How can a m2 air be faster than m2 max on some tasks?

[emraha06]

I have a MacBook Air M2 and a MacBook Pro M2 Max. They’re running the same version of macOS and the same version of PowerPoint, but while the M2 Max takes 7.4 seconds to open the same file, the M2 Air opens it in just 2.5 seconds. I ran other tests as well: the M2 Air opens a blank Word document faster, and it also launches the Chrome app faster on the first try. To test this, I tried compressing a 1.5 GB file, and both devices took the same amount of time to compress it. How is this possible?

 

[Bigwaff]

I tried compressing a 1.5 GB file, and both devices took the same amount of time to compress it.

M2 Max vs M2 CPU Geekbench single core scores are pretty close.

Mac Benchmarks - Geekbench

browser.geekbench.com

Compression software single-threaded?

They’re running the same version of macOS and the same version of PowerPoint, but while the M2 Max takes 7.4 seconds to open the same file, the M2 Air opens it in just 2.5 seconds. I ran other tests as well: the M2 Air opens a blank Word document faster, and it also launches the Chrome app faster on the first try.

Your "tests" don't take into account how macOS manages memory and the caching files/code over time while system is running. Quit all applications and shutdown. Restart and run these tests again first thing after logging in, before you launch any other applications and do work.

How is this possible?

It's complicated, hampered by "tests" which don't reflect real system performance.

 

[blufrog]

SSDs are NOT the same! What are the SSD specs of each machine?

The ZIP took the same time because this is an in-memory operation. You are comparing disk I/O performance, and the Air is obviously much faster.

 

[subjonas]

I agree, try the test again right after restart, and make sure the MBP isn't running a bunch more programs and processes at startup.

You are comparing disk I/O performance, and the Air is obviously much faster.

I think OP is asking why the Air is faster. Does it have better specs than the MBP in this regard?

 

[blufrog]

I agree, try the test again right after restart, and make sure the MBP isn't running a bunch more programs and processes at startup.


I think OP is asking why the Air is faster. Does it have better specs than the MBP in this regard?

I just checked the specs of the M2 Max vs. M2, and the MBP M2 Max should be smoking the M2 Air.

Not sure what to suggest. Try disk I/O performance tester? From the OP description, it certainly seems like disk I/O is the difference.

 

[emraha06]

I tested both devices after restarting them and making sure no programs were running in the background. I performed the compression by right-clicking and selecting “Compress this folder.” I took great care to ensure that all conditions were as consistent as possible, but I'm really having a hard time understanding why this is happening. @blufrog @subjonas @Bigwaff

 

[theluggage]

I tested both devices after restarting them and making sure no programs were running in the background.

Well, first, there's no reason for the M2 Max to be any faster than the regular M2 on mostly single-threaded tasks. There's no point having a M2 Max unless you're running software that is designed to spread the load across multiple cores (and/or that uses the GPU for processing). Try something like video compression with handbrake to see a real difference.

How much disk space is free? The performance of a SSD falls off a cliff if it even gets close to being full. Even if you've recently cleaned up and re-formatted the drive it may take a while for the SSD garbage collection to consolidate the freed-up space into usable free space.

Next, really check for background tasks - run Activity Monitor and see what is using up CPU or accessing the disc. One common culprit is the spotlight indexing process MDS that can take a while to finish indexing the disc & has been known to go haywire. Many Apps install startup items and "helpers".

Give both machines plenty of time to "settle down" after restarting - also don't try and do speed tests shortly after re-installing or upgrading the OS as this usually triggers things like re-indexing. Obviously, stop any Time Machine backups and disable anti-virus apps.

Repeat the same task several times to eliminate the effect of any caching.

Also look at the internet connection speed - some Apps like to phone home when they start up. Maybe disconnect both Macs from the internet to level the playing field.

...but, to re-iterate, the M2 Max isn't likely to be any faster than the regular M2 on day-to-day tasks like opening Word documents.

 

[jlc1978]

I tested both devices after restarting them and making sure no programs were running in the background. I performed the compression by right-clicking and selecting “Compress this folder.” I took great care to ensure that all conditions were as consistent as possible, but I'm really having a hard time understanding why this is happening. @blufrog @subjonas @Bigwaff

As others have pointed out, varaiations in what is running on both mchines can impact the results.

If you restore each machine to factor setup by wiping them and reloading the OS, and tehn run teh stets with clean machines, your likely to get a more accurate result that is not impacted by things like SSD space, other programs, etc.

 

[subjonas]

Well, first, there's no reason for the M2 Max to be any faster than the regular M2 on mostly single-threaded tasks. There's no point having a M2 Max unless you're running software that is designed to spread the load across multiple cores (and/or that uses the GPU for processing). Try something like video compression with handbrake to see a real difference.

How much disk space is free? The performance of a SSD falls off a cliff if it even gets close to being full. Even if you've recently cleaned up and re-formatted the drive it may take a while for the SSD garbage collection to consolidate the freed-up space into usable free space.

Next, really check for background tasks - run Activity Monitor and see what is using up CPU or accessing the disc. One common culprit is the spotlight indexing process MDS that can take a while to finish indexing the disc & has been known to go haywire. Many Apps install startup items and "helpers".

Give both machines plenty of time to "settle down" after restarting - also don't try and do speed tests shortly after re-installing or upgrading the OS as this usually triggers things like re-indexing. Obviously, stop any Time Machine backups and disable anti-virus apps.

Repeat the same task several times to eliminate the effect of any caching.

Also look at the internet connection speed - some Apps like to phone home when they start up. Maybe disconnect both Macs from the internet to level the playing field.

...but, to re-iterate, the M2 Max isn't likely to be any faster than the regular M2 on day-to-day tasks like opening Word documents.

These suggestions are worth looking into, OP. Hope one of them is revealing. True, the Max won't be faster on all things, but it also shouldn't be significantly slower as you're finding.

As others have pointed out, varaiations in what is running on both mchines can impact the results.

If you restore each machine to factor setup by wiping them and reloading the OS, and tehn run teh stets with clean machines, your likely to get a more accurate result that is not impacted by things like SSD space, other programs, etc.

Wiping will be the nuclear last resort.

 

[MacCheetah3]

You could run (the) tests in Safe Mode to eliminate at least some variables:

Start up your Mac in safe mode

Starting up your Mac in safe mode may help you diagnose problems with your Mac.

support.apple.com

 

[jlc1978]

Wiping will be the nuclear last resort.

Yup, but probably the only way to do a direct performance comparison whose results would be reasonably valid.