One of the effective ways in which you can assess the performance of your CPU is to use benchmarking tools. These benchmarking tools test the CPU’s raw performance in both multi-threaded and single-threaded tasks.
Benchmarking your CPU is important to your system because it assists you in understanding its performance capabilities and determining whether you’re leaving any performance on the table or may need an upgrade. It’s also a fantastic method to gauge how much your PC has advanced since then.
Benchmarking your Mac’s performance is important to ensure it meets your computing needs.
In this article, we’ll explore the best benchmark apps that can help you assess your Mac’s capabilities, covering everything from CPU and GPU power to storage and overall system performance.
What is Benchmarking
Benchmarking is the act of measuring your computer’s hardware and software performance e.g. Graphics, Speed, and GPU performance typically in order to find out the cause of issues or to improve your system’s performance.
Benchmarking goes beyond mere curiosity about your Mac’s speed; it’s a crucial step in understanding its capabilities fully. Whether you’re a professional engaging in resource-intensive tasks or an everyday user looking for optimal performance, benchmark apps provide insights that go beyond what meets the eye.
Benefits of CPU Benchmarking?
CPU benchmarking is beneficial for multiple reasons. First, it allows users to compare the performance of different CPUs, helping them make informed decisions when buying or upgrading new hardware. it also has other merits, including:
- It helps in evaluating the impact of CPU overlocking.
- It ensures that systems can handle specific tasks and support user demands in a business environment.
- It prevents downtime and maintains productivity.
How Does PC Benchmarking Differ from CPU Benchmarking?
PC benchmarking assesses the performance of the entire computer system, for example, the CPU, GPU Memory, Storage, and other components, while CPU benchmarking specifically tests the performance of the central processing unit.
Why Benchmarking is Important for Mac Users
Your Mac’s performance impacts various tasks, from basic operations to complex creative endeavors. Benchmarking helps in identifying potential bottlenecks, ensuring that your Mac can handle the demands you place on it.
Best Benchmark Apps for Mac
Today, we will discuss the best benchmark apps that you can use to evaluate various aspects of your Mac’s performance.
1. Blackmagic Disk Speed Test
Disk Speed Test is a benchmark app developed by Blackmagic whose purpose is to check your Mac disk’s performance when working with HD videos.
It does this by using large data blocks to write and test your disk as well as write and read tests in order to evaluate not only your disk’s performance but also its readability over time.
2. Geekbench
Geekbench is a free cross-platform processor benchmark that measures CPU and GPU performance by running several simulations of real-world usage and complex challenges.
Its test result displays a single-core score which shows the performance of your Mac operating with only one core; and a multi-core score which shows your Mac’s performance with all cores running. It is free to use on a single machine with premium versions available.
3. Cinebench
Cinebench is a free cross-platform benchmark app that measures the ability of Cinema 4D’s ability to take advantage of your computer’s processor and multiple CPU cores.
Its simulation demo shows a video of cars in different textures made up of millions of polygons coupled with several visual effects such as transparency, environments, and lighting.
Cinebench is often used by professionals in the 3D animation and modeling industry
4. Novabench
Novabench is a freemium benchmark app that analyzes your system’s GPU, memory, CPU, speed, and disk speed using complex real-world simulations.
A click of a button starts full tests which complete in 2 minutes and what’s even cooler is its online database of results that you can compare your test results to.
5. UNIQUE Benchmarks
UNIQUE Benchmarks is a freemium cross-platform benchmark app designed to calculate the stability of your computer’s GPU under stressful conditions coupled with testing its colling potential under high heat output.
Powered by UNIQUE Engine, UNIQUE Benchmarks provides users with an interactive experience wherein they are able to explore the simulated worlds using walk-through and fly-by modes.
6. Count It
Count It is a 100% free benchmark app designed to calculate your Mac’s frame rate counter especially when recording your gameplay.
It features a hotkey icon that unintrusively runs tests to calculate your system’s FPS and enables you to even save the game resolution settings that promote your PC’s best performance for each game.
7. Phoronix Test Suite
Phoronix Test Suite is a free and open-source automated benchmarking utility for Mac, Windows, Linux, GNU Hurd, Solaris, and BSD Operating Systems.
It features 450+ test profiles and 100+ test suites via OpenBenchmarking.org, an easy-to-use UI, remote management, automation of multiple test systems thanks to its Phoromatic system, etc.
8. GFX Bench
GFX Bench is a free unified graphics benchmark utility for macOS, iOS, Windows, and Android. It is based on GLBenchmark (OpenGL ES) and DXBenchmark (Direct X) and is designed for measuring mobile and desktop performance using increased workloads and advanced graphics effects.
Just like Novabench, it has an online results database where you can compare your test results to those of other users.
9. Tyler’s Frame Machine
Tyler’s Frame Machine is a simple, lightweight, cross-platform, portable utility for performance testing, calibration, framerate comparison, benchmarking, and demonstration.
It is mostly used for educational purposes and supports OpenGL, DirectX 11 and 12, Metal, and Vulkan which allows it to run benchmark tests on virtually anything.
10. iBench
iBench is a free and open-source benchmarking application for running comprehensive benchmark tests on Macs. It contains 12 integer workloads and 9 floating point tests which it uses to evaluate the memory subsystem and CPU performance of your computer.
11. UNIGINE
UNIGINE is benchmarking software that allows users to test the stability and performance of their PC hardware (power supply, cooling system, CPU, and GPU) under realistic and demanding conditions.
It also lets you explore scenic and detailed virtual worlds powered by the UNIGINE engine. UNIGINE comes with different versions, including heaven, superposition, valley, tropics, and sanctuary.
In addition, it allows you to check how your PC performs with various hardware configurations and compare your results with those of other users across the world.
The UNIGINE benchmarks support DirectX and OpenGL and is cross-platform. Overclockers, hardware enthusiasts, and gamers who want to get the most out of their PCs can all benefit from this software.
12. UserBenchmark
UserBenchmark is a free web tool that allows users to assess their computer’s CPU, GPU, SSD, HDD, and RAM performance within minutes and make comparisons with the others.
UserBench tests single/multi-core bandwidth and latency for RAM, six 3D game stimulations for GPUs, read, write, sustained writes, and mixed IO for drives. It also performs CPU operations such as integer, floating, and stirring.
These operations make it easy to size up your computer and identify hardware problems. You can also receive a top recommendation within a specified budget.
13. CleanMyMac X
CleanMyMac X is a robust utility app that lets users clean, protect, and optimize MacOS. It comes with more than 30 tools, customized clean-up tips, and stylish interactive designs.
CleanMymacX streamlines the general performance of Mac users by removing malware, optimizing the system, and providing privacy protection mechanisms.
It operates by employing a smart scan algorithm that conducts a thorough scan of the user’s system, unearthing redundant files and potential risks to improve performance.
14. Blender Open Data
Blender Open Data is a platform that allows users to submit, gather, and query the outcomes of their own hardware and software performance tests. It hosts the Blender Benchmark, a tool that allows you to test and compare how well your PC performs with different Blend production files.
With Blender Benchmark, you can assess how well your PC performs with various Blender workloads, including modeling, rendering, animation, VFX, and simulation. In addition, you can share and analyze the results on the platform.
15. SilverBench
SilverBench is an online multi-core CPU benchmarking tool that uses JavaScript to assess the performance of a computer system or mobile CPU using a photon mapping rendering engine.
SilverBench packs the following benchmarking options out of the box:
- Performance
- Extreme
- Stress tests
Stress tests are perfect for testing your CPU’s endurance, stability, and temperature. The stress test result is automatically reported after the tenth rendered frame. One great standout feature of SilverBench is its ability to give you the latest benchmark results which are displayed in real time.
Users can optionally submit scores for the Performance and Extreme tests, together with OS and CPU data.CPU performance is then analyzed and compared against the broader dataset.
SilverBench Javascript-based.js edition is easy to use and eliminates the need to install additional software, making it more relevant and dependable when evaluating CPU performance.
16. Matthew x83
Matthew x83 is an online tool for processor performance tests that utilizes parallel algorithm execution to assess the processing power of a computer.
Depending on the processor power, users can select from the three different test profiles using these options and distinctive methods for evaluating CPU performance. These distinctive options include:
- Old/slow CPU-Low Load Test with 6 threads
- Mid-range CPU-Medium Load Test with 12 threads
- High-End CPU-High-end Load Test with 24 threads
Other online tests, like the GPU stress test, camera test, speaker test, microphone test, and browser test, can also be performed by the tool. Getting hold of this tool is a breeze, as you can simply access it through your web browser without needing any software installation.
17. PCMark 10
PCMark 10 is an indispensable benchmarking tool in the industry-standard PC performance benchmark for Windows 10 and macOS.
It includes a core test, a test for battery life, a test for storage, and a series of application tests based on real-world applications. In addition, PCMark10 features everything from routine productivity tasks to intricate tasks.
The following are some of the benefits of using PCMark 10:
- It comes with hassle-free configuration and is simple to install and run
- It offers multi-level reporting, from high-level benchmark scores to low-level workload scores
- It works with Windows, Linux, and macOS and supports both DirectX and OpenGL.
- It is ideal for vendor-neutral procurement and was developed in collaboration with top technological companies.
PCMark 10 is an essential tool for gamers, hardware enthusiasts, and overclockers looking to evaluate and compare their PCs’ performance.
Conclusion
Whether you’re an IT expert or a regular user, these CPU benchmarking tools are fantastic options for testing your processors to see if they’re operating at peak efficiency.
With the deployment of these benchmarking tools, they will assist you in getting rid of guesswork and focusing only on real data and facts.
Now that you know the best benchmark apps that exist for the Mac platform you can evaluate your system’s performance from the convenience of your sitting room.
Got any suggestions to add or user experience to share? Drop your thoughts in the comments box below.
Anyone know of a way to benchmark your Mac OS?
Blackmagic and Aja System are others good benchmark for IO devices.
Benchmark isn’t free.