Why only Intel is used testing GPU’s?

[gosh]

Intel is dominating the market for PC so it isn’t strange that most of the computers used when reviews are made for new video cards are using Intel processors. But even if Intel is dominating AMD exists.
Why does these review sites ONLY use Intel when they test video cards? Have anyone seen a site using AMD when they test video a new video card?

[Conumdrum]

Methinks it's because the Intel CPU's are faster? It really doesn't matter when the GPU is the subject.
And I don't need to get into a fanboi issue.

[gosh]

Methinks it's because the Intel CPU's are faster? It really doesn't matter when the GPU is the subject.
And I don't need to get into a fanboi issue.

But all those that have AMD are probably interested in how the video card performs their computers. Don't you think this is strange?

[Linchpin]

Most websites usually use 1 test setup which usually has the most popular current parts, so think a couple of years back, everything used to be reviewed on an A64 setup. Doing tests on AMD and Intel systems = twice the work and the differences aren't exactly going to be huge. A review is meant to give you an idea of how an item performs not tell you exactly how it will perform in your particular system.

[gosh]

Most websites usually use 1 test setup which usually has the most popular current parts, so think a couple of years back, everything used to be reviewed on an A64 setup. Doing tests on AMD and Intel systems = twice the work and the differences aren't exactly going to be huge. A review is meant to give you an idea of how an item performs not tell you exactly how it will perform in your particular system.

I understand that but when you read reviews they really look the same. Have you seen one then you have seen them all. On a consumer perspective and also to make the review more interesting in contrast to others it is strange that none is doing this.

[Zehnsucht]

I understand that but when you read reviews they really look the same. Have you seen one then you have seen them all. On a consumer perspective and also to make the review more interesting in contrast to others it is strange that none is doing this.

Thank GOD for consistency! How could you ever choose what GPU to shop for if ten reviews completely contradicted each other? Reading several reviews with similar test setups gives you a good average, since there are always samples which perform less (and more) than others.

[gosh]

Thank GOD for consistency! How could you ever choose what GPU to shop for if ten reviews completely contradicted each other? Reading several reviews with similar test setups gives you a good average, since there are always samples which perform less (and more) than others.

You mean that is necessary to read 10(?) reviews in order to know how the card performs.

[Linchpin]

Ideally you'd want to read as many as possible since all reviewers test different games at different settings and I also usually look at how the card benifits from overclocking as well as how well it overclocks. In my opinion reading just one review and rushing out to buy a product is not wise. Besides you can't expect them to review the same card on low-end, mid-range and high-end systems as well as cover everything in between as well as review on both AMD and Intel, doing one proper review is hard and time consuming enough.

[Zehnsucht]

I just took a random number, but yes, I always crawl the internet for every review I can find if I'm buying something.

It's also nice to know that the test systems are well above average, which results that only the GPU powers are pitted against each other, ideally factoring out any other hardware limitations. The last statement of course does not hold when benchmarks are performed in lower resolutions, as CPU speed starts to limit.

[Eldonko]

Does it matter? If it is good on an Intel platform it will also be good on AMD. I know that is generalizing but still. People dont review on AMD platforms simply because most use Intel so they want to appeal to the masses.

But all those that have AMD are probably interested in how the video card performs their computers. Don't you think this is strange?

[deathman20]

I'd have to agree I'd like to see more AMD benchmarks on the current hardware out there. Just to get a feel for what the speed difference is between the 2 systems if anything. Be nice to find out thats for sure. Could care less whats the best and whats the worst, if the sites take a little extra time and toss an AMD setup in there for comparison sake at least.

[dunn2953]

it doesnt really matter, if a GTX280 is 20% faster than an HD4870 on intel it will be on AMD too

[deathman20]

it doesnt really matter, if a GTX280 is 20% faster than an HD4870 on intel it will be on AMD too

In terms of Crossfire or SLI definatly not, it could be alot different. Even if the CPU is bottlencking the single card there could be a huge difference between the 2.

[alexio]

Once my Phenom 9950 arrives I'll do some extensive testing. AMD has the better platform (for anything but extreme overclocking) and Intel has the best CPUs. It will be interesting to compair HD4870 XFire

[Pressure]

I believe they try not to be limited by how much data the processor can feed to the graphic card, hence selecting the currently fastest product available to them.

It makes sense. Making a review with a slower processor would make the newer graphic cards starving for data.

They are, afterall, testing how fast the graphic card is in a non-constrained environment and not how fast the processor is.

[tweaked]

I believe they try not to be limited by how much data the processor can feed to the graphic card, hence selecting the currently fastest product available to them.

It makes sense. Making a review with a slower processor would make the newer graphic cards starving for data.

They are, afterall, testing how fast the graphic card is in a non-constrained environment and not how fast the processor is.

Exactly!

They use the faster CPU available to prevent the tests from becoming a CPU benchmark.

When testing a new device you don't want the cpu to limit you and give a false representation of a GPU's true performance.

[Glow9]

Yeah Corvette should really do a run with a Vtec 2.0L that'll show us what it can do around the track.
Same kinda concept.

[Willhub]

Thank GOD for consistency! How could you ever choose what GPU to shop for if ten reviews completely contradicted each other? Reading several reviews with similar test setups gives you a good average, since there are always samples which perform less (and more) than others.

I think alot of reviews do show different results, once you have seen one you have not seen them all