HQV Benchmark 2.0 is an updated version of the original tool and it consists of various video clips and test patterns which are designed to evalute motion correction, de-interlacing, decoding, noise reduction, detail enhancement and film cadence detection.
There are two versions of the program, standard definition on DVD and high definition on Bluray. As our audience will be concentrating on HD content so will we.
This has a total of 39 video tests which is increased from 23 in the original and the scoring is also up from a total of 130 to 210. As hardware and software gets more complicated, the software has been tuned to make sure we can thoroughly maximise our analysis.
Read our initial analysis over here.
XFX HD6970 Black Edition |
|
Dial
|
4 |
Dial with static pattern | 5 |
Gray Bars | 5 |
Violin | 5 |
Stadium 2:2 | 5 |
Stadium 3:2 | 5 |
Horizontal Text Scroll | 5 |
Vertical Text Scroll | 5 |
Transition to 3:2 Lock | 5 |
Transition to 2:2 Lock | 0 |
2:2:2:4 24 FPS DVCAM Video
|
5 |
2:3:3:2 24 FPS DVCam Video
|
5 |
3:2:3:2:2 24 FOS Vari-Speed
|
5 |
5:5 FPS Animation
|
5 |
6:4 12 FPS Animation
|
5 |
8:7 8 FPS Animation
|
5 |
Interlace Chroma Problem (ICP)
|
5 |
Chroma Upsampling Error (CUE)
|
5 |
Random Noise: Sailboat
|
5 |
Random Noise: Flower
|
5 |
Random Noise: Sunrise
|
5 |
Random Noise: Harbour Night
|
5 |
Scrolling Text
|
5 |
Roller Coaster
|
5 |
Ferris Wheel
|
5 |
Bridge Traffic
|
5 |
Text Pattern/ Scrolling Text
|
5 |
Roller Coaster
|
5 |
Ferris Wheel
|
5 |
Bridge Traffic
|
5 |
Luminance Frequency Bands
|
5 |
Chrominance Frequency Bands
|
5 |
Vanishing Text | 5 |
Resolution Enhancement
|
15 |
Theme Park
|
5 |
Driftwood | 5 |
Ferris Wheel
|
5 |
Skin Tones
|
7 |
Total | 196 |
A very high level of image quality for the XFX HD6970 graphics card.
Great results. runs a bit hot in furmark, but it tends to push hardware to limits no game will. shame they didnt opt for a dual slot cooler like they used on their 6800 series.
We all know how good the HD6970 is, but why would they not do the full monty on this. If powercolor can do it, surely XFX can.
those temps are too high. if I see 90c with any card I panic. I liked their dual cooler system on their other cards, really helped drop the temps. Can they update this card later with a new cooler ?
When I saw the card on page 2 I was stunned. its a reference cooler with an XFX sticker! I dont mind this on release day, but months later? what a letdown.
Its worth paying extra for their warranty, as my card failed and they replaced it without a problem last year. I wouldnt pay for a reference AMD card without a new cooler as my mates 6970 runs higher than this after he flashed his bios.
How much extra is it? £20?
That is no Black Edition Card. The only thing slightly above average were the memory speeds. Come on XFX! You can do better than that!
It’s ironic isn’t it; XFX One of AMD’s leading partners got out classed By Powercolor. Seems Powercolor Grew some man junk overnight and XFX decided profit was more important than a good product.
A rather disappointing release from XFX really. 95c in furmark is very high.
It is really going to struggle against some of the very cool competiting cards from people like powercolor and asus.
I love the HD6970, but this card isn;t offering anything the reference design isnt. its easy to overclock to these speeds with all 6970s. so why pay for it.