Discrete HTPC GPU Shootout
by Ganesh T S on June 12, 2011 10:30 PM ESTFor the purpose of HTPC reviews (in particular, HQV benchmarking for discrete GPUs), we have set up a dedicated testbed with the following configuration.
| HTPC Benchmarking Testbed Setup | |
| Processor | Intel i5-680 CPU - 3.60GHz, 4MB Cache |
| Motherboard | ASUS P7H55D-M EVO |
| OS Hard Drive | Seagate Barracuda XT 2 TB |
| Secondary Drive | Kingston SSDNow 128GB |
| Memory | G.SKILL ECO Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) F3-10666CL7D-4GBECO CAS 7-7-7-21 |
| Video Cards | Various |
| Optical Drives | ASUS 8X Blu-ray Drive Model BC-08B1ST |
| Case | Antec VERIS Fusion Remote Max |
| Power Supply | Antec TruePower New TP-550 550W |
| Operating System | Windows 7 Ultimate x64 |
| . | |
This is the same configuration that we had for evaluating the GT 430 last fall. Windows 7 was updated to SP1, but that has little bearing on our HTPC benchmarks.
Each hardware configuration has an associated OS image which was created / restored as necessary using Clonezilla. This ensures that we do not end up with conflicting drivers while evaluating GPUs from different companies on the same base testbed. Read on for the results from benchmarking the four candidates with the HQV clips
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enki - Monday, June 13, 2011 - link
How about a short conclusion section for those who just use a Windows 7 box with a Ceton tuner card to watch hdtv in Windows Media Center? (i.e. will just be playing back WTV files recorded directly on the box)What provides the best quality output?
What can stream better then stereo over HDMI? On my old 3400 ATI card it either streams the Dolby Digital directly (the computer doesn't do any processing of the audio) or can output stereo (doesn't think there can be more then 2 speakers connected)
Thanks
BernardP - Monday, June 13, 2011 - link
The inability to create and scale custom resolutions within AMD graphics drivers is, for me, a deal-breaker that keeps me from even considering AMD graphics. It will also keep me from Llano, Trinity and future AMD Fusion APU's. I'll stay with NVidia as long as they keep allowing for custom resolutions.My older eyes are grateful for the custom 1536 X 960 desktop resolution on my 24 inch 16:10 monitor. I couldn't create this resolution with AMD graphics drivers.
bobbozzo - Tuesday, June 14, 2011 - link
In your case, you should just increase the size of the fonts and widgets instead of lowering the screen res.Assimilator87 - Tuesday, June 14, 2011 - link
I wish there was a section dedicated to the silent stream bug. I have a GTX 470 hooked up to an Onkyo TX-SR805 and this issue is driving me insane. For instance, does this issue only plague certain cards or do all nVidia suffer from it? I was hoping the latest WHQL driver (275.33) would fix this, but sadly, no. Otherwise, the article was amazing and I'll definitely have to check out LAV Splitter.ganeshts - Tuesday, June 14, 2011 - link
The problem with the silent stream bug is that one driver version has it, the next one doesn't and then the next release brings it back. It is hard to pinpoint where the issue is.Amongst our candidates, even with the same driver release, the GT 520 had the bug, but the GT 430 didn't. I am quite confident that the GT 520 issue will get resolved in a future update, but then, I can just hope that it doesn't break the GT 430.
JoeHH - Tuesday, June 14, 2011 - link
This is simply one of the best articles I have ever seen about HTPC. Congrats Ganesh and thank you. Very informative and useful.bobbozzo - Tuesday, June 14, 2011 - link
Hi, Can you please compare hardware de-intelacing, etc., vs software?e.g. many players/codecs can do de-interlacing, de-noise, etc. in software, using the CPU.
How does this compare with a hardware implementation?
thanks
ganeshts - Tuesday, June 14, 2011 - link
This is a good suggestion. Let me try that out in the next HTPC / GPU piece.CiNcH - Wednesday, June 15, 2011 - link
Hey guys,here is how I understand the refresh rate issue. It does not matter weather it is 0.005 Hz off. You can't calculate frame drops/repeats from that. In DirectShow, frames are scheduled with the graph reference clock. So the real problem is how much the clock which the VSync is based on and the reference clock in the DirectShow graph drift from each other. And here comes ReClock into play. It derives the DirectShow graph clock from the VSync, i.e. synchronizes the two. So it does not matter weather your VSync is off as long as playback speed is adjusted accordingly. A problem here is synchronizing audio which is not too easy if you bitstream it...
NikosD - Thursday, June 16, 2011 - link
Nice guide but you missed something.It's called PotPlayer, it's free and has built-in almost everything.
CPU & DXVA (partial, full) codecs and splitters for almost every container and every video file out there.
The same is true for audio, too.
It has even Pass through (S/PDIF, HDMI) for AC3/TrueHD/DTS, DTS-HD. Only EAC3 is not working.
It has also support for madVR and a unique DXVA-renderless mode which combines DXVA & madVR!
I think it's close to perfect!
BTW, in the article says that there is no free audio decoder for DTS, DTS-HD.
That's not correct.
FFDShow is capable of decoding and pass through (S/PDIF, HDMI) both DTS and DTS-HD.
And PotPlayer of course!