On Sunday, April 14, Square Enix released the benchmark tool for Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, a software used for testing whether your hardware has the specs to run the upcoming expansion, as well as test out some of the new graphical options and character creation features.
A companion to the Benchmark Trailer released the previous day, the benchmark has been FFXIV fans' first chance to see how the game will run with the new graphical upgrades. Here's how to get the benchmark yourself and experience your first peek into Dawntrail.
How to Download the FFXIV Dawntrail Benchmark
To download the FFXIV Dawntrail benchmark, simply head to the FFXIV Lodestone site and navigate to the official Dawntrail benchmark post. Download to your PC and extract the Zip file to your chosen location.
Using the FFXIV Dawntrail Benchmark
Extract and unpack the Dawntrail benchmark into its own folder, and then run the "ffxiv-dawntrail-bench" application. Once it’s loaded, you can immediately run the benchmark to test your hardware using the standard Warrior of Light (Meteor) model, or head to the character creator for some customization.
In the character creator you can import your saved character designs from FFXIV which should automatically be loaded as an option if you select “load appearance data.” You can also create and customize a new character, including the new female Hrothgar.
Once you’re happy with your character option, you can exit the character creator and head to the initial menu again. Either start up the benchmark immediately, or you can mess with the settings. Then, sit back and enjoy the sights of Dawntrail.
What’s a good score in FFXIV Dawntrail Benchmark?
Once you’ve completed the benchmark you’ll be awarded a score based on your computer’s performance. Below is a table of the results.
| Performance Score | Meaning |
| 15,000+ Extremely High Performance | Easily capable of running the game at its maximum settings. |
| 11,000-14,999 Very High Performance | Easily capable of running the game. Will run well at higher resolutions and at max settings. |
| 8,000-10,999 High Performance | Easily capable of running the game. |
| 6,000-7,999 Fairly High Performance | Can run the game, may need to run at a higher resolution. |
| 4,000-5,999 Standard Performance | Can run the game on default settings. |
| 2,000-3,999 Slightly Low Performance | Changes to settings recomended. |
| 1,000-1,999 Low Performance | Changes to settings required. |
| Under 1,000 Insufficient Performance | Cannot run the game. |
Ideally, your PC should be running the game at at least a Standard Performance level, otherwise you might run into issues as you play the game.
