ASRock Vision 3D 252B HTPC Review

Name: ASRock Vision 3D 252B HTPC
Brand: ASRock

by Marco Chiappetta — Wednesday, August 01, 2012, 10:50 AM EDT

To test video decode and playback capabilities of ASRock Vision 3D 252B HTPC, we played back a 1080p H.264-encoded QuickTime clip, along with 1080p Blu-ray movie content, a 1080P MKV file, and HD Flash video (along with just about every other file type). We then fired up Windows Task Manager take a look at CPU utilization in all instances.

HD Video Playback and CPU Utilization

HD Video Decode Performance

Playback of every file type we threw at the ASRock Vision 3D was virtually flawless. We have been using the machine both in the lab and in a home theater environment for literally months and there hasn't been a single file or type of media the machine couldn’t handle. CPU utilization was low with every file we tested, including 3D Blu-Ray discs and Flash video, and the quality of the video output to both a desktop monitor or Samsung 3D HDTV was nothing short of excellent.

The ASRock Vision 3D HTPC also handled all of the 3D content we had available perfectly. 3D Photos, video clips, live streaming from the web, Blu-Ray discs, and games all worked as they should. This is a testament to the work NVIDIA has put in to ensure a good 3D experience for end users with their 3D Vision and 3DTV Play technologies.

Tags: Nvidia, Intel, Blu-ray, HTPC, 3D, ASRock

Marco Chiappetta

Marco's interest in computing and technology dates all the way back to his early childhood. Even before being exposed to the Commodore P.E.T. and later the Commodore 64 in the early ‘80s, he was interested in electricity and electronics, and he still has the modded AFX cars and shop-worn soldering irons to prove it. Once he got his hands on his own Commodore 64, however, computing became Marco's passion. Throughout his academic and professional lives, Marco has worked with virtually every major platform from the TRS-80 and Amiga, to today's high end, multi-core servers. Over the years, he has worked in many fields related to technology and computing, including system design, assembly and sales, professional quality assurance testing, and technical writing. In addition to being the Managing Editor here at HotHardware for close to 15 years, Marco is also a freelance writer whose work has been published in a number of PC and technology related print publications and he is a regular fixture on HotHardware’s own Two and a Half Geeks webcast. - Contact: marco(at)hothardware(dot)com