I'm curious why my MacBook is significantly faster than my ThinkPad when it comes to web browsing. The MacBook responds quickly under my usual workload, while the ThinkPad struggles to load webpages and slows down when I open multiple tabs. Both laptops are from the same generation and haven't been heavily modified in terms of software.
Here are the specs:
- MacBook Pro 15": i7 8850H, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, integrated GPU, running Ventura
- ThinkPad X1 Carbon: i7 8665U, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, integrated GPU, running Windows 11
I understand that the 8850H is a more powerful 45W chip compared to the 15W 8665U. Is this power difference the main reason for the performance gap in browsing? Online benchmarks suggest their performance is quite similar. I also know that the MacBook's cooling isn't the best for that chip. I suspect it might have something to do with the network card or Apple's software optimization.
3 Answers
Definitely consider a fresh install on your ThinkPad! Sometimes they come bogged down with unnecessary files or even malware. I’ve found that a clean start can lead to huge improvements in performance. Also, it's good you checked the network speed; that can often be overlooked.
The power difference does play a role, but there might also be RAM or SSD factors involved. It could be related to how power profiles are set up too.
You're on the right track! The H variants are designed for performance and have more cores compared to the U variants. That gives them a bit of an edge in demanding tasks. But for pure web browsing, the OS could be what's really holding back your ThinkPad.
I'm debating the fresh install but I don't have a lot on my ThinkPad. I did check and the network speed is actually better on the ThinkPad, so that's a relief.