What is CPU benchmark and why it matters!!

Before buying a laptop we all are concerned with its performance. And with performance we usually mean performance of the processor. But how to evaluate and compare processor performance before you have bought it. Here comes the role of CPU benchmark or processor benchmark.

Now, what the heck is this!!

CPU benchmark or processor benchmark is the overall measure of performance of a processor with standard conditions( RAM size, RAM speed, Storage speed, graphics memory, graphics size and so on).

 So, when you have to compare the performances of two processors check their  benchmark scores. Benchmark of a processor is evaluated by running various tasks and assigning it a overall score based on its performance.

 

There are two types of benchmarks which are used - synthetic(simulated) and real-world. 

Which should you use??Let us first discuss them briefly.

Synthetic benchmarks are evaluated by running same applications on all the processors automatically by a software tool like Passmark, PCMark 10, 3D Mark. If you are lazy like me then this is the perfect method. The processors are assigned a score based on their overall performances. The tasks that are run generally involve 3D rendering, web surfing, file compression, floating point calculations, etc. After running these tasks on the processor a score is obtained which is used to rank the processor. The higher the score of the processor the better is its performance.

In real-world benchmarks you run the tasks manually and observe the performance yourself(like by noting time taken to complete a task using stopwatch,observing the frame rates, etc). Yes, you are right - it takes more time and effort but is good if you want to test how a particular application of your interest performs in the given processor.

You must be thinking which benchmark method should you use??

If you don't have access to the laptop then consider synthetic benchmark otherwise you can use either benchmark method.

Now, you may check the processor benchmark scores before buying the laptop.

But where can I find the benchmark scores of laptop processors??

 You can compare the scores of various laptop processors here - benchmarks of laptop processors

Now, that you know how to evaluate the performance of the processor you should also know that how RAM size, RAM speeds, graphics memory, graphics processor, storage speed affect the performance of the laptop. 

We will discuss this in other posts.

And yes, feel free to comment below for any queries.