Benchmark Your Mac or Hackintosh - Performance Testing Guide
Assessing Your Computer’s Performance with Benchmarking
When a new computer is acquired – a Mac, for example – it’s common to want to evaluate its capabilities. Running a benchmark allows you to determine your machine’s scores across various performance-related tasks. These results can then be compared with those of other systems.
Popular Benchmarking Tools: Geekbench and Cinebench
Several benchmarking tools are available, though Geekbench and Cinebench are the most frequently utilized. Geekbench assesses your machine’s processing power, while Cinebench extends this evaluation to include graphics processing capabilities. While both are compatible with Windows, this guide focuses on benchmarking a Mac OS X machine.
This includes both genuine Macs and Hackintoshes. If you’re unfamiliar with Hackintoshing, consider these resources:
- Basics of building a Hackintosh
- Installing Mac OS X Lion on your Hackintosh
These benchmark tests aren’t exclusive to Macs; they function equally well on Hackintoshes. This is particularly valuable for Hackintosh users, enabling a direct comparison against official Mac hardware. You can verify if your custom-built ~$1200 Hackintosh rivals or even surpasses the performance of a $2500 Mac Pro!
Geekbench: Evaluating Processor and Memory Performance
Geekbench is the first utility we’ll explore. It primarily benchmarks your computer’s processor and memory performance. Visit the Geekbench download page to obtain the software.
Note that a purchase is required for 64-bit benchmarks, though the 32-bit version remains functional. Before running the test, ensure no unnecessary applications are running by checking the menu bar and quitting any background processes. You are now prepared to initiate the benchmark.
The Geekbench main window will display system specifications, which will also be included in the final results. Press the ‘Run Benchmarks’ button to begin. Allow sufficient time for the process to complete. Upon completion, a detailed rundown of your results, including your Geekbench score, will be presented.
To gauge your computer’s ranking, compare your score with others possessing similar configurations. Click the ‘Upload’ button within the Geekbench window, and your default browser will open, directing you to a webpage.
For instance, consider this Geekbench score:
http://browse.geekbench.ca/geekbench2/view/448761
This example represents a Hackintosh score, but the origin of the results is not critical for comparative analysis.
Comparing Scores and Establishing a Baseline
To compare your scores directly with another machine, establish your results as a baseline. Click ‘Set as Baseline Result’.
Then, click ‘Similar Systems Chart’ to generate a graph displaying computers with comparable specifications.
The resulting ‘performance chart’ visually represents the results of various computers as points. The x-axis indicates processor speed, while the y-axis represents the Geekbench score. Your score is denoted by a red point, with blue points representing other users’ results. A greater distance from the origin signifies higher processor speed and Geekbench score.
Points may exhibit high Geekbench scores with lower processor speeds, and vice versa. This is because processor speed isn’t the sole determinant of Geekbench scores; the number of cores and threads, alongside the amount of installed RAM, also plays a significant role.
To compare your results with a specific computer, simply click its corresponding point, and a direct comparison will be displayed (having previously set your computer as the baseline).
A multiplication factor exceeding 1.00 indicates that the compared machine is more powerful than yours, by the corresponding amount. In this instance, the Mac being compared has a Geekbench score 2.17 times higher than the baseline. Conversely, if the multiplication factor is less than 1.00, the baseline is more powerful.
Cinebench: Assessing CPU and Graphics Performance
Now, let’s turn to Cinebench, a benchmarking utility that evaluates both video and CPU performance. You can download it from here.
Upon opening Cinebench, you’ll encounter two options: CPU and OpenGL. Let’s begin with OpenGL, the graphics rendering test for the GPU. Click the “Run” button to initiate the OpenGL test and patiently await the rendering process. A 3D scene will be displayed, representing the benchmark test. Completion time depends on your video card or integrated graphics (e.g., Intel HD 3000).
Once the OpenGL test concludes, an FPS (frames per second) score will be presented. You can then proceed with the CPU benchmark, which renders a 3D image utilizing the full power of your CPU. This test will also require considerable time, potentially causing temperatures to rise (monitor with applications like iStat Menus).
After the tests are finished, your scores will be displayed, alongside a few other results on the left side (in the ‘Ranking’ column). Your result is highlighted in orange, while others are in blue. These results are scores of similar computers with hardware almost similar (lower or higher) than yours.
You can toggle between CPU and OpenGL scores by clicking ‘OpenGL’ in the ranking column (or vice versa). This provides insight into your Mac’s (or Hackintosh’s) standing among comparable machines, which is the core purpose of a benchmark test.
Both benchmarking applications offer user-friendly interfaces. Now that you understand the process, you can easily try it yourself. The Mac and Windows versions are largely similar, making these tools accessible to Windows users as well. We haven’t covered every detail, but we hope this provides a clear understanding of how benchmarking works.
Download Geekbench
Download Cinebench
Geekbench and Cinebench are just two of the many benchmarking tools available for Macs (Xbench/Novabench, for example). What are your computer’s benchmark scores? Share them in the comments!
Here’s a YouTube video demonstrating much of what’s discussed in this article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNddEFL3ERw