Assessing Laptops via Our Online Platform
In the realm of technology reviews, CNET stands out for its rigorous and comprehensive approach to laptop performance testing. The website's testing suite, designed to provide an objective measure of laptop performance, encompasses a wide range of benchmarks, from CPU and GPU performance to real-world gaming tests, content creation, and battery life.
The core benchmarks used by CNET include Geekbench 5 & 6, which measures CPU performance in single-core and multi-core tests. Cinebench R23 is another essential test, focusing on CPU and rendering performance. PCMark 10 is employed to assess overall system performance and productivity, while 3DMark benchmarks are used to evaluate graphics/gaming performance, depending on the laptop's compatibility.
For content creation, UL Procyon Photo and Video benchmarks are utilised. These tests offer insights into professional-level editing performance in the new Procyon suite. Gaming laptops undergo additional benchmarks such as Guardians of the Galaxy, The Rift Breaker (CPU and GPU), and Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
To ensure a realistic representation of everyday usage, CNET also tests the laptop's battery life by connecting it to an internal battery test network, firing up Battery Informant software, and unplugging the laptop. The system is then served up a series of pages from popular websites, and the runtime until the battery runs down completely is measured.
Each laptop category, including Chromebooks, Budget Laptops, Mainstream Laptops, Premium Laptops, Workstations, Entry-Level Gaming, Mainstream Gaming, and Premium Gaming, undergoes specific tests tailored to its unique characteristics. For instance, Chromebooks are tested with Geekbench, JetStream 2, WebXPRT 4, CrXPRT 2, heat testing, brightness and color testing, and a battery test run via a live internet connection.
Specific tests for each category include the Lightroom Classic test, which includes four active tasks and six passive tasks using images captured from Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Sony a7r III, and Nikon D850 cameras. Premiere Pro test processes a 4K video recorded at 29.97 fps and 59.94 fps to apply a Lumetri Color effect and add 12 clips across four tracks in a multicamera sequence. HandBrake video encoder is used to convert a 6.5GB 4K video file, and the time it takes to complete the process is reported.
Futuremark's 3DMark is used to measure video hardware performance, with tests like Fire Strike, Time Spy, and Night Raid. Additionally, the laptop reviews include subjective evaluations of various aspects like typing experience, touchpad performance, speaker quality, convenience, design, unique features, target audience, and overall value for money.
It's worth noting that the testing process is continuously re-evaluated to ensure the information provided meets user needs and represents the current state of the art in the industry. For instance, the File Copy test measures the time it takes to copy a folder containing 25GB of files from one location to another, providing a drive speed (in MBps). A 4K or 8K YouTube video is played for 15 minutes, and the heat on the touchpad, keyboard, and laptop's underside is measured using an infrared thermometer.
Laptop screens' brightness and colour accuracy are measured using a top-of-the-line Klein K10-A colorimeter. Apple laptops' testing considerations include tweaking tests to come up with equivalent results, disabling Apple-specific settings, and running the battery test in Safari.
In summary, CNET's comprehensive suite of tests combines CPU, GPU, real-world gaming tests, content creation, and battery life to provide an objective measure of laptop performance. This rigorous testing approach ensures that consumers can make informed decisions when choosing their next laptop.
[1] Reference omitted for brevity.
- CNET's laptop review process covers a variety of computer categories, including Chromebooks, budget laptops, and premium gaming laptops, each with its unique testing tailored to suit their specific characteristics.
- To assess the laptop's CPU performance, CNET uses Geekbench 5 & 6 for single-core and multi-core tests, while Cinebench R23 focuses on rendering performance and CPU benchmarks.
- In gaming laptops, tests like Guardians of the Galaxy, The Rift Breaker, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider are employed to evaluate graphics/gaming performance.
- For content creation, UL Procyon Photo and Video benchmarks are used to provide insights into professional-level editing performance.
- To represent everyday usage, CNET tests the laptop's battery life by serving up pages from popular websites and measures the runtime until the battery runs down.
- In the testing of Apple laptops, adjustments are made to ensure equivalent results, Apple-specific settings are disabled, and the battery test is run in Safari.
- To measure video hardware performance, Futuremark's 3DMark is utilized with tests like Fire Strike, Time Spy, and Night Raid.
- In addition to objective benchmarks, laptop reviews at CNET include subjective evaluations of aspects such as typing experience, touchpad performance, speaker quality, and overall value for money.
- The performance tests are continuously re-evaluated to ensure the information remains current and relevant to the industry's state-of-the-art.
- CNET's testing approach helps consumers make informed decisions by providing an objective measure of laptop performance in terms of CPU, GPU, battery life, content creation, and real-world gaming.
