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Test Configuration
This review of the PowerColor Evil KYRO marks the first time ever that 2 test systems have been used to benchmark a product here at OnePC. In the past, our pool of hardware was quite limited; therefore, only allowing us to assemble one test system. Now that OnePC has grown considerably, our hardware pool is considerably larger; therefore, allowing us to use multiple test systems in our reviews.
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Configuration |
| Video |
PowerColor Evil KYRO
PowerColor PowerGene GeForce2 MX
PowerColor PowerGene GeForce2 GTS
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| Operating System |
Microsoft Windows ME (4.90.3000) |
| Special Drivers |
VIA 4-in-1 Pack (4.24) for VIA chipsets
NVIDIA Detonator 3 Reference drivers (6.31) for NVIDIA cards
KYRO Reference drivers (4.12.01.1544-1.00.02.0163) for the Evil KYRO
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| Software |
3DMark2000 1.1 (build 340)
Quake 3: Arena (Point-Release 1.17)
Unreal Tournament (v.4.32)
VillageMark 1.1
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All tests were run on a clean installation of Windows ME with all drivers installed. No other programs were left running in the background while tests were running, no screen savers or power saving features were configured and the mouse was left still for the entire duration of the benchmark.
Driver Issues
Like all new products, the KYRO had some pretty serious driver problems pertaining to compatibility issues. Usually, compatibility issues only arise on non-Intel chipset & processor solutions, such as the AMD and VIA combo we've now gotten so used to seeing, but the KYRO actually had some problems with our High-End test system, which was, ironically, based around Intel's 815E chipset and an Intel Pentium III 1GHz processor, while it ran perfectly flawless on our AMD and VIA combo.
The problem was that, quite frequently, 3D applications (3DMark2000 and VillageMark) and games (Quake 3: Arena and Unreal Tournament) would lock up after being run once or twice. Windows did not lock up and CTRL + ALT + DELETE worked, but the 3D application just failed to continue running. I did not find a way around this so, when I was benchmarking the Evil KYRO on the High-End test system I would have to live with constant crashes.
I even took the liberty to ask the technical support staff at PowerColor regarding this problem, but they informed me that the drivers included on the included driver CD are the newest ones around.
 On to: 3DMark2000 Results
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