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Benchmarking Firefox 3.5

By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes | June 30, 2009, 12:37pm PDT

Summary

I’ve just loaded The release version of Firefox 3.5 onto my browser test bed in order to do some benchmarking. How does Mozilla’s latest browser compare to the rest?.

Topics

Mozilla Firefox, Benchmarking, Web Browser, Web Browsers, Internet, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Blogger Info

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

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I’ve just loaded The release version of Firefox 3.5 onto my browser test bed in order to do some benchmarking. How does Mozilla’s latest browser compare to the rest?.

As usual I’m running two two tests:

  • SunSpider JavaScript benchmark
  • V8 Benchmark Suite

I expected Firefox 3.5 to be fast, but I didn’t expect it to beat Google Chrome, and I was right. It’s odd to think that it’s been nearly a year since the last major Firefox upgrade, but in that time the browser faces stiff competition from both Google Chrome and Apple’s Safari.

So, Firefox 3.5 now lags behind Chrome and Safari 4. That said, the browser is fast enough that you won’t really notice that it’s not the fastest!

Here, for completeness, are the ACID 3 results:

Close, but no cigar …

After I get a few more hours under my belt I’ll post a review of Firefox 3.5.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

Disclosure

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

All opinions expressed on Hardware 2.0 are those of Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. Every effort is made to ensure that the information posted is accurate. If you have any comments, queries or corrections, please contact Adrian via the email link here. Any possible conflicts of interest will be posted below. [Updated: February 23, 2010] - Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other actual/potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted so far on this blog.

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

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Talkback Most Recent of 106 Talkback(s)

  • Benchmarking Firefox 3.5
    Any reason you chose to benchmark 3.0.5 instead of 3.0.11? Not a gripe, just curious. If its something like no speed improvements since the 3.0.5 patches then that's understandable.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Loverock Davidson
    06/30/2009 12:55 PM

  • ZDNet Blogger

    there's been no detectable speed increase ...
    ... since 3.0.5 so I've not updated it ... probably should ...

    Thanks for bringing that up because I'm sure it will confuse some.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
    06/30/2009 01:00 PM
  • Something unexpected here
    I just ran a Sunspider of FF3.5 running in Win7 build 7100 on this old machine and compared it to Chrome 2 on the same machine. FF3.5 actually beat Chrome2 on this machine by a narrow margin. Did the test twice.

    FF3.5 -> 3173.8ms +/- 12.0%

    Chrome 2.0.172.33 -> 3886.8ms +/- 6.0%
    ZDNet Gravatar
    eMJayy
    06/30/2009 01:47 PM
  • RE: Benchmarking Firefox 3.5
    Opera is way faster, and more features
    ZDNet Gravatar
    George Castanza
    06/30/2009 01:51 PM
  • Please
    Have you actually used Chrome? If so, please list a site for me that's "way" slower in it. Same question goes for FF35.

    Features are moot. If you want those, use FF, where you can pretty much add the features that you want down to the letter. Opera's are always a compromise. You get what you get at the whim of Norwegians.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    rseiler
    06/30/2009 02:36 PM
  • Please
    i don't care if it's faster as long as it runs at least as fast as it did.i'm more concerned with the adons,i use a lot of them daily
    ZDNet Gravatar
    bwchato
    07/01/2009 01:24 PM
  • Features? Compromise?
    Compromise in Opera?

    At least in Opera features are fast and properly integrated into a whole. Firefox extensions are bolted on as afterthoughts, and are usually slow, buggy and crashy.

    The compromise is not Opera as it gives you a complete and streamlined experience.

    With extensions you get what you get at the whim of authors of buggy extensions.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Mipe Relons
    07/01/2009 02:53 PM
  • You must be an opera salesman.
    no one i know is that fired up about Opera.

    Ive been working in IT for years...

    Firefox blazes, and as far as you comments about being buggy...

    I dont know anyone who has the slightest idea of what your referring to.

    please.

    The only downside (in fairness), is when a new release comes out, some community created add-ons dont work with the latest editions.

    but if they are popular.. its doesnt take long.

    and btw...

    Id like to see a list of Opera add-ons vs Firefox add-ons.

    wow.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    pcguy777
    07/01/2009 03:50 PM
  • Opera
    Opera's a damned good browser... period.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    professordnm
    07/01/2009 04:46 PM
  • I admit I don't use everything. Only what I need.
    I haven't used Opera since '02. I use FF daily. I only use two addons.

    That being written I have to admit is does seem like a jab at Opera stating you are 'at the whim' of the developers. I think it's a safe bet to say you are safer being at the whim of the browser developers that at the whim of addon developers.

    In any case, I will never be at the whim of Microsoft developers. The company lost me years ago...never to have me again.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    No More Microsoft Software Ever!
    07/01/2009 05:41 PM
  • What 'No More Microsoft' said
    I use FF, and occasionally Opera. But its always on Linux on all my machines.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    rMatey
    07/08/2009 03:50 PM
  • I used Opera for a few days
    I have to say that I will not look at Opera again. There is no huge benefit to it at all and BTW FireFox Add-ons have never crashed or hung for me. even the sloppy ones ran smooth!!


    Has to be a opera marketing campaign!!
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Ez_Customs
    07/02/2009 12:00 AM
  • You are a hypocrite
    Wait, so when someone likes Firefox and spreads anti-Opera FUD they are heroes, but when someone likes Opera instead and corrects the anti-Opera FUD, they are suddenly in the wrong?

    What amazing hypcorisy! You must be a Mozilla employee, as they are known for that.

    Firefox is the slowest browser today on real sites, except for IE. Sorry, but it's the truth.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Mipe Relons
    07/02/2009 08:34 AM
  • Opera...
    I have been using opera since the beginning, first in Mandriva then in windows then my laptop and now the mobile (tri corder lol). Opera is by far and away the most adaptable browser out, no need for add-ons as everything is already inside.

    I used to be a firefox fan, but there was never any really good development's that where not stolen from other browser, yes it's good it is open source, yes it is better than IE, but when it comes down to bells and whistles the Opera team win hands down.

    Someone said they used it for a few days and never again? What? Just READ HOW TO USE IT!! There is more in Opera than you can shake a stick at. Better file handling, security, speed (real time normal browsing), bit torrent built in, quick dial (now a ff addon).

    The way I see it is that Opera is the one for cross platform use and the rest are for people who never want to have a complete package, I use Chrome as well and that is by far and away the most exciting but whether it will live long is another matter.

    To end with I would always pick ff over ie and safari, but Opera dominates the choices. Take care all.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Horus418
    07/03/2009 06:32 AM
  • I like Opera
    But there are just too many websites I want to see that Opera cannot display but FF can. If and when Opera is able to display those websites I man consider it but as of now, no cigar.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    rhomp2002@...
    07/01/2009 07:19 AM
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