ASRock CoreHT 252B Review

Video post processing aspects such as skin tone correction and denoising are part of the HQV 2.0 benchmark. However, it is cadence detection which forms a major part of the tested aspects. Deinterlacing is closely tied with cadence detection. Although deinterlacing, by itself, is not stressed in the HQV 2.0 benchmark, it is very important for the end users.

In contrast to the performance of the Core 100, the CoreHT 252B manages to ace all the HQV 2.0 cadence detection tests.

Film Mode Detection Off	Film Mode Detection On

2:2 Cadence Detection Test Stream from the HQV 2.0 Benchmark

Film Mode Detection Off	Film Mode Detection On

2:3:2:3 Cadence Detection Test Stream from the Spears & Munsil Test Disc

Despite handling these test streams properly, the GPU fails at localized cadence detection for scrolling text on the video. This is reflected in the HQV benchmark score also. As the GPU takes its time to lock on to the local cadence (the scrolling text and the video do not have the same cadence), the text appears shredded for quite some time at the start.

Scrolling Text Shredding (HQV 2.0 Benchmark Clip)

In order to determine the deinterlacing capabilities, we took the standard Cheese Slices clip and put it through the CoreHT 252B. The interlaced H.264 version was played back using DXVA (MPC-HC / EVR-CP / Microsoft DTV-DVD Decoder). For this clip, we compare the quality of deinterlacing with the Core 100 and Vision 3D. The Zino 410 would made a good comparison point. Unfortunately, the Zino review unit is longer in our hands.

Deinterlacing - Video Reference

CoreHT 252B	Core 100	Vision 3D

Deinterlacing - Cheese Slice Ticker

CoreHT 252B	Core 100	Vision 3D

Deinterlacing - Noise Response

CoreHT 252B	Core 100	Vision 3D

Deinterlacing - Algorithm Type

CoreHT 252B	Core 100	Vision 3D

Deinterlacing - Disc Test

CoreHT 252B	Core 100	Vision 3D

It is quite clear that the deinterlacing quality of Intel HD Graphics 3000 is not as good as the GT 425M in Vision 3D. However, it does show some improvement over the Intel HD Graphics in the Core 100.

Moving on to real life streams, we compare the CoreHT 252B and the Vision 3D with respect to the playback of the boat sequence from the Spears & Munsil test disc.

CoreHT 252B	Vision 3D

Edge Adaptive Deinterlacing Test Stream from the Spears & Munsil Test Disc

In this stream which tests edge adaptive deinterlacing, there is actually nothing to choose inbetween the GT 425M and the Intel HD Graphics 3000. The nature of the ropes around the sail is almost exactly the same. Before moving on to the next section, we have to note that the AMD Radeons remain the GPUs to beat when it comes to deinterlacing quality.