Geekbench Shows 2018 MacBook Pro Has Biggest Yearly Performance Gain Since 2011

[MacRumors]

2018 MacBook Pro models feature the biggest yearly CPU performance gains since 2011, according to Geekbench founder John Poole.

Geekbench 4 scores indicate the latest 15-inch models have a 12 to 15 percent increase in single-core performance, while multi-core performance is up 39 to 46 percent, compared to the equivalent 2017 models.

A new 15-inch MacBook Pro with the best-available 2.9GHz six-core Intel Core i9 processor, with Turbo Boost up to 4.8GHz, has a multi-core score of 22,439, for example, a 44.3 percent increase versus a 2017 model with a then-best 3.1GHz quad-core Core i7 and Turbo Boost up to 4.1GHz.

Likewise, for the latest 13-inch models, Geekbench scores show a 3 to 11 percent increase in single-core performance, and an impressive 81 to 86 percent increase in multi-core performance versus equivalent 2017 models.

A new 13-inch MacBook Pro with the best-available 2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor, with Turbo Boost up to 4.5GHz, has a multi-core score of 17,557, for example, an 83.8 percent increase versus a 2017 model with a then-best 3.5GHz dual-core Core i7 and Turbo Boost up to 4.0GHz.

Poole attributes the increases in performance to additional cores, higher Turbo Boost frequencies, and the switch to DDR4 memory.

2018 MacBook Pro models feature eighth-generation Intel Core processors, with up to six cores on 15-inch models and up to four cores on 13-inch models, both firsts. The refresh marked the first increase in cores since 2011, when the first quad-core 15-inch MacBook Pro models were released.

Interestingly, as Poole notes, the new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar models are now competitive with 15-inch models from 2017 in both single-core and multi-core performance, essentially making it a smaller replacement.

Poole also notes that these Geekbench scores are preliminary, and likely to rise over the coming weeks, as on brand new machines, macOS completes several setup tasks in the background that can temporarily degrade performance. He says these tasks vary and can take up to several days to be completed.

Apple advertises the new 15-inch MacBook Pro as up to 70 percent faster, and the new 13-inch model as up to two times faster, than the equivalent 2017 models, but Poole told MacRumors that other benchmarks may show different results than Geekbench. Performance in real-world usage will also vary.

Geekbench 4 is a popular cross-platform CPU and GPU benchmark from Primate Labs, with apps available for Mac and iPhone and iPad.

Article Link: Geekbench Shows 2018 MacBook Pro Has Biggest Yearly Performance Gain Since 2011

 

[Blizzardman]

Hmm but what will all those “professionals” complain about now that their word processors start up quicker? I’m sure the majority of professionals were really struggling without the 32gb ram and six cores .

 

[Nyy8]

So, Intel has one of the biggest year over year performance gains since 2011 in their 8th gen processor lineup, and the MacBook Pro which uses Intel's new 8th gen processors has the same performance gains?

Wow didn't see that one coming.

 

[Sheza]

This says nothing of graphics performance, of course.

 

[imran5720]

So is it faster than last year's imac? (27 inch 4.2 GHz (4 cores))

 

[djcerla]

So is it faster than last year's imac?

Yup. My iMac scores 20200. Very impressive.

 

[redheeler]

So is it faster than last year's imac?

https://browser.geekbench.com/v4/cpu/9024983 (5764 single, 20104 multi)

So multi-core is higher on the MacBook Pro, which is unsurprising given this is 6 cores vs. 4, while the iMac still wins with single-core. When Apple refreshes the iMacs this year they will be back on top.

 

[Baymowe335]

Let’s face it. The MacBook Pro lineup got a great update with very little to complain about...though, people still will (and have).

 

[thekeyring]

Hmm but what will all those “professionals” complain about now that their word processors start up quicker? I’m sure the majority of professionals were really struggling without the 32gb ram and six cores .

Your comment made me smile.

If you're using Microsoft Office, even the latest MacBook Pro won't make it launch quickly.

 

[NinjaHERO]

Awesome. Now update the non touchbar version please Apple.

 

[MrGimper]

Still 7,500 points slower in multi core than an A10X in the iPad Pro.

 

[robertcoogan]

Hopefully, kernel_task doesn't spin up CPU usage on these new MBP.

 

[imran5720]

Still 7,500 points slower in multi core than an A10X in the iPad Pro.

Kidding? how ipad can be faster than macbook?

 

[viperGTS]

Still 7,500 points slower in multi core than an A10X in the iPad Pro.

Um, the A10X in the iPad Pro scores a 9309 multicore score, while these MacBooks are scoring well over 16000. You must've confused metal scores with multicore scores.

Check out the scores here: https://browser.geekbench.com/ios_devices/46

 

[redheeler]

Let’s face it. The MacBook Pro lineup got a great update with very little to complain about...though, people still will (and have).

It's a good refresh at a good time, but there are still some valid complaints to make, like the screen res and price tag.

Still 7,500 points slower in multi core than an A10X in the iPad Pro.

The A10X scores just under 10,000, while this year's 13" MBP scores over 15,000.

 

[and 1989 others]

That's all well and good, now take the machine and plug an HDMI cable into it.

 

[aeronatis]

Awesome. Now update the non touchbar version please Apple.

That seems highly unlikely at least for the current gen of CPUs. Non-touchbar Macbook pro uses 15 watt CPU with Iris graphics which 8th gen CPU line-up doesn't have any equivalent of.

 

[mrzz]

not everything is about performance gain. They highly lowered usability in 2016 and there is no difference in 2018.

 

[MrGimper]

Kidding? how ipad can be faster than macbook?

I was looking at the wrong scores in this instance but A chips have been faster than intel chips recently.

 

[thekeyring]

Awesome. Now update the non touchbar version please Apple.

I'm guessing there will be notebook updates later on which address the current 13" non touchbar MacBook Pro / 12" Retina MacBook / Ageing MacBook Airs?

 

[Baymowe335]

It's a good refresh at a good time, but there are still some valid complaints to make, like the screen res and price tag.

The A10X scores just under 10,000, while this year's 13" MBP scores over 15,000.

What are The objective complaints about the screen? You want 4K?

Price...give me a break. They are always on the higher end, but you get what you pay for and you don’t have to use Windows. Software is something people don’t consider enough in price.

 

[Nabby51]

And the sky is blue...

Adding more cores is what is going to happen over the next few years and this makes a massive difference in multitasking and threaded applications. Especially important for video/creation apps.

I’m curious how often and bad these chips thermal throttle. I would like to see some testing around that. That’s the biggest problem with going with the top of the line chips in these types of laptops. Sometimes it isn’t worth going to the top of the line because they thermal throttle more often then the processor right under it.

 

[Val-kyrie]

This is why people complained before Apple updated the MBPs. I am glad they updated them.

Now if the keyboard is finally fixed....

2018 MacBook Pro models feature the biggest yearly CPU performance gains since 2011, according to Geekbench founder John Poole.

Geekbench 4 scores indicate the latest 15-inch models have a 12 to 15 percent increase in single-core performance, while multi-core performance is up 39 to 46 percent, compared to the equivalent 2017 models.

A new 15-inch MacBook Pro with the best-available 2.9GHz six-core Intel Core i9 processor, with Turbo Boost up to 4.8GHz, has a multi-core score of 22,439, for example, a 44.3 percent increase versus a 2017 model with a then-best 3.1GHz quad-core Core i7 and Turbo Boost up to 4.1GHz.

Likewise, for the latest 13-inch models, Geekbench scores show a 3 to 11 percent increase in single-core performance, and an impressive 81 to 86 percent increase in multi-core performance versus equivalent 2017 models.

A new 13-inch MacBook Pro with the best-available 2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor, with Turbo Boost up to 4.5GHz, has a multi-core score of 17,557, for example, an 83.8 percent increase versus a 2017 model with a then-best 3.5GHz dual-core Core i7 and Turbo Boost up to 4.0GHz.

Poole attributes the increases in performance to additional cores, higher Turbo Boost frequencies, and the switch to DDR4 memory.

2018 MacBook Pro models feature eighth-generation Intel Core processors, with up to six cores on 15-inch models and up to four cores on 13-inch models, both firsts. The refresh marked the first increase in cores since 2011, when the first quad-core 15-inch MacBook Pro models were released.

Interestingly, as Poole notes, the new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar models are now competitive with 15-inch models from 2017 in both single-core and multi-core performance, essentially making it a smaller replacement.

Poole also notes that these Geekbench scores are preliminary, and likely to rise over the coming weeks, as on brand new machines, macOS completes several setup tasks in the background that can temporarily degrade performance. He says these tasks vary and can take up to several days to be completed.

Apple advertises the new 15-inch MacBook Pro as up to 70 percent faster, and the new 13-inch model as up to two times faster, than the equivalent 2017 models, but Poole told MacRumors that other benchmarks may show different results than Geekbench. Performance in real-world usage will also vary.

Geekbench 4 is a popular cross-platform CPU and GPU benchmark from Primate Labs, with apps available for Mac and iPhone and iPad.

Article Link: Geekbench Shows 2018 MacBook Pro Has Biggest Yearly Performance Gain Since 2011

 

[pier]

This says nothing of graphics performance, of course.

Indeed.

A gaming laptop from 2017 with a mobile GTX 1070 and 5.9 TFLOPS smokes the most expensive 2018 MBP with a 560X and 2.6 TFLOPS. Heck, even the most powerful iMac with a 580 has 5.5 TFLOPS (and the BlackMagic eGPU).

 

[Feenician]

Indeed.

A gaming laptop from 2017 with a mobile GTX 1070 and 5.9 TFLOPS smokes the most expensive 2018 MBP with a 560X and 2.6 TFLOPS. Heck, even the most powerful iMac with a 580 has 5.5 TFLOPS (and the BlackMagic eGPU).

That’s probably why they’re not called MacBook Game.