INDEPENDENT HARDWARE INTELLIGENCE
Sources & data policy
Hardware Benchmark is designed around traceable data. The preferred source for a product specification is the manufacturer. Independent benchmark evidence is kept conceptually separate from specifications.
| Data | Preferred evidence |
|---|---|
| Model, launch, cores, clocks, memory, socket, power | Manufacturer product/specification documentation |
| Gaming / creation performance | Repeatable independent benchmark evidence |
| Derived indices | Documented calculation from cited evidence |
| Unknown / conflicting data | Shown as pending rather than guessed |
Source hierarchy
Hardware Benchmark uses a layered evidence model. Manufacturer documentation remains the primary authority for product specifications. Reputable independent references may be used for discovery and cross-checking where primary documentation is incomplete or difficult to locate, particularly for historical hardware. Independent benchmark evidence is assessed separately from specification data and is not automatically converted into Hardware Benchmark scores, rankings or winner claims.
| Source tier | Role |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer documentation | Primary specification authority and preferred verification source |
| Independent specification references | Secondary discovery and cross-check evidence where primary documentation is incomplete or unavailable |
| Independent benchmark evidence | Workload-specific performance evidence used only where methodology and products are sufficiently comparable |
| Conflicting or unsupported values | Flagged for verification or left pending; never silently guessed |
Where a secondary source contributes a value, provenance should identify the supporting evidence rather than presenting the field as manufacturer-verified.
Reference vs partner cards
Reference GPU specifications and board-partner card specifications are not interchangeable. Factory overclocks, connectors, dimensions and power limits can vary, so exact variants should become distinct records where those differences matter.
Corrections
The database is expanded by verification. Exact product identities may remain searchable while individual fields are incomplete, but unsupported values stay pending and are never presented as verified specifications.