15. System Performance: Sysmark 2002

We conducted the Sysmark 2002 application benchmark in combination with various power schemes. When the laptops drew their power from the socket, we set them to the "Always On" power scheme. On this setting, the processors always run at maximum clock speed. In other words, these readings represent top system performance.

The Asus M2N beats the Lifebook S6120, thanks to its faster hard drive.

We then repeated the benchmark, this time under the "Portable/ Laptop" power scheme and in battery mode. The processors' Powernow! and SpeedStep features are activated so that the CPU automatically adjusts its clock speed as required by a given application.

Since the CPU only hits maximum speeds for brief bursts during Sysmark 2002, the CPU die never heats up so much that the throttling kicks in, despite the passive cooling, as shown by a final reading in Powergear (measurements taken under Powergear are lower).