Radeon HD 5450 Review: HTPC Heaven?

Testing Methods

As always we've aimed to test the systems in likely, real-world scenarios that integrated graphics would be used for. We manual played the games and recorded the FPS using FRAPS 3.03, preferring to use games and a 1,280 x 800 resolution likely used by HDTVs and scaled down from mainstream, widescreen TFT sizes: 19in to 21in.

For the video playback testing, we used h.264 clips, trailers and Blu-ray discs, in popular paid-for and free softwares, to measure CPU usage and power consumption in all the platforms. During these tests, the PSU listed below was replaced with a 350W Enermax Eco80 in order to represent a typical, low power and budget ATX PSU that could be paired with these PCs. We also used an Iiyama 21in FullHD (1,920 x 1,080) monitor with HDCP (over DVI) in the Blu-ray playback tests.

PCs Tested:

AMD

• ATI Radeon HD 5450 512MB
  
• AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition: 3.1GHz (15.5x200MHz), 2 core, 2 thread.
  
• 4GB DDR3 1,333MHz SPD settings
  
• MSI 785G-E65 with 128MB 1,333MHz GDDR3 Sideport Memory (500MHz Radeon HD 4200 IGP, 2.4 BIOS)



Intel

• Intel Core i5-661: 3.33GHz (25x133MHz), 900MHz Intel GMA HD IGP, 2 core, 4 thread, TurboBoost Enabled
  
• Intel Core i3-530: 2.93GHz (22x133MHz), 733MHz Intel GMA HD IGP, 2 core, 4 thread.
  
• 4GB DDR3 1,333MHz SPD settings
  
• Gigabyte GA-H55M-UD2H motherboard (F5m BIOS)

Nvidia

• Intel Core 2 Duo E8500: 3.16GHz (9.5x333MHz), 2 core, 2 thread.
  
• 4GB DDR2 800MHz at SPD settings
  
• DFI LANParty Jr. GF9400-T2RS (GeForce 9400 IGP at 580MHz/1,400MHz, 421 BIOS)

Common Components

• Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB hard disk
  
• PC Power and Cooling Silencer 750W PSU
  
• Windows 7 Home Premium x64
  
• Intel 15.16.5.64.2021 WHQL
  
• GeForce Driver 196.21 WHQL
  
• ATI Catalyst 9.12 WHQL
  
• ATI Catalyst 8.69 RC3 (Jan 14th)