Finally, we see CPU utilization being stressed in software DVD playback (the main concern nowadays). To round the performance testing off, encoding is also put to the test.
Performance tests also constitute 40% of the final score.
3) Features - The last order of business is to test miscellaneous features such as overlay scaling, de-interlacing, blitter function and video port capabilities.
Feature makes up 20% of the final score.
Now that we've gone through the lengthy explanation of the benchmark and most of the relevant terms, we can present the cards that were tested and the settings used.
In an attempt to represent the largest possible audience, we decided to use an Intel Pentium III 600MHz CPU. It's also important to note that the cards were each tested with the software DVD decoder that was included in their retail package (with the exception of the Matrox G400 Max, which would crash upon running the Decoding tests).
Test System
- Processor: Intel Pentium III Coppermine 600Mhz
- Memory: 128MB PC100 SDRAM
- Motherboard: Abit BF6
- Hard Drive: Western Digital 5.1 GB HDD
- Sound Card: Creative Labs Live! Value
- OS: Windows 98 SE with DirectX 7
Video Cards
- 3dfx Voodoo3 3000 PCI (1.04.00) / Intervideo WinDVD
- ATi Rage Fury Pro (6.31 CDH40A) / ATi DVD Player 3.2.0.1
- ATi Rage Fury MAXX (6.32 CD39) / ATi DVD Player 3.2.0.1
- Diamond Viper II (4.12.01.9002-9.10.21) / Zoran SoftDVD
- Matrox G400 Max (5.50.010) / Intervideo WinDVD
- NVIDIA GeForce 256 DDR (3.68) / Intervideo WinDVD