MBA X3100 vs. MB X3100

[Halon X]

I just ran Xbench on my MBA and on a MB I've got sitting here.

Both have the exact same video cards (GMA X3100) in them. I verified they had the same revisions and settings. On average the MBA had scores 50 percent slower than the MB.

Is the onboard video really that dependent on other resources? I expected the results to be a little closer given both laptops are using the same video chipset?

[twombles62]

Would the processor difference have something to do with that?

[ctt1wbw]

The lack of an internal optical drive accounts for about 50% of the processing power of a laptop.

[Voidness]

Sorry, double post.

[Voidness]

With integrated graphics chipsets such as the X3100, the CPU plays a large role in graphics performance. That's the main, if not the only, difference between the MB and MBA from the hardware platform perspective: The MB has a faster processor.

[acarle208]

Does the optical drive or lack of have anything to do with it.
or is it just the processer

[MacRumorUser]

The lack of an internal optical drive accounts for about 50% of the processing power of a laptop.

I'm assuming your being sarcastic because if your being serious then god help us all ;)


Does the optical drive or lack of have anything to do with it.
or is it just the processer

The optical drive has nothing to do with it.

[anarchron]

I just ran Xbench on my MBA and on a MB I've got sitting here.

Both have the exact same video cards (GMA X3100) in them. I verified they had the same revisions and settings. On average the MBA had scores 50 percent slower than the MB.

Is the onboard video really that dependent on other resources? I expected the results to be a little closer given both laptops are using the same video chipset?

You're missing 2 important details; the speed/specification of the MacBook Air and the MacBook. Without those two, it would be pretty hard to come to a conclusion in regard to the difference in speed obtained.

[Halon X]

You're missing 2 important details; the speed/specification of the MacBook Air and the MacBook. Without those two, it would be pretty hard to come to a conclusion in regard to the difference in speed obtained.

MBA is 1.6GHz/2GB/80
MB is 2.0GHz/4GB/80

I guess I figured the video cards to be more "dedicated" to the task of video processing and not so dependent on other system resources (other than sharing the system memory).

[Krevnik]

MBA is 1.6GHz/2GB/80
MB is 2.0GHz/4GB/80

I guess I figured the video cards to be more "dedicated" to the task of video processing and not so dependent on other system resources (other than sharing the system memory).

Well, I would assume the 20% faster processor, double the RAM, and the faster 2.5" HDD would all have some effect on the overall performance of the system. *g*

[bitty417]

The proc in the MBA has a 4mb cache compared to the 3mb found on the MB. I think the difference is mostly the HD and not the processor. A good test to run would be on an SSD equipped model.

[rom]

The proc in the MBA has a 4mb cache compared to the 3mb found on the MB. I think the difference is mostly the HD and not the processor. A good test to run would be on an SSD equipped model.

Can you check how much RAM is allocated to the X3100? MBA gives it 144MB. I am not sure if the MB can give more than 144MB. That will contribute to the performance difference as well.

[Halon X]

Can you check how much RAM is allocated to the X3100? MBA gives it 144MB. I am not sure if the MB can give more than 144MB. That will contribute to the performance difference as well.

144MB in both if I recall correctly. I no longer have the MB, it was a gift for Mom and is now in the hands of UPS.

I never realized how dependent these video cards were on the rest of the systems resources.

[kockgunner]

The lack of an internal optical drive accounts for about 50% of the processing power of a laptop.

hard disk you mean?

[ctt1wbw]

No, I'm just being sarcastic and poking fun at the people who complained about the Air's not having an internal cd drive. :)

[acarle208]

No, I'm just being sarcastic and poking fun at the people who complained about the Air's not having an internal cd drive. :)

ha-ha

[kockgunner]

No, I'm just being sarcastic and poking fun at the people who complained about the Air's not having an internal cd drive. :)

lol, nice