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

 

[MRU]

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