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The SpeedZone: Performance Tests On 2004/2005 Macs ... A PowerBook, iBook, iMac, Mac mini, Power Mac And eMac Performance Report
Additional Resources

Performance
PowerBook
iBook
iMac
Mac mini
Power Mac
eMac
In-depth

Performance Profiles
PowerBook
iBook
iMac
Mac mini
Power Mac
eMac

Buyer's Guides
PowerBook
iBook
iMac
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Power Mac
eMac

InfoZones
Power Mac
iMac
eMac
PowerBook
iBook
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Specifications
PowerBook
iBook
iMac
Mac mini
Power Mac
eMac

Updated: 8/5/05

Processor Performance
Multitasking Performance
Graphics Performance
Game Performance
Drive Performance
Past Results

Below you will find performance results for most of the currently shipping machines. This will, hopefully, give you an feel for the relative performances. We will be adding new machines on an on-going basis ... so check back once in a while.

New machines added to the list below include the following: All are new!

Don't see performance information on the Mac you are interested in? Send a request for a performance comparison between any two Macs.

For timed scores, lower numbers are better. For the CineBench & Game scores higher numbers are better. Of course the higher the percentage, the better the performance.

IMPORTANT: Scores marked with a indicate that we had to adjust an old score to make it compatible with a new testing methodology. While we have tried to be as accurate as possible in this adjustment, unforeseen errors may occur. We just want you to be a little more cautious of these scores than other scores on this page.

Processor

Machine - Power Mac Score Percentage
of Base
Base Machine - Power Mac G4/1 GHz Dual Processor - M8667LL//A 96 100%
January 2005 G4 Mac mini's
Mac mini G4/1.25GHz - M9686LL/A 114 119%
Mac mini G4/1.42GHz - M9687LL/A 130 135%
May 2005 eMacs
eMac G4/1.42GHz (Combo) - M9834LL/A 130 135%
eMac G4/1.42GHz (Super) - M9835LL/A 131 136%

October 2004 iBooks
iBook 12" G4/1.2GHz - M9623LL/A 108 112%
iBook 14" G4/1.33GHz (Combo) - M9627LL/A 120 125%
iBook 14" G4/1.33GHz (Super) - M9628LL/A 118 123%
January 2005 PowerBooks
PowerBooks 12" G4/1.5GHz (Combo) - M9690LL/A 135 141%
PowerBooks 12" G4/1.5GHz (Super) - M9691LL/A 136 142%
PowerBooks 15" G4/1.5GHz - M9676LL/A 136 142%
PowerBooks 15" G4/1.67GHz - M9677LL/A 147 153%
PowerBooks 17" G4/1.67GHz - M9689LL/A 149 155%
May 2005 G5 iMacs
17" iMac G5/1.8GHz - M9843LL/A 189 197%
17" iMac G5/2.0GHz - M9844LL/A 210 219%
April 2005 G5 Power Macs
Power Mac G5/2 GHz Dual Processor - M9747LL/A 219 228%
Power Mac G5/2.3 GHz Dual Processor - M9748LL/A 253 264%
Power Mac G5/2.7 GHz Dual Processor - M9749LL/A 294 306%

CineBench 2003 consists of a series of tests. This one, tests basic single CPU processing performance. . You can download the CineBench program to run on your own machine and compare scores. We used the version of CineBench that is not optimized for the G5 for this test, and the one below. The scores above are actual scores ... not timed tests. Higher numbers are better

Processor - Dual
Machine - Power Mac Score Percentage
of Base
Base Machine - Power Mac G4/1 GHz Dual Processor - M8667LL//A 173 100%
January 2005 G4 Mac mini's
Mac mini G4/1.25GHz - M9686LL/A 114 66%
Mac mini G4/1.42GHz - M9687LL/A 130 75%
May 2005 eMacs
eMac G4/1.42GHz (Combo) - M9834LL/A 130 75%
eMac G4/1.42GHz (Super) - M9835LL/A 131 76%

October 2004 iBooks
iBook 12" G4/1.2GHz - M9623LL/A 108 62%
iBook 14" G4/1.33GHz (Combo) - M9627LL/A 120 69%
iBook 14" G4/1.33GHz (Super) - M9628LL/A 118 68%
January 2005 PowerBooks
PowerBooks 12" G4/1.5GHz (Combo) - M9690LL/A 135 78%
PowerBooks 12" G4/1.5GHz (Super) - M9691LL/A 136 79%
PowerBooks 15" G4/1.5GHz - M9676LL/A 136 79%
PowerBooks 15" G4/1.67GHz - M9677LL/A 147 85%
PowerBooks 17" G4/1.67GHz - M9689LL/A 149 86%
May 2005 G5 iMacs
17" iMac G5/1.8GHz - M9843LL/A 189 197%
17" iMac G5/2.0GHz - M9844LL/A 210 219%
20" iMac G5/2.0GHz - - M9845LL/A 208 217%
April 2005 G5 Power Macs
Power Mac G5/2.0 GHz Dual Processor - M9747LL/A 403 233%
Power Mac G5/2.3 GHz Dual Processor - M9748LL/A 463 268%
Power Mac G5/2.7 GHz Dual Processor - M9749LL/A 539 312%

This is the same test as above, however it will take advantage of dual processors if they are present. The scores above are actual scores ... not timed tests. Higher numbers are better

Processor MultiTasking
Machine - Power Mac Score
in Seconds 		Percentage
of Base
Base Machine - Power Mac G4/1 GHz Dual Processor - M8667LL//A 178.54 100%
January 2005 G4 Mac mini's
Mac mini G4/1.25GHz - M9686LL/A 345.33 52%
Mac mini G4/1.42GHz - M9687LL/A 303.75 59%
May 2005 eMacs
eMac G4/1.42GHz (Combo) - M9834LL/A 258.47 69%
eMac G4/1.42GHz (Super) - M9835LL/A 263.14 68%

October 2004 iBooks
iBook 12" G4/1.2GHz - M9623LL/A 374.42

48%

iBook 14" G4/1.33GHz (Combo) - M9627LL/A 331.54 54%
iBook 14" G4/1.33GHz (Super) - M9628LL/A 332.53 54%
January 2005 PowerBooks
PowerBooks 12" G4/1.5GHz (Combo) - M9690LL/A 287.07 62%
PowerBooks 12" G4/1.5GHz (Super) - M9691LL/A 293.99 61%
PowerBooks 15" G4/1.5GHz - M9676LL/A 291.25 61%
PowerBooks 15" G4/1.67GHz - M9677LL/A 266.33 67%
PowerBooks 17" G4/1.67GHz - M9689LL/A 273.93 65%
May 2005 G5 iMacs
17" iMac G5/1.8GHz - M9843LL/A 252.75 71%
17" iMac G5/2.0GHz - M9844LL/A 202.28 88%
20" iMac G5/2.0GHz - - M9845LL/A 220.08 81%
April 2005 G5 Power Macs
Power Mac G5/2 GHz Dual Processor - M9747LL/A 101.13 177%
Power Mac G5/2.3 GHz Dual Processor - M9748LL/A 95.09 188%
Power Mac G5/2.7 GHz Dual Processor - M9749LL/A 81.07 220%

The iTunes Encode, Photoshop Render and Word Macro tests are all run at the same time.

Graphics Card
Machine - Power Mac Score Percentage
of Base
Base Machine - Power Mac G4/1 GHz Dual Processor - M8667LL//A 168 100%
January 2005 G4 Mac mini's
Mac mini G4/1.25GHz - M9686LL/A 434 258%
Mac mini G4/1.42GHz - M9687LL/A 453 270%
May 2005 eMacs
eMac G4/1.42GHz (Combo) - M9834LL/A 761 453%
eMac G4/1.42GHz (Super) - M9835LL/A 767 457%

October 2004 iBooks
iBook 12" G4/1.2GHz - M9623LL/A 305 182%
iBook 14" G4/1.33GHz (Combo) - M9627LL/A 326 194%
iBook 14" G4/1.33GHz (Super) - M9628LL/A 323 192%
January 2005 PowerBooks
PowerBooks 12" G4/1.5GHz (Combo) - M9690LL/A 512 305%
PowerBooks 12" G4/1.5GHz (Super) - M9691LL/A 510 304%
PowerBooks 15" G4/1.5GHz - M9676LL/A 791 471%
PowerBooks 15" G4/1.67GHz - M9677LL/A 834 496%
PowerBooks 17" G4/1.67GHz - M9689LL/A 794 473%
May 2005 G5 iMacs
17" iMac G5/1.8GHz - M9843LL/A 1153 686%
17" iMac G5/2.0GHz - M9844LL/A 1289 767%
20" iMac G5/2.0GHz - - M9845LL/A 1230 732%
April 2005 G5 Power Macs
Power Mac G5/2 GHz Dual Processor - M9747LL/A 1086 646%
Power Mac G5/2.3 GHz Dual Processor - M9748LL/A 1106 658%
Power Mac G5/2.7 GHz Dual Processor - M9749LL/A 1229 732%

This part of the CineBench program relies on the graphics card for graphics rendering. Download the program and run your own test.

Graphics Card Gaming
Machine - Power Mac Score
in FPS		 Percentage
of Base
Base Machine - Power Mac G4/1 GHz Dual Processor - M8667LL//A 17 100%
January 2005 G4 Mac mini's
Mac mini G4/1.25GHz - M9686LL/A 13.3 78%
Mac mini G4/1.42GHz - M9687LL/A 15 88%
May 2005 eMacs
eMac G4/1.42GHz (Combo) - M9834LL/A 22 129%
eMac G4/1.42GHz (Super) - M9835LL/A 23 135%

October 2004 iBooks
iBook 12" G4/1.2GHz - M9623LL/A 12.5 74%
iBook 14" G4/1.33GHz (Combo) - M9627LL/A 12.3

72%

iBook 14" G4/1.33GHz (Super) - M9628LL/A 12.3 72%
January 2005 PowerBooks
PowerBooks 12" G4/1.5GHz (Combo) - M9690LL/A 14.9 88%
PowerBooks 12" G4/1.5GHz (Super) - M9691LL/A 14.7 86%
PowerBooks 15" G4/1.5GHz - M9676LL/A 27.5 162%
PowerBooks 15" G4/1.67GHz - M9677LL/A 27.5 162%
PowerBooks 17" G4/1.67GHz - M9689LL/A 33 194%
May 2005 G5 iMacs
17" iMac G5/1.8GHz - M9843LL/A 30 176%
17" iMac G5/2.0GHz - M9844LL/A 30 176%
20" iMac G5/2.0GHz - - M9845LL/A 30 176%
April 2005 G5 Power Macs
Power Mac G5/2 GHz Dual Processor - M9747LL/A 30 176%
Power Mac G5/2.3 GHz Dual Processor - M9748LL/A 30 176%
Power Mac G5/2.7 GHz Dual Processor - M9749LL/A 30 176%

4x4 EVO2 is a demanding racing game. It appears that this game is much more graphics card dependent than processor dependent. The scores above are actual scores (frames per second) ... not timed tests. Higher numbers are better

Graphics - Interface

Machine - Power Mac Score
in Seconds 		Percentage
of Base
Base Machine - Power Mac G4/1 GHz Dual Processor - M8667LL//A 12.37 100%
January 2005 G4 Mac mini's
Mac mini G4/1.25GHz - M9686LL/A 17.07 73%
Mac mini G4/1.42GHz - M9687LL/A 17.36 71%
May 2005 eMacs
eMac G4/1.42GHz (Combo) - M9834LL/A 12.22 101%
eMac G4/1.42GHz (Super) - M9835LL/A 11.8 105%

October 2004 iBooks
iBook 12" G4/1.2GHz - M9623LL/A 26.36 47%
iBook 14" G4/1.33GHz (Combo) - M9627LL/A 24.98 50%
iBook 14" G4/1.33GHz (Super) - M9628LL/A 25.20 49%
January 2005 PowerBooks
PowerBooks 12" G4/1.5GHz (Combo) - M9690LL/A 12.33 100%
PowerBooks 12" G4/1.5GHz (Super) - M9691LL/A 12.23 100%
PowerBooks 15" G4/1.5GHz - M9676LL/A NA NA%
PowerBooks 15" G4/1.67GHz - M9677LL/A NA NA%
PowerBooks 17" G4/1.67GHz - M9689LL/A NA NA%
May 2005 G5 iMacs
17" iMac G5/1.8GHz - M9843LL/A 11.4 109%
17" iMac G5/2.0GHz - M9844LL/A 10 124%
20" iMac G5/2.0GHz - - M9845LL/A 11.18 111%
April 2005 G5 Power Macs
Power Mac G5/2 GHz Dual Processor - M9747LL/A 8 155%
Power Mac G5/2.3 GHz Dual Processor - M9748LL/A 7.46 166%
Power Mac G5/2.7 GHz Dual Processor - M9749LL/A 6.10 203%

Let 1K Windows Bloom is a simple carbon application that opens and closes 1,000 windows. This gauges how fast screen redraws are taking place. You can download the small program to run on your machine and compare your scores, to the ones here.

Hard Drive Performance - Multi-File

Machine - Power Mac Score
in Seconds 		Percentage
of Base
Base Machine - Power Mac G4/1 GHz Dual Processor - M8667LL//A 166.86 100%
January 2005 G4 Mac mini's
Mac mini G4/1.25GHz - M9686LL/A 180.03 93%
Mac mini G4/1.42GHz - M9687LL/A 150.99 111%
May 2005 eMacs0
eMac G4/1.42GHz (Combo) - M9834LL/A 137.09 122%
eMac G4/1.42GHz (Super) - M9835LL/A 91.84 182%

October 2004 iBooks
iBook 12" G4/1.2GHz - M9623LL/A 186.20 90%
iBook 14" G4/1.33GHz (Combo) - M9627LL/A 165.36 101%
iBook 14" G4/1.33GHz (Super) - M9628LL/A 168.31 99%
January 2005 PowerBooks
PowerBooks 12" G4/1.5GHz (Combo) - M9690LL/A 137.99 121%
PowerBooks 12" G4/1.5GHz (Super) - M9691LL/A 137.38 121%
PowerBooks 15" G4/1.5GHz - M9676LL/A 146.22 114%
PowerBooks 15" G4/1.67GHz - M9677LL/A 146.69 114%
PowerBooks 17" G4/1.67GHz - M9689LL/A 122.54 136%
May 2005 G5 iMacs
17" iMac G5/1.8GHz - M9843LL/A 90.57 184%
17" iMac G5/2.0GHz - M9844LL/A 109.02 153%
20" iMac G5/2.0GHz - - M9845LL/A 80.09 208%
April 2005 G5 Power Macs
Power Mac G5/2 GHz Dual Processor - M9747LL/A 93.66 178%
Power Mac G5/2.3 GHz Dual Processor - M9748LL/A 95.52 175%
Power Mac G5/2.7 GHz Dual Processor - M9749LL/A 88.22 189%

The copy folder test not only stresses drive performance but also takes advantage of faster processing capability & caching schemes.

Hard Drive Performance Single File
Machine - Power Mac Score
in Seconds 		Percentage
of Base
Base Machine - Power Mac G4/1 GHz Dual Processor - M8667LL//A 116.04 100%
January 2005 G4 Mac mini's
Mac mini G4/1.25GHz - M9686LL/A 108.63 107%
Mac mini G4/1.42GHz - M9687LL/A 131.24 88%
May 2005 eMacs
eMac G4/1.42GHz (Combo) - M9834LL/A 63.81 182%
eMac G4/1.42GHz (Super) - M9835LL/A 56.97 204%

October 2004 iBooks
iBook 12" G4/1.2GHz - M9623LL/A 170.55 68%
iBook 14" G4/1.33GHz (Combo) - M9627LL/A 169.64 68%
iBook 14" G4/1.33GHz (Super) - M9628LL/A 171.45 68%
January 2005 PowerBooks
PowerBooks 12" G4/1.5GHz (Combo) - M9690LL/A 107.08 108%
PowerBooks 12" G4/1.5GHz (Super) - M9691LL/A 101.62