October 2019 • Macworld 15NEWSare new, such as calculating directions using
OpenStreetMap data and a set of new Machine
Learning and Augmented Reality related tests.
GPU Compute tests have all been updated, too.Multi-threading is better: Geekbench 4 used
multiple threads to work separately on different
problems... one could argue it was a better test of
‘multi‑tasking’ than ‘multi‑threading’. Geekbench
5 has new multi‑threading modes where multiple
threads work together on a single problem, which
should better represent many multi‑threaded apps.Vulkan support: The GPU tests in Geekbench are
still focused on using the GPU for compute rather
than real‑time 3D graphics. New to Geekbench 5
is support for the Vulkan API in Windows, Linux,
and Android. On iOS and Mac, it continues to use
the Metal API.Dark Mode: Geekbench 5 supports Dark Mode
on macOS Mojave. Support for Dark Mode on
iOS is coming in a future update ‘later this year’.The battery benchmark is gone: The battery
benchmark from Geekbench 4 is not present
in Geekbench 5. Geekbench 4 had no battery
benchmark in its initial release, either; it was
added in 4.2, over a year after the release of 4.0.
We hope Geekbench 5 adds this more quickly,
but in the meantime we’ll continue to use the
Geekbench 4 battery test where appropriate.October 2019 • Macworld 15NEWSare new, such as calculating directions using
OpenStreetMap data and a set of new Machine
Learning and Augmented Reality related tests.
GPU Compute tests have all been updated, too.
Multi-threading is better: Geekbench 4 used
multiple threads to work separately on different
problems...onecouldargueit wasa bettertestof
‘multi‑tasking’than‘multi‑threading’.Geekbench
5 hasnewmulti‑threading modes where multiple
threadsworktogetherona singleproblem,which
shouldbetterrepresentmanymulti‑threaded apps.
Vulkan support: The GPU tests in Geekbench are
stillfocusedonusingtheGPUforcomputerather
thanreal‑time 3D graphics. New to Geekbench 5
is support for the Vulkan API in Windows, Linux,
and Android. On iOS and Mac, it continues to use
the Metal API.
Dark Mode: Geekbench 5 supports Dark Mode
on macOS Mojave. Support for Dark Mode on
iOS is coming in a future update ‘later this year’.
The battery benchmark is gone: The battery
benchmark from Geekbench 4 is not present
in Geekbench 5. Geekbench 4 had no battery
benchmark in its initial release, either; it was
added in 4.2, over a year after the release of 4.0.
We hope Geekbench 5 adds this more quickly,
but in the meantime we’ll continue to use the
Geekbench 4 battery test where appropriate.