Crankshaft Accelerates Chrome 10

By Tuan An Nguyen
published

Google has almost quietly upgraded the nightly builds of Chrome 10 with a new JavaScript engine. Version 3.0.0.1 is, in some applications, twice as fast as the predecessor 2.5.9.1.

The first Chrome version that received this new engine is Chromium 10.0.605.0. Google justified the JavaScript update with what the company calls "Crankshaft", a new compilation infrastructure for the V8 JavaScript VM. There are some "aggressive" optimizations that boost the benchmark score in V8 by about 50% in our tests and up to 100% in some individual tests, according to Google.

The new browser comes on the heels of the announcement of Chrome OS earlier today, which is closely tied to Chrome and relies on Chrome as a fast browser. However, we also remember that Microsoft has made some pretty impressive improvements with IE9 and the latest Platform Preview 7, which was actually faster in the Sunspider benchmark than any other browser.

ConceivablyTech has posted some benchmark numbers that indicate that Chrome is now faster than IE9 PP7 at least on one of their platforms. But it seems that Microsoft and Google are now tied up in a JavaScript battle that could last a few months. When was the last time a Microsoft browser was actually competing for first place in a browser speed race?

Tuan An Nguyen
24 Comments Comment from the forums
  • NapoleonDK
    Bring it on.
    Reply
  • awaken688
    Does IE have as much vertical space as Chrome yet? I love how much of the webpage I can see on Chrome on my laptop.
    Reply
  • amk09
    Keep it up, I'm a sucker for speed.
    Reply
  • rpgplayer
    awaken688Does IE have as much vertical space as Chrome yet? I love how much of the webpage I can see on Chrome on my laptop.it's all in what toolbars you choose to show, you can minimize just about any browser down to a tab bar and an address bar if you so choose.
    Reply
  • westerbamos
    rpgplayerit's all in what toolbars you choose to show, you can minimize just about any browser down to a tab bar and an address bar if you so choose.chrome still shows more of the webpage, as the tabs are integrated into the top of the window which saves quite a bit of space.
    Reply
  • bunz_of_steel
    If it's IE it Suk$ major A$$! I don't care how good or how many features it has. I ONLY use IE when I have to. I know there are ppl who swear by IE and alota ppl use it and that's fine. As for me I"m a steadfast FF/Chrome/Opera guy. IE can be faster than all of them but like my wife says ....... yeah but still LOL. It's going to take A WHOLE LOT more than speed to get me to use IE.

    TSM
    Reply
  • dEAne
    When was the last time a Microsoft browser was actually competing for first place in a browser speed race?

    Never.
    Reply
  • dapneym
    I couldn't care less how fast IE gets, the interface is terrible and, let's face it, it's still IE.
    Reply
  • funny how opera runs usually faster than anything but all the "tekkssavvy" in here doesnt even talk about it....
    Reply
  • freiheitner
    Did I miss a few Chrome release? Did they really go from 5 to 6 to 8 to 10 the last eight months?
    Reply