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Mikael · 03-20-2008, 11:12 AM

ZDNet has benchmarked the latest browsers including Safari 3.1

Here are the results:

Quote:

SunSpider JavaScript Benchmark

Apple isn’t kidding when it says that Safari 3.1 is fast. In my SunSpider JavaScript benchmark it is only narrowly beaten by Firefox 3.0 Beta 4.

(Note: Lower is better)

Note: Neither version of Opera fully completed the MD5 part of the test, and these results have been omitted.

Based on these results, Safari 3.1 is neck and neck with Firefox 3.0 Beta 4, about twice as fast as Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 and Firefox 3.0 Beta 3, four times faster than Firefox 2.0.0.12 and, well, about seven times faster than Internet Explorer 7.

Just for completeness I decided to run the same benchmarks on a smaller cross-section of Mac OS X browsers on the Mac mini that I have here. In this test Safari 3.1 beat both Safari 3.0.4 and Firefox 2.0.0.12 and 3.0 Beta 4.

(Note: Lower is better)

ACID 3
To round off this set of tests I ran Safari 3.1 through the ACID 3 test to see how it performed. The result - it did remarkably well. It easily beat all the other browsers in the lineup:

(Note: Higher is better)

Closing thoughts
Well there you have it. Safari 3.1 is fast. Compared to performance pigs such as Internet Explorer 7 or Firefox 2, the latest incarnation of Safari flies. But put it up against Firefox 3.0 Beta 4 and the browser faces still competition. Both appear to be highly optimized for speed and performance. Still, it’s good to see that speed is back on the agenda for browsers.

Firefox 3.0 Beta 4 - Benchmarked | Hardware 2.0 | ZDNet.com

RikfromBelgium · 03-20-2008, 01:08 PM

jep, installed safari 3.1 today and I have to say, hated the first version for XP but this one is pretty damn good

coolraoul · 03-20-2008, 02:19 PM

I'm using Firefox and very happy with it. Find it faster than IE, and the download manager is something lacking in IE...

Don't know Safari or Opera.

Va Va Voom · 03-20-2008, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolraoul

I'm using Firefox and very happy with it. Find it faster than IE, and the download manager is something lacking in IE...

Don't know Safari or Opera.

Yeah I'm using Firefox aswell, is very good a lot better than Internet explore 7, tbh 6 is a whole lot better than 7(IE)

Mikael · 03-20-2008, 02:54 PM

I've been mainly using Firefox (currently 2.0.0.12) for years now but I have Opera (currently 9.26) as backup. I prefer Firefox over Opera because of the add-ons. Both are much better than IE though.
I didn't want to install the first Safari version (for Windows) when they launched it since I knew it would have some problems (like it did incl. several security vulnerabilities). Nevertheless I think I will try the new one (Safari 3.1).

I used to download beta versions of new programs but nowadays I usually wait for the final product.

GrimReaper · 03-22-2008, 06:47 PM

I am a huge fan of Apples and use Safari on Mac with a copy of Firefox installed for one of those pesky sites who don't use industry standard optimization (thanks IE). BUT I am really surprised at Apple's move to push Safari to Windows users through Software Update for iTunes/Quicktime. It's almost going on Sony territory but atleast its clearly mentioned and you CAN uncheck the install option before giving the go ahead.
This is a very sneaky move because a lot of iTunes/iPod users are novice at using computers and wouldn't really see clearly what they are downloading/updating. I hope Apple corrects this somehow.
Just when they were doing somewhat of a turn around and becoming consumer friendly again with the whole listening to customers about what they wanted they go back and do something shady.

03-20-2008, 01:08 PM	#2
RikfromBelgium Advocate Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 821 Thanks: 7 Thanked 49 Times in 27 Posts	Re: Latest Browsers Benchmarked jep, installed safari 3.1 today and I have to say, hated the first version for XP but this one is pretty damn good

03-20-2008, 02:19 PM	#3
coolraoul Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: France (Paris) Posts: 95 Thanks: 88 Thanked 62 Times in 36 Posts	Re: Latest Browsers Benchmarked I'm using Firefox and very happy with it. Find it faster than IE, and the download manager is something lacking in IE... Don't know Safari or Opera.

03-20-2008, 02:54 PM	#5
Mikael Fanatic Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,836 Thanks: 828 Thanked 415 Times in 233 Posts	Re: Latest Browsers Benchmarked I've been mainly using Firefox (currently 2.0.0.12) for years now but I have Opera (currently 9.26) as backup. I prefer Firefox over Opera because of the add-ons. Both are much better than IE though. I didn't want to install the first Safari version (for Windows) when they launched it since I knew it would have some problems (like it did incl. several security vulnerabilities). Nevertheless I think I will try the new one (Safari 3.1). I used to download beta versions of new programs but nowadays I usually wait for the final product.

03-22-2008, 06:47 PM	#6
GrimReaper Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Mumbai, India/Boston, MA Posts: 143 Thanks: 3 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Latest Browsers Benchmarked I am a huge fan of Apples and use Safari on Mac with a copy of Firefox installed for one of those pesky sites who don't use industry standard optimization (thanks IE). BUT I am really surprised at Apple's move to push Safari to Windows users through Software Update for iTunes/Quicktime. It's almost going on Sony territory but atleast its clearly mentioned and you CAN uncheck the install option before giving the go ahead. This is a very sneaky move because a lot of iTunes/iPod users are novice at using computers and wouldn't really see clearly what they are downloading/updating. I hope Apple corrects this somehow. Just when they were doing somewhat of a turn around and becoming consumer friendly again with the whole listening to customers about what they wanted they go back and do something shady.

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