When we published our examination results for the new Core 2 Duo - powered MacBook Pros , we kept hear the same feedback from reader in our assembly : These number equate the Core Duo and Core 2 Duo MacBook Pros are great and all … but how do these newfangled machines compare to PowerPC models ?
It ’s a good point . After all , if you ’re mull over an upgrade to one of the newMacBook Pros , you really are n’t potential to be calculate to replace a absolutely satisfactory Core Duo model you bought less than a year ago . Rather , the laptop proprietor see to upgrade will , more often than not , be doing so from a PowerBook or iBook . So course , they ’d be interested in knowing how the MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo ’s carrying out criterion up — especially when it come to applications programme that do n’t yet run natively on Intel - found Macs . Will there be a public presentation hit when using the Rosetta emulation technology ? Or will the boost in processor performance from the Core 2 Duo make an upgrade worthwhile ?
We took that feedback to heart when publish our MacBook Core 2 Duo benchmarks a week ago . As you’re able to see from the tabular array included with that clause — and reprinted again in the MacBook Core 2 Duo review — we include trial result for the 15 - inch PowerBook G4/1.67GHz and a 1.42GHz iBook G4 . Hopefully , that afford PowerPC - based laptop possessor some frame of reference when it comes to gauge how much of an improvement a Core 2 couple - based portable offers .
Ah , but that addresses just likely MacBook buyers — what about people contemplating a Core 2 Duo - based MacBook Pro . Well , we did admit a 2.16GHz MacBook Pro in our MacBook bench mark board . But just to make things even more clear for mass enquire how the recent MacBook Pro update compare to last PowerPC - based laptops , here are the MacBook Pro - specific solution unwrap out alongside comparable PowerPC systems .
MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo vs. PowerPC-Based Laptops
right effect inbold . Reference system initalics .
Speedmark 4.5 scores are comparative to those of a 1.25GHz Mac miniskirt , which is assigned a score of 100 . Adobe Photoshop , Cinema 4D XL , iMovie , iTunes , and Zip Archive scores are in minute : seconds . All systems were running Mac OS X 10.4.8 with 1 GB of RAM ( except where remark ) , with processor performance set to Highest in the Energy Saver preference pane when applicable . The Photoshop Suite run is a set of 14 scripted tasks using a 50 MB file . Photoshop ’s memory was set to 70 percent and History was set to Minimum . We record how long it took to render a scene in Cinema4D. We used Compressor to encode a 6minute:26second DV single file using the videodisc : Fastest Encode 120 minute – 4:3 setting . ( The test would not establish on the iBook ; hence , the score of “ n / a. ” ) In iMovie , we utilise the ripened video upshot to a 1 - second movie . We converted 45 minute of AAC audio files to MP3 using iTunes ’ High Quality setting . We used Unreal Tournament 2004 ’s Antalus Botmatch mean - frames - per - moment score ; we tested at a resolution of 1,024 by 768 pixels at the Maximum setting with both sound recording and graphics enable . We create a Zip archive in the Finder from a 1 GB folder . To compare Speedmark 4.5 scores for various Mac systems , visit our Apple Hardware Guide .—MACWORLD LAB examination BY JAMES GALBRAITH , BRIAN CHEN , AND JERRY JUNG
And of course , as I write this , the last of the Core 2 duet upgrades — the 17 - inch MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo/2.33GHz — has arrived at Macworld Lab . Look for our test resultant role next week , just as presently as we emerge from our turkey - cause comatoseness .
