Synthetic testing - Rightmark

Right Mark Testing

Alright, let's focus on Right Mark 3DS tests, a fantastic measurement application to measure if the soundcard is cooked up what it is supposed to be.

Test system

• CPU: Intel C2D 4300 at stock speed.
• CPU1 affinity
• RAM DDR2-800 2 GB.
• GFX: NV GeForce GTX 260

Direct Sound 2D

Using my personal Database we can compare the latest cards that have been released for gaming audio comparisons.  The Xonar Essence STX uses the latest DS3D GX 2.5 drivers these are EAX emulation drivers.  The effectively intercept the direct sound EAX calls and translate them into effect calls that can be used by the Xonars DSP effects engine.

This first graph is comparing 3 Xonar cards to a Hardware DSP equipped Auzentech Prelude.

The data for the Xonar D2 was taken prior to the release of  the GX2.0 drivers so this would explain why the graphs indicates the card is so hard on the CPU as there was no driver optimizations or gaming audio routines of any kind aside from EAX 2.0 support.  The Xonar DX was tested with the GX 2.0 drivers so we can see the driver definitely improve the gaming audio atleast as far as CPU hit is concerned. 

The newest addition to my database is the Xonar Essence STX which is sporting brand spanking new GX 2.5 gaming drivers and we can see more optimizations as the new card tests better then the DX using GX 2.0 drivers.  The Auzentech Prelude 7.1 is of course ahead of the pack flexing its hardware DSP muscle and ruling this test.

Direct Sound 3D Hardware

We see very similar results for the direct sound 3D tests.  The original Xonar D2 tested with no GX drivers is quite hard on the system.  The Xonar DX tested with GX 2.0 drivers showing a very good drop in CPU utilization.  The newer driver easily show further optimizations that make the newer GX 2.5 a much lighter hit to your CPU atleast that is what the data shows.

The Auzentech Prelude is again leading the pack. We should also note that the STX only has 127 buffers through emulation.

Direct Sound 3D HW+EAX

Again the Essence STX shows the driver optimizations available through the latest GX drivers.

While the STX and Prelude look very close on our performance graph there is actually about a 5% difference which can be the dividing line between a game being playable or not.

These are synthetic tests them emulate a typical in game audio engine performing the listed task.  The Xonar Essence is using the Host systems CPU as it has software based effects.