HQV Benchmark 2.0 Analysis – ATi, nVidia and Intel

Overview:
The first section is based around Video Conversion tests, followed up by a long series of Cadence related tests and lastly we get to examine colour upscaling errors.

Notes:
These tests stress the video processors ability to process data accurately, and is based around both stationary and moving elements within specific scenes. If the processing is high quality then the images will be rendered crisply and in a very clear manner. On the other hand, if the processing is poor then jaggies and artifacting will appear on the edges of moving objects.

Scoring:
In the first test, a long white, rectangular dial rotates inside the white outline of a graduated circle. To determine the quality of field interpolation we analyse the rotating dial and try to ascertain at which angle the long edges of the dial start to distort. The rule of thumb is that the lower the angle at which the distortion begins, the better the quality of field merging or field interpolation.

The ‘fail' image above details the rotating dial with jaggies and the ‘pass' image is almost perfect, with relatively smooth edges.

When we score this it is important to judge the midpoint of the dial and when exactly it begins to distort. This takes some time to analyse as it moves rather quickly and is difficult to judge correctly. The scoring below shows that there is only 5 degrees separating the top two scores. We ran this test for a long time on all the cards today to ensure we reported, as accurately as possible the correct results.

Dial (Score either 5, 4, 2 or 0)
Dial arm is smooth without artifacts above 5 degrees – Scores 5
Dial arm is smooth without artifacts above 10 degrees – Scores 4
Dial arm is smooth without artifacts above 20 degrees – Scores 2
Artifacts above 30 degrees – Scores 0

Most of the cards do well in this test, apart from the Intel GMA X4500, ATI HD4200 and nVidia G210. None of them reached what i would class as a perfect 5 degree result.

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