Powerbook vs. Thinkpad speed testing.
Currently our work is done using Thinkpad laptops (T20, A31, T40p) and Clone
desktops, using WindowsXPPro, Windows2000, Linux Redhat 9 and
Linux Mandrake 10.
We are not very happy with the usability and cost of our equipment, Linux is
nice and fast but not quite there yet, and Windows is not always obvious,
Microsoft software is also not cheap ($1800 for Visual Studio???). There are
many reasons for and against using MacOSX as the main system, however, in
our case it removes a lot of distractions and completes the cross-platform
aspect of Happymakinggames. Office-style software is available free for
all platforms (Open
Office) so is not really a cost consideration, and in any case
Microsoft Office costs the same for Windows and MacOSX.
Adobe software costs the same on Windows and MacOSX, and there is
always
The Gimp, now at version 2, for free.
Before purchasing any new Apple equipment I decided to have a good look at the
machines. The Apple Center in Chatswood,
Maccentric, was kind enough to let me come in and test the Powerbooks.
So, armed with my Thinkpad T40p and a stopwatch, I timed a bunch of very
mundane tasks on a Powerbook 15" 1GHz and my T40p.
The results for each time test will be shown in the following format:
| Win mark |
System |
Time |
Notes |
The Tests.
Test 1: File copy times.
When the file copy times are very close, and in Window's favour the Mac will be
given the win due to it's significantly slower drive.
Copy 511MB MP3 files in various directories from USB2 5400rpm drive to internal drive.
 |
T40p WinXPPro |
00:00:55 |
5400RPM internal drive. |
 |
1GHz PB15 OSX |
00:00:48 |
4200RPM internal drive. |
Copy 508MB ZIP file from USB2 5400rpm drive to internal drive.
|
T40p WinXPPro |
00:00:44 |
5400RPM internal drive. |
|
1GHz PB15 OSX |
00:00:46 |
4200RPM internal drive. |
Copy 511MB MP3 files in various directories from internal drive to internal drive.
|
T40p WinXPPro |
00:01:05 |
5400RPM internal drive. |
|
1GHz PB15 OSX |
00:01:09 |
4200RPM internal drive. |
Copy 508MB ZIP file from internal to internal drive.
|
T40p WinXPPro |
00:01:14 |
5400RPM internal drive. |
|
1GHz PB15 OSX |
00:01:08 |
4200RPM internal drive. |
Copy 511MB MP3 files in various directories from internal drive to USB2 5400rpm drive.
|
T40p WinXPPro |
00:00:48 |
5400RPM internal drive. |
|
1GHz PB15 OSX |
00:00:52 |
4200RPM internal drive. |
Copy 508MB ZIP file from internal drive to USB2 5400rpm drive.
|
T40p WinXPPro |
00:00:46 |
5400RPM internal drive. |
|
1GHz PB15 OSX |
00:00:49 |
4200RPM internal drive. |
Copy 511MB MP3 files in various directories from USB2 5400rpm drive to the samedrive.
|
T40p WinXPPro |
00:02:12 |
|
|
1GHz PB15 OSX |
00:01:47 |
|
Copy 508MB ZIP file from USB2 5400rpm drive to the same drive.
|
T40p WinXPPro |
00:02:05 |
|
|
1GHz PB15 OSX |
00:01:40 |
|
Test 2: Sleep and Startup times.
Machine coming back up from sleep.
|
T40p WinXPPro |
00:00:08 |
To login prompt. |
|
1GHz PB15 OSX |
00:00:03 |
Less than 3s, I did not react fast enough. |
Boot time to usability.
|
T40p WinXPPro |
00:01:23 |
Auto login, calculator in startup menu. |
|
1GHz PB15 OSX |
00:01:19 |
To desktop with working finder session restored. |
Shutdown time.
|
T40p WinXPPro |
00:00:43 |
|
|
1GHz PB15 OSX |
00:00:10 |
|
Test 3: Converting Audio CDs to MP3.
"Amazing" by George Michael CD single
to MP3. Converting 3 track CD single at once.
|
T40p WinXPPro |
00:06:25 |
iTunes Import (Using MP3 256 VBR
quality=High Auto Auto J-Stereo/Smart).
|
|
T40p WinXPPro |
00:04:40 |
CDEX F9 (Using MP3 256 no VBR
quality=Very High Stereo).
|
|
1GHz PB15 OSX |
00:02:53 |
iTunes Import (Using MP3 256 VBR
quality=High Auto Auto J-Stereo Smart).
|
"Patience" by George Michael CD album
to MP3. Converting full CD album at once. For import settings
look at the blog entry where this
was first published. Added 7 June 2004, and updated with
Linux benchmark 26 June 2004.
|
T40p WinXPPro |
00:30:00 |
iTunes 4.5 |
|
T40p WinXPPro |
00:13:00 |
CDEX 1.5 |
|
1.33GHz PB17 OSX |
00:08:00 |
iTunes 4.5 |
|
LG (LM50-3 1.6GHz) Gentoo/KDE3.2 |
00:23:00 |
KDE's included ripper. (name?) Performed by
Daniel from www.burkeez.com.
|
This is an unbelievable result, the drives seem to be a
similar speed, the Thinkpad burned a CD slightly quicker. This
result indicates that iTunes for Windows is either
cripple-ware or badly written. CDEX is still slower than
the Mac taking 13 minutes instead of 8. Who in their right
mind would use iTunes on Windows to rip a CD?
Test 4: CD creation times.
Burn 312MB to CDR.
Updated with 1.5GHz time on 21-07-2004.
|
T40p WinXPPro |
00:07:26 |
2 Stage process: burn and verify. |
|
1GHz PB15 OSX |
00:10:22 |
3 Stage process: make ISO, burn then verify. If
stage 1 is removed the MacOSX wins since this took quite some time.
|
|
1.5GHz PB15 OSX |
00:06:57 |
2 Stage process: burn then verify. Test performed using
Path
Finder's burn function.
|
The CDR burn was done using whatever software the computer came installed
with. On the Thinkpad this is "RecordNow", on the Apple it's whatever
the OS has. I will probably add to this test using WindowsXP's built-in
method.
The 1.5GHz test was performed using Path Finder's burn function using a new model Superdrive. 29 second margin may be due to drive.
Test 5: Game comparison using UT2004 Demo.
UT2004 Demo, timedemo "assault".
|
T40p WinXPPro |
|
3762 frames in 229 seconds. |
|
1GHz PB15 OSX |
|
Less than half the framerate, cannot compete. |
|
1.33GHz PB17 OSX |
|
3762 frames in 354 seconds (added later). |
I do not quite understand why there is such a performance difference. The Apple
has faster RAM and better video chip. but does have a slower memory bus, and
probably lower integer performance due to the 1GHz CPU. The Thinkpad has a
1.6GHz CPU and a 400MHz bus. If anyone cares to
email me with possible reasons I will publish them un-edited.
Anyway, for people who want more in-depth information about the two CPUs there
are interesting articles about the PowerPC and PentiumM CPUs can be found
at
Ars Technica (look for PowerPC in main list and PentiumM in right-hand
sidebar).
Software issues could be a bad implementation of OpenGL on MacOSX or just a bad
port on behalf of the developer. I do not really know enough about MacOSX to
comment here really.
Test 6: Subjective usability test of
Logitech Bluetooth mouse MX900.
Bluetooth mouse, ease of use.
|
T40p WinXPPro |
6 Clicks |
Right-click My Bluetooth Places and
select Bluetooth Setup Wizard, select Next, scroll
down, select HID, then Next, Finish. Not
always successful which requires repetition.
|
|
1GHz PB15 OSX |
7 Clicks |
Open mouse options (Menu,
Preferences, Mouse), select Bluetooth, select Find Mouse, select
MX900, then Connect. The MacOS process is much more
logical and always works. Windows wins because it is 1 click less.
|
Bluetooth mouse, ease of use.
|
T40p WinXPPro |
|
Needs to be reconnected every time the computer comes out of sleep or is powered on.
Update and correction 17/04/2004: Changed security settings on T40p and now the mouse does not need to be reconnected each time.
|
|
1GHz PB15 OSX |
|
Gets automatically connected whenever the computer comes out of sleep or is powered on. |
|
