Benchmark Suite
Our current Android test line-up comprises six key sections: CPU, Web, GPU, GPGPU, Display and Battery.
HTML5 And JavaScript Benchmarks | JSBench, Peacekeeper 2.0, WebXPRT 2013 |
|---|---|
CPU Core Benchmarks | AnTuTu X (Anti-Detection), Basemark OS II Full (Anti-Detection), Geekbench 3 Pro (Anti-Detection), MobileXPRT 2013 |
GPU Core Benchmarks | 3DMark (Anti-Detection), Basemark X 1.1 Full (Anti-Detection), GFXBench 3.0 Corporate |
GPGPU Benchmarks | CompuBenchRS |
Display Measurements | Brightness(Min/Max), Black Level, Contrast Ratio, Gamma, Color Temperature, Color Gamut (sRGB/AdobeRGB) |
Battery Tests | Basemark OS II Full (Anti-Detection), BatteryXPRT 2014, GFXBench 3.0 Corporate |
Test Methodology
All handsets are benchmarked on a fully updated copy of the device's stock software. The table below lists other common device settings that we standardize to before testing.
Bluetooth | Off |
|---|---|
Brightness | 200 nits |
Cellular | SIM card removed |
Display Mode | Device Default (nonadaptive) |
Location Services | Off |
Power | Battery |
Sleep | Never (or longest available interval) |
Volume | Muted |
Wi-Fi | On |
Furthermore, for browser-based testing on Android, we employ a static version of the Chromium-based Opera in order to keep the browser version even across all devices. Due to platform restrictions, Safari is the best choice for iOS-based devices, while Internet Explorer is the only game in town on Windows RT.
Comparison System Specs
We’ll be pitting the Shield Tablet and its Tegra K1 SoC against an assortment of tablets, big and small, and new and old. As the Shield Tablet’s predecessor, the EVGA Tegra Note 7 with Tegra 4 SoC will demonstrate Nvidia’s progress. Since we don’t have benchmark results for the iPad Mini with Retina Display, a closer competitor to the 8-inch Shield Tablet, we’ll use the iPad Air running Apple’s A7 SoC instead. The Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014) Wi-Fi represents Samsung’s Exynos 5 Octa 5420, while the Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014) LTE uses the popular Qualcomm Snapdragon 800. Finally, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 805 MDP reference tablet will showcase the performance of Qualcomm’s highest-performing SoC.
The table below contains all the pertinent technical specifications for today’s comparison units:
Products
Pricing
Operating System
Google Android 4.4.2
Google Android 4.2.2
Google Android 4.4.2 w/Samsung TouchWiz UI
Google Android 4.4.2 w/Samsung TouchWiz UI
Google Android 4.4
Apple iOS 7.1
SoC
Nvidia Tegra K1
Nvidia Tegra 4 (T114)
Samsung Exynos 5 Octa (5420)
Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 (MSM8974AA)
Qualcomm Snapdragon 805
Apple A7
CPU Core
ARM Cortex-A15 (4+1 Core) @ 2.2 GHz
ARM Cortex-A15 (4 Core) @ 1.8 GHz
ARM Cortex-A15 (4 Core) @ 1.9 GHz + ARM Cortex-A7 (4 Core) @ 1.3 GHz
Qualcomm Krait 400 (4 Core) @ 2.26 GHz
Qualcomm Krait 450 (4 Core) @ 2.7 GHz
Apple Cyclone (2 Core) @ 1.3 GHz
GPU Core
Kepler (192 Core)
Nvidia GeForce ULP (72 Core) @ 672 MHz
ARM Mali T628MP6 (6 Core) @ 600 MHz
Qualcomm Adreno 330 (32 ALU) @ 450 MHz
Qualcomm Adreno 420
Imagination PowerVR G6430 (4 Cluster) @ 200 MHz
Memory
2 GB
1 GB LPDDR3
3 GB LPDDR3
3 GB LPDDR3
3 GB LPDDR3
1 GB LPDDR3
Display
8-inch IPS @ 1920x1200 (283 PPI)
7-inch IPS @ 1280x720 (441 PPI)
10.1-inch TFT @ 2560x1600 (299 PPI)
10.1-inch TFT @ 2560x1600 (299 PPI)
10.06-inch IPS @ 2560x1440
9.7-inch IPS @ 2048x1536 (264 PPI)
Battery
19.75 Watt/Hour (Non-removable)
4100 mAh (Non-removable)
8220 mAh (Non-removable)
8220 mAh (Non-removable)
3400 mAh (Removable)
8820 mAh (Non-removable)
The two Nvidia powered devices should bracket the GPU performance results, but how close will Adreno 420 be to Tegra K1? Apple’s A7 should still dominate the single-core CPU benchmarks, but the higher clocked -A15 cores in Tegra K1 are expected to close the performance gap.
- The Nvidia Shield Tablet And Controller: Defending Against Boredom
- Availability, Options And Accessories
- Shield Tablet: Look And Feel
- Shield Controller: Look And Feel
- Software Tour
- Stylus And Inking
- Console Mode And GameStream
- Grid, ShadowPlay And Twitch
- The Games
- Benchmark Suite, Methodology And System Specs
- Results: CPU Core Benchmarks
- Results: HTML5 And JavaScript Benchmarks
- Results: GPU Core Benchmarks
- Results: GPGPU Benchmarks
- Results: Display Measurements
- Results: Battery And Throttling
- A Multifaceted Shield Worth Carrying Into Battle
Lol this is epic! xD
Anyway, great and unique review. Especially for the so many GPGPU benchmarks.
Nvidia tablet at $299 seems to be a great buy.
I know people are excited about the raw performance of this tablet. But, other than raw GPU power, EVERYTHING else is compromised.
-matt64
After clarifying this with Nvidia, only the press kits included the cable. The retail boxes do NOT include the HDMI cable. I'm sorry for the confusion and we'll update the article to correct this.
-matt64
P.S.
How is the heat on the thing after a few hours in warm weather?
Heat can cause lock ups (as you will know); but maybe its a software thing that will be ironed out.
I was hoping it would be smoothe and excellent; but I knew it would get hot. Too slim you see. Look at the PS Vita as comparrison. Chunky and cool.
The heat was not an issue I was thinking about when I mentioned a design flaw for gaming (I have a neat solution for).
Although the heat issue did give me the idea for a slot on the back of the unit (maybe magnetic) to put 6mm thick (30mm diameter) frozen metal wafers in located on the back near the CPU/GPU housing, so that it can drop the heat off a bit during an hours play. You get a kit of two or three or somthing; keep one in the freezer and swop them.
Nobody plays them all day do they?
For general browsing, should not be required; but when you start pushing the graphics, they be pretty handy on a hot day.
My Terga 4 smartphone has automatically shut itself down due to overheating itself a hundred times in summers in the Far East..
10,000 ideas.
nice.