Web Browser Grand Prix 7: Firefox 7, Chrome 14, Opera 11.51

Features
By Adam Overa
published

Mozilla released the hotly-anticipated Firefox 7 two days ago. Does it deliver on the promise of speed and memory improvements? Does Firefox 7 have what it takes to dethrone current Web Browser Grand Prix champion, Google Chrome? Read on to find out!

Benchmark Results: Flash Performance

GUIMark2 Flash

The following chart provides a detailed view of the three individual GUIMark2 Flash tests.

This one hosts a composite score, which is achieved by averaging the results of the three GUIMark2 Flash tests.

Although the placing of the top three finishers changes from WBGP6, it doesn't really matter. The scores of Opera, Safari, and Internet Explorer are essentially interchangeable. Firefox comes in second place, with Chrome falling to third.

Flash Benchmark 2008

Microsoft Internet Explorer barely manages to edge out Apple Safari for first place, reversing the order in WBGP6. Opera retains third place, while there is another close reversal at the tail end. Mozilla Firefox 7 finishes fourth, while Google Chrome 14 drops to fifth, losing nearly 100 points from Chrome 13.

Overall, it doesn't really matter if you choose IE9, Opera, or Safari. All three are very strong performers in Flash. Firefox falls to a distant second place behind what we consider to be three first-place finishers, while Chrome staggers behind in last place with its own half-baked-in Flash player.

Adam Overa
131 Comments Comment from the forums
  • gerchokas
    Well done Mozilla!
    Now they could change their famous icon to a more minimalist/modern style and we're done. Speedy AND classy, just like a fire fox.
    Reply
  • shiftmx112
    Enjoy it while you can Firefox fans

    Indeed. I have been quite content with FF8 though.
    Reply
  • soccerdocks
    Until another browser beats Chrome in the speed/performance benchmarks I'm sticking with it.
    Reply
  • iam2thecrowe
    im sticking with IE, its perfectly fast enough and stable and why should I have to install another browser when it works perfectly fine?
    Reply
  • JOSHSKORN
    I'm on FF10. :D Nightly 64-bit!
    Reply
  • compton
    I have to say, I do really like chrome. I stopped using Firefox as much one I tried the chrome beta, and now I use IE9 and chrome all the time. I used opera for a while, but Netflix streaming doesn't work with it, nor do many other sites I use.

    Now that IE is good again, I can't fault anyone for using it in lieu of the others.
    Reply
  • makaveli316
    "Until another browser beats Chrome in the speed/performance benchmarks I'm sticking with it."

    lol people still think they can feel the difference in terms of speed in real world performance and there's still people that doesn't use a browser for their needs and preferences, but just because they have seen some silly benchmark.
    Ridiculous. I bet those are the same people that are always complaining in the forums about crashes, viruses and blue screens.
    Reply
  • killik
    Even better yet,if you use FF7 with the MemoryFox addon,Firefox simply obliterates the competition.try it for yourself.
    Reply
  • killik
    Even better yet,if you use FF7 with the MemoryFox addon,Firefox simply obliterates the competition in the memory management department.try it for yourself.
    Reply
  • frostmachine
    I noticed firefox will use progressively more memory. Even if it's just refreshing the same pages. I use firefox, opera n chrome, keeping them open 24hr/day. It can go from intial 100mb to over 500mb. I don't see this in the other browsers.
    Reply