MTK6577 with PowerVR SGX531 Ultra Screen Resolution 3D Games Test

The GPU on the MTK6577 SoC is now standard on many Chinese phones, clones or originals alike. Here we take a look at how the SGX531 GPU performs at different screen resolutions running 3D games. It has been published that the MTK6577 SoC can drive a maximum of QHD resolution ( 540x960 ) but many manufacturers have paired the MTK6577 / SGX531 Ultra GPU with 720x1280 HD screens. Games tested are N.O.V.A. 3 and NFS (Need For Speed ) Most Wanted. Because these CPU/GPU are now the highest specced chips in the Chinese budget phone market, one needs to know which combination is best for their needs. For me, I seldom play games but I appreciate high resolution screens and productivity / utility software so hires large screens are what I need. This section will help you decide what kind of phone you need without breaking the bank and tearing a hole in your pocket. Watch the video to find out more...




My recommendations for  MTK6577 phones UNDER USD $200:

If you need fastest game performance and screen resolution is secondary, get the
HDC Galaxy S3 Plus ( click link to fastcardtech ), now discounted at $180 with Free Shipping to selected countries.

If you are an occasional game player and need balanced performance with QHD higher resolution, you have several options:
HDC Galaxy Note 2 at $192 with Free Shipping!
Neo NO2-M at $174 with Free Shipping! 1GB RAM!
Star Xperia TX at $170 with Free Shipping!
Newsmy Newman N1 at $185 shipping charges applies.

If you absolutely need highest resolution 720 HD screen and play less games:
HDC Galaxy S3 EX at $195 shipping charges apply. 1GB RAM!
UMI X1 at $199.99 shipping charges apply. 1GB RAM!

NEW GALAXY NOTE 2 EX on Fastcardtech

I spotted 2 new additions to the Galaxy Note 2 collection on fastcardtech this morning. There are now a total of 4 different versions on Fastcardtech now.  So to help buyers choose their phone, here is a breakdown of the differences.

1) HDC Galaxy Note 2

This version is the one that I have and very happy with it.
It is a 512mb version and this phone is now on super promo at $179 with free shipping (11dec) to several countries.
This is identical to a Zopo ZP900S or Zopo ZP900 Lite and the ROM can also be used on this phone as I am using now. Build quality is top notch. Zopo promises Jelly Bean update sometime later.

I have made a video review earlier here on youtube. Watch here
Click here to view or buy the phone from Fastcardtech.

2) HDC Galaxy Note 2 EX (extreme version)

This version is identical to the version above except that it has 1GB RAM and that is the reason Fastcardtech appended the EX to the name. I can confirm that they are identical as the microphone is on the left of the USB port and the USB port hole is on the metal bezel and both power button and volume rocker on the right side of the phone. This is identical to the Zopo ZP900 Leader and can also use the Zopo ZP900 Leader ROM. Jelly Bean is promised from Zopo. Advertising on the website showing android version 4.1.1 is wrong. This has Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich or ICS. This phone cost more at $239 also with free shipping to some countries. Again, view my video to find out more here 
Please browse this phone or buy it here at Fastcardtech. Pics below.

3) HDC Galaxy Note Plus

I do not have experience with this model but it should work fine. Performance should be similar to the other MTK6577 dual core phones. This phone has the shape closer to the real Samsung Galaxy Note 2 as you can see that the top of the phone is straight and the back camera and LED flash has the same design and position of the Original Note 2. The home button is shaped like the real thing as well. Since I do not have this phone I do not know the stability of the firmware or camera performance. RAM is 512mb and price is $199. Shipping charges apply.
Browse or buy it here at Fastcardtech.


4) HDC Galaxy Note 2 Pro

Finally we have the Galaxy Note 2 Pro version. I really don't know what is so Pro about this. Probably because of the 1gb ram version which did not materialize. Processor is the same MTK6577 so performance should be similar to the other phones. Firmware stability and camera is unknown as I do not have this phone. This phone has a very pronounced curve at the top and looks very much like the Galaxy S3. Rear camera, LED flash and speaker grille has the same design as the galaxy S3. To me, this looks like a giant version of the Galaxy S3. RAM is also 512mb. Price is $199 with free shipping to selected countries. Browse or buy the phone here at Fastcardtech.

Recommendations:
I highly recommend no. 1) Galaxy Note 2 because of the high quality build, stable rom and fairly good quality camera. Price is reasonable with free shipping. Get it here. HDC Galaxy Note 2

I would also like to recommend the 1GB version even though the price much higher. For those who want all the good qualities of the original HDC Galaxy Note 2 and 1GB Ram for faster operation, you can get it here at $239 with free shipping to selected countries. Get it here. HDC Galaxy Note 2 EX

UPDATE: Thanks to a reader that pointed out to me that fastcardtech has another 2 models that I may have missed.

5) HDC Galaxy Note 2 S7100
This seems to be running a real version of Jelly Bean with QHD screen and 1gb of ram but only 5mp camera. Will order this soon to review...update: received this today. Real Jelly Bean and real 5.32 inch almost IPS screen but lacking camera quality. Go ahead and order this. (10 dec 2012)review coming soon.

6) HDC Galaxy Note 2 N7100
This seems to be dubious and I do not recommend buying this until things are clarified. The size of the phone seems to be too small for a 5.4 inch LCD screen and the weight is 120gm. The lightest phones are already 130-150gm and definitely not 5.3 inch. This phone looks tempting due to it's 1GB ram and full HD 720p screen. The Antutu info shows the processor running at 1.6ghz which is impossible for a MTK6577 processor. Also there are pictures of just the Antutu screen captures and no real pictures of the phone itself. I downloaded a png picture file which I believe is a direct screen grab and the size is exactly 540x960 which is QHD only. The S3 EX with real 720 screen did have the Antutu screen grab at full 720x1280. Download and check to see what I mean. All pictures are generic and copied from the S7100 model. Buy at your own risk. UPDATE: Nothing has changed on the site. I still will not recommend this. 4th December 2012
UPDATE(10 DEC 2012):This is the same phone as the S7100. I ordered the S7100 and has the label N7100 under the battery (phone arrived today). Could be a fake 720p screen modified in build.prop software.

GPS FIX for your phone based on your country

Below is a list of servers to fix the GPS of your MTK6577 phones. You will need to be rooted to fix your GPS if it can't lock

Using Root explorer or other applications browse to /system/etc/gps.conf
Edit it and set any of the following servers based on your individual location.

For more details you may visit the link provided.

http://www.pool.ntp.org/zone/@

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Global — pool.ntp.org

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Europe — europe.pool.ntp.org
Asia — asia.pool.ntp.org
Oceania — oceania.pool.ntp.org
North America — north-america.pool.ntp.org
South America — south-america.pool.ntp.org
Africa — africa.pool.ntp.org

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Europe — europe.pool.ntp.org

Austria — at.pool.ntp.org
Switzerland — ch.pool.ntp.org
Germany — de.pool.ntp.org
Denmark — dk.pool.ntp.org
Spain — es.pool.ntp.org
France — fr.pool.ntp.org
Italy — it.pool.ntp.org
Luxembourg — lu.pool.ntp.org
Netherlands — nl.pool.ntp.org
Norway — no.pool.ntp.org
Poland — pl.pool.ntp.org
Sweden — se.pool.ntp.org
Slovenia — si.pool.ntp.org
United Kingdom — uk.pool.ntp.org
Finland — fi.pool.ntp.org
Ireland — ie.pool.ntp.org
Russian Federation — ru.pool.ntp.org
Belgium — be.pool.ntp.org
Portugal — pt.pool.ntp.org
Greece — gr.pool.ntp.org
Hungary — hu.pool.ntp.org
Bulgaria — bg.pool.ntp.org
Romania — ro.pool.ntp.org
Czech Republic — cz.pool.ntp.org
Yugoslavia — yu.pool.ntp.org
Estonia — ee.pool.ntp.org
Belarus — by.pool.ntp.org
Slovakia — sk.pool.ntp.org
Ukraine — ua.pool.ntp.org
Lithuania — lt.pool.ntp.org
Macedonia — mk.pool.ntp.org
Moldova — md.pool.ntp.org
Latvia — lv.pool.ntp.org
Croatia — hr.pool.ntp.org
Republic of Serbia — rs.pool.ntp.org
Bosnia and Herzegovina — ba.pool.ntp.org
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Asia — asia.pool.ntp.org

Philippines — ph.pool.ntp.org
Malaysia — my.pool.ntp.org
Turkey — tr.pool.ntp.org
Singapore — sg.pool.ntp.org
India — in.pool.ntp.org
Hong Kong — hk.pool.ntp.org
United Arab Emirates — ae.pool.ntp.org
Japan — jp.pool.ntp.org
Bangladesh — bd.pool.ntp.org
Israel — il.pool.ntp.org
Korea — kr.pool.ntp.org
Thailand — th.pool.ntp.org
Iran — ir.pool.ntp.org
Taiwan — tw.pool.ntp.org
China — cn.pool.ntp.org
Indonesia — id.pool.ntp.org
Vietnam — vn.pool.ntp.org
Pakistan — pk.pool.ntp.org
Oman — om.pool.ntp.org
Uzbekistan — uz.pool.ntp.org
Sri Lanka — lk.pool.ntp.org
Kyrgyzstan — kg.pool.ntp.org
Cambodia — kh.pool.ntp.org
Qatar — qa.pool.ntp.org
Saudi Arabia — sa.pool.ntp.org

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oceania — oceania.pool.ntp.org

Australia — au.pool.ntp.org
New Zealand — nz.pool.ntp.org
New Caledonia — nc.pool.ntp.org

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

North America — north-america.pool.ntp.org

Canada — ca.pool.ntp.org
United States — us.pool.ntp.org
Mexico — mx.pool.ntp.org
Guatemala — gt.pool.ntp.org
Panama — pa.pool.ntp.org
Bahamas — bs.pool.ntp.org
Costa Rica — cr.pool.ntp.org
El Salvador — sv.pool.ntp.org

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

South America — south-america.pool.ntp.org

Brazil — br.pool.ntp.org
Chile — cl.pool.ntp.org
Argentina — ar.pool.ntp.org
Venezuela — ve.pool.ntp.org

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Africa — africa.pool.ntp.org

Tanzania — tz.pool.ntp.org
South Africa — za.pool.ntp.org
Angola — ao.pool.ntp.org
Madagascar — mg.pool.ntp.org

HDC Galaxy Note 2 Quardrant Standard Scores and Dual Sim operation

On Fastcardtech there are 2 similar phones called the

1) HDC Galaxy Note 2

and the

2) HDC Galaxy Note 2 Pro

The HDC Galaxy Note 2 Pro was supposed to have a 1gb RAM option but that has now been removed. Both phones actually have similar 5.3 inch screens and not the misleading 5.4 or 5.5 inch screens. This makes the 2 phones very similar. The advantage of course goes to the original Galaxy Note 2 because I have been using it for more than a month now and have been very happy with it. This phone is also identical to Zopo ZP900 Lite and is being supported and a promised Jelly Bean update from Zopo. The rear of both phones are different. A user on Youtube requested Quadrant scores so here are the screen captures I did today.

And the screen capures below shows the phone with dual Sim in operation. I was in Vietnam so Google Now detected my location.