Pro overclocker Ronaldo Buassali, working together with GALAX published a video in which he shows a way to apply altered driver settings shortly prior to the actual benchmark run. This results in false higher end scores. The issue is not isolated to the 3DMark suite.

Pretty much most benchmark software used in competitions, like the hwbot, can be cheated on, as videocardz notes today. Basically, the idea is (and as always it's a simple one) that you can apply different driver settings right before the benchmark actually starts.

Explained in simple wording: you start the benchmark, then you need to wait a while before the benchmark actually runs right? In that timeframe, you can lower image quality settings, since the driver and quality validation stage already have completed. This simple trick makes it possible to gain a better/higher score. Ronaldo made a video demonstrating the procedure and effect, he gains a normal total score of 12638 and graphics score of 13278 in Time Spy. By applying the settings he increased the score to 12951 / 13800. Software from Futuremark’s, Unigine’s and Allbenchmark’s (Catzilla) benchmarks all seem to be affected.

Albeit it is far-fetched and would be really unprofessional to apply, this trick could mean the difference between winning and losing in benchmark competitions in which money is made. Have a peek at the video (please do enable captions as it is in Portuguese).

Professional overclocker finds a way to cheat benchmarks like 3DMark TimeSpy