Hands-On Report: Mac OS X 10.6.8--How fast is it?

by Bill Fox, MacsOnly.com June 24, 2011

Yesterday, Apple released Mac OS X 10.6.8 and the Server version. This is definitely the last edition of Snow Leopard before Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion) debuts next month unless something horrible has been introduced. So far I have noticed only pleasant things--more graphics speed, retained compatibility with Aaron Harnly's Letterbox application and Internet Sharing working again as advertised.

I have tested the speed of virtually every version of Mac OS X since the release of the public preview of Mac OS X 10.0. Until Lion is out, I expect no real speed differences except, perhaps, in graphics since the drivers package keeps getting updated (e.g. version 1.6.36 in 10.6.8 and 1.6.26 in 10.6.7) so I have only been testing the graphics speed of the past several releases. In my speed test of 10.6.7, it appeared that the graphics speed of Snow Leopard had become slower from 10.6.5 to 10.6.7, especially for my Mac Pro with an ATI Radeon HD 5870 graphics card. However, the change, if any, was slight and not significant although consistent among tests. My MacBook Pro with Nvidia 320M graphics showed no change.

So how fast is 10.6.8? To find out, I ran a number of my standard speed tests that focus on graphics. I tested 10.6.8 in my 2008 dual quad 2.8GHz Mac Pro with the latest and greatest Mac graphics card, the ATI Radeon HD 5870, and my 2010 2.4GHz 13" MacBook Pro with Nvidia GeForce 320M graphics.

Here are the results:

Table 1--Mac Pro Standard Graphics Speed Tests for Mac OS X 10.6.8
(Higher is faster)
Test 10.6.8

10.6.7

Change
Benchmark
    %
Cinebench 11.5 Rendering (8x)
6.54 6.39 2
-OpenGL Hardware Lighting
26.0 26.6 -2
Xbench 1.3
     
- Quartz Graphics
233 225 4
- OpenGL Graphics
282 190 48
OpenGL Ext. Viewer 3.22
144 145 0
GAME TESTS
     
Quake III Arena (frames/sec)
978 977 0
Halo 2.0.4 (frames/sec)
211 154 37
Red is faster.

 

Table 2--13" MacBook Pro Standard Graphics Speed Tests for Mac OS X 10.6.8
(Higher is faster)
Test 10.6.8 10.6.7

Change

Benchmark
    %
Cinebench 11.5 Rendering (2x)
1.35
1.35
0
-OpenGL Hardware Lighting
12.4
11.5
8
Xbench 1.3
     
- Quartz Graphics
153
152
1
- OpenGL Graphics
170
153
11
- User Interface Graphics
239
170
41
OpenGL Ext. Viewer 3.22
124
122
2
Red is faster.

The newer graphics drivers in 10.6.8 not only eliminated any decline in speed from 10.6.5 through 10.6.7 but showed significantly improved OpenGL performance in Xbench and the game Halo for the ATI Radeon HD 5870 card. The Nvidia GeForce 320M graphics also showed higher OpenGL performance although the difference is less dramatic. While Xbench's User Interface Graphics test showed a remarkable improvement in the MacBook Pro, the results for each test run were so variable that the difference between averages, though large, is not significant.

The good news is that OpenGL graphics performance has finally and substantially improved. Hopefully, this will carry forward in Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion) due out in July.


Software Special of the Day: 20 to 50% Off or more!

Get a deal a day from MacUpdate's Software Promo.




Copyright © 1995-2011 by Bill Fox
All rights reserved.

MY LAWYER MADE ME POST THIS: 8-/
The Macs Only! web site is for informational purposes only. No one associated with Macs Only! assumes any responsibility for its accuracy. The information is subject to change without notice. Any use of, or actions taken based upon any of the information contained on this web site is done entirely at your own risk. Mention of any products or services is for informational purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation. Macs Only! and those associated with Macs Only! assume no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance or use of these products.

OUR PRIVACY POLICY

Apple, Apple Logos, Macintosh, and Mac OS Logos are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned belong to their respective owners.

[Back to top of page]

 

 

Apple iTunes

Apple Store

Apple Store

Buy a Mac and get a FREE iPod Nano!

Apple Online Store

About Us

Est. Dec. 28, 1995


Publisher