Geekbench scores -- meaning?

benwiggy · 05-15-2012, 02:28 PM

I've been looking at the Geekbench scores for my current iMac (Late 2006), and the current iMacs. (This was following the news that a unknown model uploaded results, which seems to be a test model of the "next iMac batch".)

iMac 2006: 3000 Numbers rounded up
iMac 2011 i5: 7400
iMac 2011 i7: 10400
iMac 2012? i7: 12200

So does this really mean that the next iMac will be four times as fast as my current one? Or is that an over-simplification.
If not, what can I deduce from the numbers? Other than x>y.

Does this suggest that going for an i7 as a BTO option (over an i5) is worth the money?

Does an SSD have any bearing on these results, or would that be the most noticeable thing for performance -- even more so than the i7 option?

DeltaMac · 05-15-2012, 03:39 PM

The new vs. old numbers with Geekbench - means that - assuming that you have exactly the same mix of apps in use, performing exactly the same processes, then you may expect that the new Mac will be about 4 times faster than the old one. Faster CPU with more simultaneous ops, and many more threads at the same time. Faster disk access, faster memory bus, faster system bus, then throw in the SSD for really speedy disk access.
And, if you need the extra processor power (photo/video/audio processing, other ops that like lots of processor power), then get the i7.
Will it all feel faster - yes
Will it, in reality, be measurably faster? Yes...

All that, so you can still type 42 words per minute

05-15-2012, 02:28 PM	#1
benwiggy League Commissioner Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 5,039	Geekbench scores -- meaning? I've been looking at the Geekbench scores for my current iMac (Late 2006), and the current iMacs. (This was following the news that a unknown model uploaded results, which seems to be a test model of the "next iMac batch".) iMac 2006: 3000 Numbers rounded up iMac 2011 i5: 7400 iMac 2011 i7: 10400 iMac 2012? i7: 12200 So does this really mean that the next iMac will be four times as fast as my current one? Or is that an over-simplification. If not, what can I deduce from the numbers? Other than x>y. Does this suggest that going for an i7 as a BTO option (over an i5) is worth the money? Does an SSD have any bearing on these results, or would that be the most noticeable thing for performance -- even more so than the i7 option?

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05-15-2012, 03:39 PM	#2
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,945	The new vs. old numbers with Geekbench - means that - assuming that you have exactly the same mix of apps in use, performing exactly the same processes, then you may expect that the new Mac will be about 4 times faster than the old one. Faster CPU with more simultaneous ops, and many more threads at the same time. Faster disk access, faster memory bus, faster system bus, then throw in the SSD for really speedy disk access. And, if you need the extra processor power (photo/video/audio processing, other ops that like lots of processor power), then get the i7. Will it all feel faster - yes Will it, in reality, be measurably faster? Yes... All that, so you can still type 42 words per minute