DECEMBER 18, 2002
Apple PowerBook 1 GHz G4
Notebook computer with DVD burner
 by David Nagel
Page 2 of 4

In fact, what you'll find on all of the latest PowerBooks, including the last generation, is a one-to-one performance ratio with the desktop counterparts, at least in terms of chip performance. In other words, you take a 1 GHz PowerBook G4 up against a single-processor 933 MHz G4 desktop, and the PowerBook wins. And with applications that aren't particularly mindful of multiple processors, you'll also see situations where the PowerBook actually exceeds--yes, exceeds--the performance of dual-processor desktop G4s. Want some proof? OK, here you go.

First, let's look at Adobe Photoshop 7. Now this is an application that isn't big on multiprocessor support, and so you'll see performance on the PowerBook measuring up quite well against its desktop counterparts. (Note that these tests are the same as the ones I run in all of my benchmark comparisons. You can find complete descriptions of these tests here.)[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Photoshop 7 Tests
(All results listed in seconds.)
PowerBook 1 GHz
Dual 1.25 GHz
Dual 1 GHz
Dual 867 MHz
Single 933 MHz
Test 1
9
6.5
8
10
9
Test 2
5.5
4
5
7
7
Test 3
85
61
75
95
88
Test 4
6
6
7
9.5
10
Totals
105.5
77.5
95
121.5
114


Note there that the PowerBook beats the pants off the dual 867 MHz desktop G4 and edges out the older single-processor 933 MHz G4. (Note also that it's precisely It's a little bit off the dual 1 GHz G4, likely owing to the display card, system bus and memory.

We see a similar situation as well with Adobe Illustrator, where, again, the PowerBook beats the dual 867 MHz and single 933 MHz G4 desktops and comes close to matching the performance of the desktop dual 1 GHz model.

Illustrator 10 Tests
(All results listed in seconds.)
PowerBook 1 GHz
Dual 1.25 GHz
Dual 1 GHz
Dual 867 MHz

Dual 1 GHz (PC133)
Single 933 MHz
Test 1
42
32
40
46
42
43
Test 2
12
12
14
18
16
17
Test 3
65
47
56
67
57
61
Totals
119
91
110
131
115
121


Moving into motion graphics, we see the margin start to slip a bit. But, nevertheless, with Adobe After Effects 5.5, the PowerBook is able to outrender both the dual 867 MHz and single 933 MHz G4 desktops. These tests involve a variety of different filters and image processing functions designed to place a strain on both the CPU and the display.

After Effects 5.5 Tests
(All results listed in seconds.)
PowerBook 1 GHz
Dual 1.25 GHz
Dual 1 GHz
Dual 867 MHz

Dual 1 GHz (PC133)
Single 933 MHz
Test 1
245
147
182
212
197
247
Test 2
271
192
230
269
249
306
Test 3
222
100
120
144
123
187
Test 4
2,006
1,511
1,885
2,173
1,901
2,380
Test 5
3,282
2,354
2,917
3,365
2,959
3,490
Totals
6,026
4,304
5,334
6,133
5,429
6,610


And then come the big boys of multiprocessing, DIscreet Combustion 2 and Apple FInal Cut Pro. Here we see a much more significant distinction between the single-processor PowerBook and the multiprocessor desktops. But, even so, the PowerBook still beats the single-processor 933 MHz desktop.

Final Cut Pro 3 Tests
(All results listed in seconds.)
PowerBook 1 GHz
Dual 1.25 GHz
Dual 1 GHz
Dual 867 MHz

Dual 1 GHz (PC133)
Single 933 MHz
Test 1
160
69
87
95
92
170
Test 2
99
47
58
66
63
102
Test 3
298
131
163
183
170
325
Test 4
498
222
277
328
286
530
Test 5
308
144
177
207
183
342
Totals
1,363
613
762
879
794
1,469


Combustion 2 Tests
(All results listed in seconds.)
PowerBook 1 GHz
Dual 1.25 GHz
Dual 1 GHz
Dual 867 MHz

Dual 1 GHz (PC133)
Single 933 MHz
Test 1
317
151
181
202
205
346
Test 2
456
292
360
415
374
495
Test 3
1,709
800
977
1,155
1,038
1,701
Test 4
412
179
218
253
240
439
Test 5
1,247
619
755
881
782
1,299
Totals
4,141
2,041
2,491
2,906
2,639
4,280




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