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 evaluate 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.
Nvidia GT 420 | |
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
|
3 |
Roller Coaster
|
3 |
Ferris Wheel
|
3 |
Bridge Traffic
|
3 |
Text Pattern/ Scrolling Text
|
3 |
Roller Coaster
|
3 |
Ferris Wheel
|
5 |
Bridge Traffic
|
5 |
Luminance Frequency Bands
|
5 |
Chrominance Frequency Bands
|
5 |
Vanishing Text | 5 |
Resolution Enhancement
|
15 |
Theme Park
|
5 |
Driftwood | 2 |
Ferris Wheel
|
3 |
Skin Tones
|
7 |
Total | 179 |
This system achieves a total score of around 180 points which is good, delivering a high level of image quality. The GT 420 however isn't the best discrete card for image quality and a move to a higher model within the Nvidia range would improve this further.
Good timing, I was looking at one of these a few days ago for the missus.
Looks ideal for a family as review says. Inexpensive, and Core i3. Dont think many people would need one of these for gaming duties.
Fair review. Core i3 seems great. I want to get a new laptop with a core i3 in it. ive an older core duo system and its starting to feel a bit long in the tooth
Looks like a family machine to me, not really for a gamer at all. SHame they didnt do a version with a bundled monitor. I think people might expect a screen on the config tool
THe plain black one looks best IMO. not into the colored gimmicky stuff.
I wish Dell would use better power supplies instead of their own poorly branded models. even an entry level thermaltake or something
These are nice little systems but people like me aren’t ever really impressed with pricing of something like this that I can build for the same price or at least slightly cheaper. I also wish that Dell would just add a couple of pounds to the tag and put a decent PSU and some memory heatspreaders on this thing. A lot of people that will be purchasing a system usually keep a computer quite a long time because it fits their very limited computing needs. Longevity seems like it should be at the forefront of design but perhaps that’s just my thought.
Bought an Inspiron 620 MT less than 3 months ago. Had motherboard replaced twice (wouldn’t power up), hard drive replaced (return to depot) and video card (HDMI port not working following ‘repair’) All data gone and I now have to set up from scratch again. This has no WiFi as standard and no option to have it added! I am getting very frustrated with Dell after nearly 10 yrs of having used desktops and laptops.
I am looking to update my Inspiron 530, I only use it for emails and “Photoshop” work, would the 620 and St2220 monitor be a reasonable combination?
Dave Norris
Seems like a good price now and for what you need, it would be fine. Just make sure you get a reasonable amount of memory installed, depending on how heavy your photoshop work is.