Image Quality
We will be providing additional image quality results in our mATX roundup that will provide in-game and Blu-ray screenshots, but for now here are a few samples that we collected during our recent testing.
Our first image quality test consists of playing back House of Flying Daggers utilizing Windows Media Player 11. We also used PowerDVD 7 and WinDVD 8 with basically the same results.
We think the 690G and G965 provide the best overall picture with the 6150 just not producing an image with the same color and detail as the other platforms. Utilizing the PureVideo application resulted in a slightly better picture but still behind the 690G and G965. Overall, we tend to think the G965 had the best picture quality during playback but your mileage will vary.
Our second image quality test consists of playing back a Windows WMV-HD clip from the Fighter Pilots DVD utilizing Windows Media Player 11. We also tested with WinDVD 8 and it generated similar results.
We believe the 690G and G965 once again provide the best overall picture quality; the 6150 produces an image that is clear but without the color saturation of the other two alternatives. These results could be considered a toss up depending on personal preferences. We tend to think the G965 has the best picture quality although it took a lot of long stares for our opinion to be formed on the subject. We think the pilot's harness was slightly sharper in the G965 picture thus swaying our opinion.
Our final image quality test consists of playing back a Windows .AVI clip from our encoding tests utilizing Windows Media Player 11. We also tested with WinDVD 8 and PowerDVD 7 with both generating similar results. The results from the encoding process from the AVI to WMV file format will be provided shortly. It is near impossible to capture the image at the exact same point with Windows Media player but the images in this test group are very close to being identical.
When reviewing these images we firmly believe the G965 has the best overall image from both a color saturation and picture detail viewpoint. The 690G and 6150 produce an almost equal image that but we think the clarity in the 6150 images give it an edge.
In our video playback tests we believe the G965 had the best picture quality of our solutions with the 690G performing equally in most cases and the 6150 trailing behind. Intel touted the G965's Clear Video Quality at product launch and from all indications this technology has made a difference, at least in our limited testing to date.
We will be providing additional image quality results in our mATX roundup that will provide in-game and Blu-ray screenshots, but for now here are a few samples that we collected during our recent testing.
Our first image quality test consists of playing back House of Flying Daggers utilizing Windows Media Player 11. We also used PowerDVD 7 and WinDVD 8 with basically the same results.
 690G - Click to enlarge |
 G965 - Click to enlarge |
 6150 - Click to enlarge |
We think the 690G and G965 provide the best overall picture with the 6150 just not producing an image with the same color and detail as the other platforms. Utilizing the PureVideo application resulted in a slightly better picture but still behind the 690G and G965. Overall, we tend to think the G965 had the best picture quality during playback but your mileage will vary.
Our second image quality test consists of playing back a Windows WMV-HD clip from the Fighter Pilots DVD utilizing Windows Media Player 11. We also tested with WinDVD 8 and it generated similar results.
 690G - Click to enlarge |
 G965 - Click to enlarge |
 6150 - Click to enlarge |
We believe the 690G and G965 once again provide the best overall picture quality; the 6150 produces an image that is clear but without the color saturation of the other two alternatives. These results could be considered a toss up depending on personal preferences. We tend to think the G965 has the best picture quality although it took a lot of long stares for our opinion to be formed on the subject. We think the pilot's harness was slightly sharper in the G965 picture thus swaying our opinion.
Our final image quality test consists of playing back a Windows .AVI clip from our encoding tests utilizing Windows Media Player 11. We also tested with WinDVD 8 and PowerDVD 7 with both generating similar results. The results from the encoding process from the AVI to WMV file format will be provided shortly. It is near impossible to capture the image at the exact same point with Windows Media player but the images in this test group are very close to being identical.
 690G - Click to enlarge |
 G965 - Click to enlarge |
 6150 - Click to enlarge |
When reviewing these images we firmly believe the G965 has the best overall image from both a color saturation and picture detail viewpoint. The 690G and 6150 produce an almost equal image that but we think the clarity in the 6150 images give it an edge.
In our video playback tests we believe the G965 had the best picture quality of our solutions with the 690G performing equally in most cases and the 6150 trailing behind. Intel touted the G965's Clear Video Quality at product launch and from all indications this technology has made a difference, at least in our limited testing to date.
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SignalPST - Tuesday, March 6, 2007 - link
I'm interested in this topic as well.Then again, I still waiting for them to come out with a HDMI sound card.
StriderGT - Wednesday, March 7, 2007 - link
Unfortunately there are lots of us who are still waiting for a true HDMI PC audio solution. You can check the thread I started with many technical details for that matter here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=79...">http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=79...Patrese - Tuesday, March 6, 2007 - link
Great review, thanks... I know I asked that a couple times already, but is there a mATX roundup planned here at AT? I'd like to see the Asus M2NPV-VM and Abit NF-M2 NView compared with its 690G counterparts, as this segment makes for most of the computer sales on most places? BTW, weren't you plaged by memory compatibility issues with the M2NPV-VM oe any of the boards tested? This Asus board showed extremely picky on my experience...Gary Key - Wednesday, March 7, 2007 - link
The roundup is scheduled on the 19th, trying to pull it in. What BIOS and memory are you using on the M2NPV-VM, so far I have not run into any real issues except with 2GB modules. The abit board is one of my favorites so far. ;)Patrese - Tuesday, March 6, 2007 - link
There shouldn't be a question mark at the end of the "most sales" phrase... There are also a couple typos, sorry about that. Where's the edit button anyway? ;)RamarC - Tuesday, March 6, 2007 - link
i don't really understand the point of comparing chipsets/motherboards between processor families. subsystem performance figures can show glaring deficiencies but otherwise it really boils down to a cpu comparison. the "media/audio encoding" and "media performance" sections are certainly cpu-centric. and pitting a $230 x2 5200+ against a $185 e6300 winds up handicapping the intel contestant. shouldn't the $222 e6400 have been used instead?Gary Key - Tuesday, March 6, 2007 - link
As stated in the article, AMD is marketing the AM2 and 690G/V as a platform design to compete against the G/Q965 and Core 2 Duo solution. The 690G is targeted to the multimedia, HTPC, home/office, casual gaming crowd and was tested as such. We looked at the total price of a base Core 2 Duo and decent G965 board and then matched the processor choice that would come closest to the price and performance of the Intel offering while meeting the platform cost. Our tests were chosen based upon the target audience for each platform in the home environment. This was not a review of office level machines as the Q965/963 and 690V are targeted to the business user.JarredWalton - Tuesday, March 6, 2007 - link
The conclusion mentions that the G965 + E6300 costs around $300 compared to $315 for the 690G + 5200+ (or 6150 + 5200+), so it's more or less a fair "equivalent price" platform comparison. The E6400 ends up being faster than the E6300, but still slower in a few tests (as the text mentions) and even faster in those tests where E6300 already holds the lead. Nothing new there - we've pretty much beat the "Core 2 Duo is faster" drum to death. We feel anyone looking at 690G is going to be interested in the platform as a whole much more than whether or not it is faster than equivalently price Core 2 offerings.mostlyprudent - Tuesday, March 6, 2007 - link
There may be too many variables, but perhaps you could come up with a way to normalize the benchmarks. For instance, run the gaming tests first with ultra high-end graphics to try and isolate the performance delta for each plattofrm/cpu combo you will test with. Then run the game benchmarks with the IGP solutions and adjust the scores based on the previous tests. Just a thought off the top of my head.asliarun - Tuesday, March 6, 2007 - link
Ah, but you're evaluating a chipset here, not a platform or a system solution. Having said that, I agree that it IS difficult to compare chipsets that are targeted for different CPUs. In such a case, a better way to evaluate might be to take an AMD and an Intel CPU that is similar in performance (not in price), and use them to compare their corresponding chipsets. That would highlight the differences between the chipsets. You could always mention the price alongside, or do a separate price/performance comparison alongside.My point is that a price/performance comparison should complement a pure performance comparison, not the other way around.