits from overall multi-core performance. Consequently, buyers couldn’t determine whether Intel’s Hyper-Threading or AMD’s SMT implementation delivered better efficiency. The new test adds a dimension to hardware comparisons beyond core count—revealing which architectures make threading overhead worthwhile.
6x Workload Increase Reflects Hardware Evolution
The benchmark had to get harder. Modern consumer CPUs feature 16-32 cores compared to the 4-8 core processors that defined earlier benchmark workloads. Cinebench 2024 couldn’t adequately stress these modern multi-core beasts, making it difficult to differentiate between high-end CPUs.
Cinebench 2026 uses the latest Redshift rendering engine from Cinema 4D 2026 to create workloads that scale with contemporary hardware. The 6x increase in multi-threaded intensity ensures the benchmark stays relevant as upcoming 64-core consumer chips hit the market. Additionally, improved thermal solutions and more efficient power delivery in modern systems necessitate harder tests to reveal performance ceilings.
For IT departments, this means more accurate performance-per-dollar calculations. The previous benchmark’s inability to differentiate between premium CPUs made ROI calculations less reliable. The new baseline provides clearer distinctions, helping justify budget decisions with objective data that reflects real Cinema 4D rendering performance.
Next-Gen Hardware Support Ships Day One
Timing matters in benchmarking. Cinebench 2026 launched with day-one support for Nvidia’s Blackwell GPUs (RTX 5000 series), AMD’s RDNA4 (Radeon 9000 series), Apple M4/M5 chips, and Windows ARM64 platforms. The release came just before CES 2026, aligning perfectly with major hardware announcements.
This enables hardware journalists to benchmark new GPUs immediately upon launch. Early adopters can verify that Blackwell and RDNA4 cards perform as advertised. Cross-platform testing becomes straightforward—comparing Windows (x86/ARM) to Apple Silicon on the same benchmark eliminates variables. System requirements remain modest: 6.5-8.5GB RAM for CPU tests and 8GB+ VRAM for GPU benchmarks.
Key Takeaways
- Score incompatibility is permanent: Cinebench 2026 creates a new baseline that can’t be compared to previous versions. Existing benchmark databases need complete rebuilding.
- SMT test adds critical dimension: For the first time, users can measure threading efficiency directly. The +22% average boost hides workload-specific variation from -10% to +60%.
- 6x harder workload scales with modern CPUs: The benchmark now adequately stresses 16-32 core processors and future-proofs for upcoming 64-core chips.
- Free download, immediate availability: Get Cinebench 2026 from Maxon’s website. Run the SMT test to see how your CPU’s threading implementation compares.
- Industry reset, not just an update: Every hardware evaluation reference point just changed. IT procurement, hardware reviews, and PC building decisions all start from zero.
The benchmark industry standard just made 20 years of comparison data obsolete—and that’s exactly what modern hardware demanded.
