Review: page 2 of 4
Apple PowerBook G4 800

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For benchmarking 2D graphics and video software, I ran several tests using Adobe Photoshop ad After Effects, Discreet Combustion 2 and Apple Final Cut pro. For 3D performance, I ran the CineBench benchmarking application available from axon Computer, which tests the relative graphics and rendering performance of machines capable of running Cinema 4D XL.

For Photoshop, I ran six tests, involving a variety of filters, editing, transformation, color correction and the like. Even on memory-intensive tests, the PowerBook held up well, coming in at about 85.9 percent the performance of the G4 933 and 75 percent the performance of the dual G4 1 GHz. [an error occurred while processing this directive]
Photoshop 7.0 Tests
  PowerBook G4 800 MHz Desktop G4 933 MHz Desktop Dual G4 1 GHz
Test 1
12.0 sec.
9.0 sec.
8.0 sec.
Test 2
3.5 sec.
3.0 sec.
2.5 sec.
Test 3
7.0 sec.
5.0 sec.
5.0 sec.
Test 4
8.5 sec.
7.0 sec.
6.5 sec.
Test 5
100.0 sec.
88.0 sec.
75.0 sec.
Test 6
11.0 sec.
10.0 sec.
9.0 sec.


For After Effects, I ran five tests, all involving rendering, but varying the types of processing required by the computer: 2D and 3D layers, color correction, warping and the like. The PowerBook came in at 87.2 percent the performance of the G4 933 MHz overall and 76.5 percent the performance of the dual G4 1 GHz. (In fact, on the second test, involving rotating 3D layers and varying opacity over time, the PowerBook 800 came within 2 percentage points of the desktop G4 933 MHz.)

After Effects 5.5 Tests
  PowerBook G4 800 MHz Desktop G4 933 MHz Desktop Dual G4 1 GHz
Test 1
257 sec.
247 sec.
220 sec.
Test 2
312 sec.
306 sec.
219 sec.
Test 3
231 sec.
187 sec.
139 sec.
Test 4
2,759 sec.
2,380 sec.
2,205 sec.
Test 5
4,020 sec.
3,490 sec.
3,012 sec.


With Discreet Combustion 2, the advantages of a multiple processor start to kick in, separating the dual 1 GHz pretty far from the PowerBook 800. However, against the 933 MHz G4, the PowerBook again held its ground. It performed at 86.4 percent the speed of the G4 933 MHz and 54.3 percent the speed of the dual G4 1 GHz.

Discreet Combustion 2.0 Tests
  PowerBook G4 800 MHz Desktop G4 933 MHz Desktop Dual G4 1 GHz
Test 1
377 sec.
346 sec.
230 sec.
Test 2
568 sec.
495 sec.
408 sec.
Test 3
1,967 sec.
1,701 sec.
981 sec.
Test 4
493 sec.
439 sec.
263 sec.
Test 5
1,549 sec.
1,299 sec.
808 sec.


In the final application test with Final Cut Pro 3, again, the dual G4 1 GHz gained even more ground against the single-processor models. But, again, the PowerBook 800 offered some good competition for the 933. Against the 933, the PowerBook offered about 83.7 percent the speed overall, while it came in at only 46.8 percent the speed of the dual 1 GHz G4.

Apple Final Cut Pro 3.0 Tests
  PowerBook G4 800 MHz Desktop G4 933 MHz Desktop Dual G4 1 GHz
Test 1
208 sec.
170 sec.
95 sec.
Test 2
122 sec.
102 sec.
67 sec.
Test 3
384 sec.
325 sec.
175 sec.
Test 4
636 sec.
530 sec.
293 sec.
Test 5
405 sec.
342 sec.
192 sec.



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