Windows 7 - What are the proper methods for testing competing router firmwares?

I am about to enter a new world of router firmwares after I found out that the the Netgear firmware may not be the best I can do. I have heard of DD-WRT and Gargoyle as firmware developers and they both have versions which support my router. So my question is:

How should I go about testing each firmware to see one is better than the other?

Supported Devices - DD-WRT Wiki

Thanks for the link but I know my router is supported already. I was just wondering if people could recommend some tests I could run after each firmware is installed

RoloDman,
Hope this article from Brink helps.
Ultimate Router Guide: Optimize Security & Performance
THW

Hello JL. Found a couple of articles that may give you some ideas.

How We Test Hardware Routers - Revision 3 - SmallNetBuilder

Operative Software Products (Generates Network Traffic to test Switches, Routers and Firewalls)

Assuming there is a reason for you to consider after-market firmware, that would be your test measurement to compare.

If you are considering an aftermarket firmware to add features, then I would just run a speedtest.net run before and then after the switch to make sure your throughput wasn't hurt.

thanks to everyone