Method

Labels

• VerifiedMeasured or checked on my own unit, under the conditions shown.
• InferenceMy reading of the data. I say so when that's what it is.
• UnverifiedMaker and press figures. They stay here until I've measured them.
• VerdictMy weighted buyer score for a video.
• PendingPlanned, or still running.

Protocol

Capture

CapFrameX records the frame data. HWiNFO64 logs the sensors with its own FPS counter switched off, so it doesn't clash with PresentMon. RTSS draws the overlay, and OBS records on a separate PC so encoding never runs on the device being tested.

Power

Power limits (SPL, SPPT and FPPT) are matched in each device's own software, then confirmed in HWiNFO64. Wall power is metered for every setup.

Conditions

Driver versions are locked and shown on camera. CPU boost is off for gaming runs, after an A/B check, except in CS2. Downloads and background tasks are paused while a run is measured, and FurMark always runs last.

Runs

A summary number only appears after three runs. Anything with fewer is marked provisional, with its run count. When two machines are compared in games, both run at the same time.

Upscaling

Internal render resolution is disclosed. If a game doesn't expose it, I say so instead of guessing.

Noise

Fan noise is measured in dBA with a calibrated microphone.

Money

I buy everything I review, and the opinions are my own. Every video description says so.