 Blu-Ray Disc HD Playback |
|
|
The PCSTATS Blu-Ray HD content playback test scenario monitors average CPU
utilization. Lower CPU utilization values are best, provided video playback
remains smooth and stutter free. IGP platforms output video to an ASUS
MK241 wide screen 1920x1200 (1080P) resolution LCD display via HDMI
cable. The Blu-Ray movie "10,000 BC" (VC1 encrypted) is then played
back from Chapter 22 on an ASUS BC-1205PT Blu-ray combo drive, using WinDVD Platinum software and the average fluctuation of CPU
load recorded. Lower results are better.
 Blu-Ray Content Playback
Tests (BR-DVD) |
| Integrated Graphics Solution: |
% CPU Utilization |
Ranking |
| Intel GMA X4500HD |
32 - 38% |
   |
 AMD HD 4290 |
6 - 11% |
   |
| AMD HD 4200 |
7 - 10% |
   |
| AMD HD 3300 |
6 - 14% |
|
| Nforce 750a |
18 - 20% |
| |
Under testing we found that Blu-Ray playback wasn't
a huge tax on the AMD 89GX chipset, as anticipated.
| Hard Drive HD 720p/1080i
Playback |
|
|
Playing high definition content on current
generation PCs can bog down even the fastest processors because there is more
data to handle. To test the integrated graphics processor's capabilities at HD
content accelerating capabilities, we played the High Definition video clip,
"The Discoverers" at 720P and 1080i from the hard drive while monitoring the
percentage of CPU utilization through Task Manager. Lower results are
better.
Again,
CPU utilization here on the ASUS M4A89GTD-PRO/USB3 motherboard system is
minimal. High Definition video will have no problem playing back on this
hardware.
| ATI Stream - Hardware Encoding Acceleration
Test |
|
|
To test out hardware acceleration of the desktop under
ATI Stream, we used Cyberlink's MediaShow Espresso. It's a transcoding
program that can take advantage of both CPUs and GPUs in order to convert video
files from one format to another. MediaShow Espresso has a very simple interface
for adding new files and several transcoding presets to make it easy to get your
videos formatted properly. Using the HD trailer for Pixar's movie Up!, original file format being a 1920x1080
Quicktime.MOV file, encoded in H.264-avc1. MediaShow Espresso transcoded the
video into a 1080p mpeg-2 file.
This test is very CPU dependent, so comparisons are
between individual tests with and without hardware acceleration toggled on.
| Hardware |
Transcode Time |
| ASUS M4A89GTD-Pro / PII X4 955 BE (HD 4290 IGP, no
h/w acceleration) |
2:14 |
| ASUS M4A89GTD-Pro / PII X4 955 BE (HD 4290 IGP
h/w decoding enabled) |
2:12 |
| ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO / PII X4 955 BE (HD 4200 IGP,
no h/w acceleration) |
2:12 |
| ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO / PII X4 955 BE (HD 4200 IGP
h/w decoding enabled) |
1:49 |
As you can see, there was oddly very little change
between tests with and without hardware acceleration enabled. Being that PCSTATS
was testing with Beta 10.3 drivers at the time of this review, it's likely
that's the culprit at play...
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