What Is a CPU Benchmark?
A CPU (central processing unit) benchmark is software that measures CPU performance using the developer’s own algorithms.
On PCs and Macs, Cinebench and Geekbench are widely used as standard benchmark tools:
In general, CPU performance used to be communicated mostly through marketing claims from CPU vendors or PC manufacturers, such as “XX% faster than the previous generation,” which made it hard to tell what improved and by how much.
However, as benchmark software became popular, many users began publishing their benchmark results online. This made CPU performance “quantifiable,” allowing easy comparisons even across different generations, models, and manufacturers.
Benefits of Using Benchmarks
Making performance visible
When buying a new PC, there are many factors to consider—design, brand, and more—but “performance” is a major one. The problem is that performance can’t be judged as “good or bad” unless it’s expressed in numbers.
Benchmark tools help estimate processing performance based on the CPU model number. Geekbench publishes benchmark results by CPU model on the web, so it becomes easy to see at a glance:
- How much faster it will be compared to a current PC
- How big the performance gap is between the PCs being compared
Avoid getting misled by promotional review copy
It’s common to see reviews online saying things like, “A high-end CPU plus memory for about $468 all-in is a great deal, right?” But outside of major media outlets, those articles often won’t clearly explain what the CPU is “high-end” compared to. (Whether that’s because they’re paid to promote it, or because they lack the expertise, isn’t always clear.)
In the CPU world, what counts as “high-end” changes over time.
For example, Intel’s 3rd Gen Core i7-3770 was considered high-end when it launched in 2012. Meanwhile, Intel’s 8th Gen Core i3-8300 is considered an entry-level model—but when comparing Geekbench scores, it can score higher than the once high-end Core i7-3770.
| CPU | Single-core | Multi-core |
|---|---|---|
| Core i7 3770 | 798 | 3076 |
| Core i3 8300 | 1000 | 3309 |
References:
In PCs, “low-end vs. high-end” comparisons only really make sense within the same generation, or at least nearby generations.
And when the CPU brands differ (for example, Core vs. Celeron, or Core vs. Ryzen), comparing “high-end vs. low-end” stops being meaningful as a category comparison. What matters is real-world performance—meaning the benchmark score.
Benchmarks used to have the image of being “something PC enthusiasts do to chase specs,” but today they’re an important tool for understanding PC performance.
Geekbench is an English-language site, but it’s designed in a way that’s easy for beginners to understand. When buying a PC, try not to get swayed by buzzwords like “high-end,” and make decisions based on real numbers instead.
