iLounge

The XBench test results for eight Mac OS X computer configurations are shown below. Six of the configurations are Mac mini computers with different amounts of RAM. Two are high-end PowerBook G4 computers, one running under typical, unoptimized conditions, the other optimized for maximum benchmark performance. All tests except “PowerBook 1.5Ghz 1GB RAM” were run at 1024x768 resolution. The 1.5Ghz 1GB RAM test results were taken from the peak performing 1.5GHz PowerBook listed on the comparisons page at XBench.com.

Higher scores are better. A score of 100 on any test shows equivalent performance to a dual-processor G4 Macintosh that was touted by Apple as 83 percent faster on Adobe Photoshop than a 1.7GHz Pentium 4 Windows PC. In every case except disk speed, the lowest-priced Mac mini configuration was over 11% faster than that reference machine, and frequently upwards of 30% faster. More expensive Mac mini configurations show 25% to 75% performance increases. As such, even the cheapest Mac mini will likely represent a performance improvement for low-end PC users who have not upgraded over the last several years.

The results also broadly suggest that an increase of Mac mini RAM from 256MB to 512MB yields a noticeable performance increase for both CPU-intensive tasks and regular use of a Mac mini’s user interface, regardless of clock speed. Mac minis use slower hard disks than the PowerBooks and therefore had lower disk speeds.

In many cases, the Mac minis outperformed the unoptimized PowerBook 1.5Ghz machine in the benchmarks despite lower CPU clock speeds; however, an ideally optimized PowerBook can outperform all competitors by some margin. For reference, a well-oiled but not perfect PowerBook will score closer to the 150 mark overall, and will not see the dramatic performance jumps indicated in the User Interface and Disk Test sections below.

Overall Score

Overall Score reflects the cumulative results of seven major tests of system performance (and their associated sub-tests), as broken down below.

Model		Processor		Memory		Time (seconds)
Mac mini		1.25Ghz		256MB		114.36
Mac mini		1.25Ghz		512MB		116.01
Mac mini		1.25Ghz		1GB		116.12
Mac mini		1.42Ghz		256MB		144.99
Mac mini		1.42Ghz		512MB		144.60
Mac mini		1.42Ghz		1GB		145.30
PowerBook		1.5Ghz		512MB		115.21 (unoptimized)
PowerBook		1.5Ghz		1GB		182.43 (best measured)

CPU Test

CPU Test consists of five tests that collectively measure one processor running one application with different sorts of math processes.

Model		Processor		Memory		Time (seconds)
Mac mini		1.25Ghz		256MB		137.60
Mac mini		1.25Ghz		512MB		151.97
Mac mini		1.25Ghz		1GB		152.59
Mac mini		1.42Ghz		256MB		161.67
Mac mini		1.42Ghz		512MB		172.25
Mac mini		1.42Ghz		1GB		169.04
PowerBook		1.5Ghz		512MB		116.82 (unoptimized)
PowerBook		1.5Ghz		1GB		180.97 (best measured)

Thread Test

Thread Test uses two tests to simulate multiple applications or a single application running multiple processes at once. Shows dramatic benefits on a machine with multiple processors, which none of the test machines here have.

Model		Processor		Memory		Time (seconds)
Mac mini		1.25Ghz		256MB		111.06
Mac mini		1.25Ghz		512MB		112.16
Mac mini		1.25Ghz		1GB		126.95
Mac mini		1.42Ghz		256MB		124.95
Mac mini		1.42Ghz		512MB		124.22
Mac mini		1.42Ghz		1GB		122.97
PowerBook		1.5Ghz		512MB		114.31 (unoptimized)
PowerBook		1.5Ghz		1GB		131.82 (best measured)

Memory Test

Memory Test includes seven tests to show computer’s ability to perform memory operations, measuring memory bandwidth.

Model		Processor		Memory		Time (seconds)
Mac mini		1.25Ghz		256MB		131.25
Mac mini		1.25Ghz		512MB		131.46
Mac mini		1.25Ghz		1GB		132.89
Mac mini		1.42Ghz		256MB		132.20
Mac mini		1.42Ghz		512MB		130.01
Mac mini		1.42Ghz		1GB		135.63
PowerBook		1.5Ghz		512MB		123.42 (unoptimized)
PowerBook		1.5Ghz		1GB		137.65 (best measured)

Quartz Graphics Test

Five tests of the Quartz Graphics system challenge the machine’s graphics card, memory bandwidth, CPU, and floating point capabilities at once.

Model		Processor		Memory		Time (seconds)
Mac mini		1.25Ghz		256MB		136.73
Mac mini		1.25Ghz		512MB		160.83
Mac mini		1.25Ghz		1GB		155.63
Mac mini		1.42Ghz		256MB		173.55
Mac mini		1.42Ghz		512MB		179.39
Mac mini		1.42Ghz		1GB		175.79
PowerBook		1.5Ghz		512MB		137.54 (unoptimized)
PowerBook		1.5Ghz		1GB		278.85 (best measured)

OpenGL Graphics Test

A single test uses the graphics card and CPU together to determine 3D performance.

Model		Processor		Memory		Time (seconds)
Mac mini		1.25Ghz		256MB		111.56
Mac mini		1.25Ghz		512MB		111.26
Mac mini		1.25Ghz		1GB		113.35
Mac mini		1.42Ghz		256MB		121.92
Mac mini		1.42Ghz		512MB		123.11
Mac mini		1.42Ghz		1GB		120.11
PowerBook		1.5Ghz		512MB		106.86 (unoptimized)
PowerBook		1.5Ghz		1GB		117.09 (best measured)

User Interface Test

The single UI Test shows a system’s performance in drawing "standard system controls." Again, the graphics card and CPU are tested.

Model		Processor		Memory		Time (seconds)
Mac mini		1.25Ghz		256MB		213.02
Mac mini		1.25Ghz		512MB		217.16
Mac mini		1.25Ghz		1GB		217.56
Mac mini		1.42Ghz		256MB		219.97
Mac mini		1.42Ghz		512MB		227.79
Mac mini		1.42Ghz		1GB		222.73
PowerBook		1.5Ghz		512MB		181.60 (unoptimized)
PowerBook		1.5Ghz		1GB		300.64 (best measured)

Disk Test

Four disk tests together show typical throughput to the hard disk and seek time of the drive. A less fragmented, empty drive does better than a full and/or fragmented one.

Model		Processor		Memory		Time (seconds)
Mac mini		1.25Ghz		256MB		56.97
Mac mini		1.25Ghz		512MB		57.38
Mac mini		1.25Ghz		1GB		57.25
Mac mini		1.42Ghz		256MB		63.01
Mac mini		1.42Ghz		512MB		60.89
Mac mini		1.42Ghz		1GB		62.83
PowerBook		1.5Ghz		512MB		75.72 (unoptimized)
PowerBook		1.5Ghz		1GB		393.55 (best measured)

Next: Ask iLounge 1-27-05

Previous: Belkin's clandestine iPod accessory design force, revealed

If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.

Name:

Email:

Remember my personal information

Subscribe to this discussion. We'll update you whenever new comments are added.

This is to help us deter automated comment spamming.
Please type the characters exactly as you see them in the image below:

What's new at iLounge? Subscribe to iPodweek!
Each week we giveaway three (3) iTunes Gift cards.