9. Testing Performance: Methods And Benchmarks

Note: These tests were done before the torture tests discussed below.

To test the Twinhead Durabook N15RI I used BAPCo's MobileMark 2005 benchmarks. I also used FutureMark's PCMark05 and 3DMark05 test suites.

MobileMark 2005 uses real world office applications to measure battery life under different conditions. It also provides a useful measure of the performance of the combined components in a mobile computer that is running on battery power.

All of the battery-based tests discussed here were done with Microsoft's USB 2.0 battery drain patch for Windows XP SP2 installed. For more on the patch that applies to all computers running Win XP SP2 see these articles:

PCMark05 produces performance scores for certain discrete components in a computer, while the computer is running on AC power. For tests of the Durabook N15RI, I used PCMark05's CPU, memory and hard disk drive benchmarks.

3DMark05 measures gaming graphics performance on a computer that is plugged into an AC socket. A computer must obtain a 3DMark05 overall score of over 500 before we report its performance under the full 3DMark05 benchmark suite. The Twinhead Durabook N15RI's 3DMark05 overall score was a low 204, which is not unusual for its Intel GMA 900 graphics controller. So its 3DMark05 scores are not reported here. This should not be taken as an indication that the Durabook is a poor business graphics performer.

For more on how we use the MobileMark 2005, PCMark05 and 3DMark05 benchmarks see How We Test Laptop and Notebook Computers for Home and Office.