MacInTouch has posted an interesting performance comparison of the eMac G4, iBook G4 and iMac G5.
With several of Apple’s low-midrange computers in hand, we decided to compare performance using our standard benchmark test suite, finding surprising speed in the new eMac and iBook G4 models. For perspective, we compared results with iMac G5 and iBook G3 tests, as well as a RAID-equipped Power Mac G5.
We used Mac OS X 10.3 “Panther” for these tests. In general, we tested at millions of colors and default settings for most things. The processor setting – located in Preferences > Energy Saver > Options – can make a big difference in computers that offer the option: laptop computers and G5 systems. We suggest keeping it at the default “Automatic” setting in general, but you can get more performance by setting it to “Highest”, at the cost of more heat (and fan noise) and shorter battery life.
We evaluated journaling vs. non-journaled disk volumes and found surprisingly little difference between the two, although it probably should be disabled for the highest performance. We also found little difference in having AirPort turned on or off, and we typically keep a firewall enabled, which should have little effect on performance.
Running other applications, however, can affect test results, so we tried to run only the benchmark application by itself.
Click through to MacInTouch for the results.
MacInTouch has posted an interesting performance comparison of the eMac G4, iBook G4 and iMac G5.
With several of Apple’s low-midrange computers in hand, we decided to compare performance using our standard benchmark test suite, finding surprising speed in the new eMac and iBook G4 models. For perspective, we compared results with iMac G5 and iBook G3 tests, as well as a RAID-equipped Power Mac G5.
We used Mac OS X 10.3 “Panther” for these tests. In general, we tested at millions of colors and default settings for most things. The processor setting – located in Preferences > Energy Saver > Options – can make a big difference in computers that offer the option: laptop computers and G5 systems. We suggest keeping it at the default “Automatic” setting in general, but you can get more performance by setting it to “Highest”, at the cost of more heat (and fan noise) and shorter battery life.
We evaluated journaling vs. non-journaled disk volumes and found surprisingly little difference between the two, although it probably should be disabled for the highest performance. We also found little difference in having AirPort turned on or off, and we typically keep a firewall enabled, which should have little effect on performance.
Running other applications, however, can affect test results, so we tried to run only the benchmark application by itself.
Click through to MacInTouch for the results.
