Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MBP 13" w/ Intel SSD weird geekbench scores

Chad H

Chad H

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 13, 2008
764
0
Auburn, AL
Hey guys,
Last night I picked up a brand new MBP 13" 2.26 base model. It came with 2GB of Ram and a 160GB HDD. So, I set it up as a new computer(did not do any updates) and then ran geekbench 32 bit mode. I ran it 3 times with an average of 3160. So, today I installed my Intel X25-M 80GB SSD and 4GB RAM. After installing those re-installed OSX and set that up and also ran through all new updates from Apple. So after all said and done I fired up geekbench(again in 32bit mode) and expected a nice increase. Instead I got 3162. Any ideas as to why its doing this? I really expected to peg 3300. :rolleyes:
 
How did the system feel after the upgrade? I've been planning on doing the same upgrades to mine. I already did the RAM, but I decided to wait a couple weeks on the intel SSD. There is talk of intel releasing new drives. So, how big of an improvement was the drive? Was it worth it, in your opinion? I wouldn't care so much about the Geekbench score, as long as there is a noticeable real world speed improvement.

BTW-Have you updated to the 1.7 firmware?
 
Hey, yes after installing the drive I updated OSX fully included the 1.7 firmware update. However I have not updated the firmware on the Intel SSD. Does anyone know how to tell what version is on the SSD right now vs the update that Intel has?

Yes, I can tell a huge difference! I never get any beachballs or spinning wheels. This thing boots in about 15 seconds and shuts down in 3. Apps don't bounce they just open. The best upgrade I've ever made to a laptop. :)Next is to install the extreme series when the price drops(hoepfully) and 8GB of ram. :apple:
 
Chad H said:
Hey, yes after installing the drive I updated OSX fully included the 1.7 firmware update. However I have not updated the firmware on the Intel SSD. Does anyone know how to tell what version is on the SSD right now vs the update that Intel has?

Yes, I can tell a huge difference! I never get any beachballs or spinning wheels. This thing boots in about 15 seconds and shuts down in 3. Apps don't bounce they just open. The best upgrade I've ever made to a laptop. :)Next is to install the extreme series when the price drops(hoepfully) and 8GB of ram. :apple:
Click to expand...

I thought Geekbench mostly measured processor and memory benchmarks. Does the hard drive make much of a difference?

Also, do upgrade the firmware on the SSD. It helps a decent amount with write times (~20% in my experience).
 
Thiol said:
I thought Geekbench mostly measured processor and memory benchmarks. Does the hard drive make much of a difference?

Also, do upgrade the firmware on the SSD. It helps a decent amount with write times (~20% in my experience).
Click to expand...

No not yet. But can't I download the firmware update directly from Intel and burn the .iso on a blank dvd and boot from it and update?
 
Not really an expert. I think I have three things going for me vis-à-vis my MBP that I have not seen on other configurations found on Geekbench:

  1. I'm running Mac OS X 10.6 (Build 10A394); Which is a 64-bit OS
  2. I have 8GB Ram installed.
  3. I have the an Intel X25-E installed.

This is just a theory. I'm sure there are much smarter people on this forum who can give you a better answer.
 
Seems to me that GeekBench tests mostly processor and memory performance. The HD / SSD shouldn't make any difference here. If it did, then the tests would indirectly depend on disk speed, which I hope is not the case.
 
none of the geekbench tests should be influenced whatsoever by the hard drive being used. CPU, memory, 64 v 32 bit. Those will be the primary components for the score.
 
Thiol said:
I thought Geekbench mostly measured processor and memory benchmarks. Does the hard drive make much of a difference?

Also, do upgrade the firmware on the SSD. It helps a decent amount with write times (~20% in my experience).
Click to expand...

Is that so? I had no idea! I left mine with the factory firmware, but since the drive was manufactured in Jan of 2010, I don't think its the most recent version. Any ideas on how to do to the firmware upgrade if you have data already stored on the hard drive?
 
I just installed an OCZ 250 yesterday and ran XBench... it was an amazing shift. Here is the change:

BEFORE AFTER
Overall: 18.81 222.38
Sequential: 34.33 191.43
Randum: 12.95 265.25

The machine is a MONSTER, it was great before, but now... I can't imagine ever going back to a "lazy drive"

So if you are considering an SSD, do it, do it now, and never look back.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back