Newest Power Mac Extends Performance Lead Over Pentium PCs

Independent Study Shows PowerPC Processor-based Macintosh Systems are World's Fastest Personal Computers

Cupertino, California -- July 17, 1995 -- The newest Power Macintosh systems from Apple Computer, Inc., outperformed Windows computers based on equivalent clock-speed Pentium processors by 51% according to a recently completed independent performance study by Competitive Assessment Services (CAS).

Introduced on June 19, 1995, the New Power Macintosh 9500, which utililizes the next generation PowerPC 604 processor running at either 120 or 132 MHz, extends the performance leadership established by the first Power Mac models and places Apple in the position of providing the industry with the world's fastest and most powerful personal computer.

Key findings from the report include*:

• Overall the Apple Power Macintosh 9500/132 was 63% faster than the 120 MHz Pentium processor based PC running Windows and 74% faster than the 100 MHz Pentium based system tested.
• Overall the Apple Power Macintosh 9500/120 was 51% faster than the 120 MHz Pentium processor based PC and 62% faster than the 100 MHz Pentium based system tested.
• On the graphics and publishing applications tested the Apple Power Macintosh 9500/132 was 102% faster than the 120 MHz Pentium based PC tested and 123% faster than the 100 MHz Pentium based PC tested.
• On the scientific and engineering applications tested the Apple Power Macintosh 9500/132 was over 80% faster than the 120 MHz Pentium based PC tested.

*CAS conducted these tests with virtual memory turned on, and noted that users could expect even greater performance gains on the Power Mac 9500 with virtual memory turned off.

These CAS findings are similar to test results highlighted in an article that recently appeared in PC WEEK (June 19, 1995, V. 13, Number 24, page 121) entitled "Apple's 9500s give PCs a Run for the Money." In tests run by PC Week Labs, the 9500/132, running a PowerPC 604 at 132 MHz, performed up to 130% faster than a 133 MHz Pentium system when running the applications tested.

What CAS Tested

The application-level benchmarks included ten different applications measured on 58 different tasks. The applications included spreadsheets, word processors, a database, document layout, business graphics, and other applications. The tasks measured included opening files, scrolling, spell checking, spreadsheet recalculations, graphing and a variety of other tasks. The applications used were Microsoft Excel, Word and FoxPro, Claris Works from Claris, Wolfram Research's Mathematica, Macromedia Freehand, Fractal Design Painter, FrameMaker from Frame Technology Corporation, Deltagraph Professional from DeltaPoint and Ashlar Vellum.

The overall application level performance of the systems tested was:

Computer                          Relative Performance*



Apple Power Macintosh 9500/132            7.0
Apple Power Macintosh 9500/120            6.5
Pentium 120 MHz                           4.3
Pentium 100 MHz                           4.0
Pentium 90 MHz                            3.7
486DX 33 MHz                              1.0

*In multiples of the performance of a 33 MHz 486DX

About the Testing by CAS

The application level testing was conducted by Competitive Assessment Services on equivalently configured Power Macintosh and x86 processor-based PCs running Windows. The tests consisted of measuring the actual elapsed time required to perform various tasks. Unlike processor-only or low-level benchmarks, the test results reflect application-level performance running real applications on actual systems. The tasks involved a mix of integer, floating point, disk and graphics activities.

This new report also reaffirms the sharp contrast between artificial benchmarks like SPECmarks and real-world applications tests. SPEC performance ratings are subject to tuning by manufacturers, and therefore, are not necessarily representative of actual application-level performance. CAS found Power Macintosh 9500 overall performance on applications tested to be much higher than Pentium processor-based computers running at the same clock speed. Performance can vary from application to application; Apple encourages customers to perform their own tests.

Located in Huntington Beach, California, Competitive Assessment Services are providers of comparative computer quality standards. CAS reports testing scores as Geometric Mean Index scores. Apple Computer analyzed the results obtained by CAS in order to determine relative performance results as reported in the various application groups.

CAS is an independent test facility. CAS has been contracted by Apple Computer, Inc., (Apple) to perform a specific suite of benchmarks with industry standard applications as tested on personal computer systems. The test procedures are designed to take full advantage of both Apple and Intel-based personal computer system architecture. CAS closely monitors test procedures to ensure reproducible system configurations and test results.

Apple Computer, Inc., a recognized pioneer and innovator in the information industry, creates powerful solutions based on easy to use personal computers, servers, peripherals, software, online services, and personal digital assistants. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) develops, manufactures, licenses and markets products, technologies and services for the business, education, consumer, scientific & engineering and government markets in over 140 countries.

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(c) 1995 Apple Computer, Inc Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, and Power Macintosh are registered trademark and Power Mac is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.. Power PC is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation, used under license therefrom. All other brand names mentioned may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders, and are hereby acknowledged.