Web Browser Grand Prix 3: IE9 Enters The Race
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Page 1:Introduction
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Page 2:Getting To Know Internet Explorer Again
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Page 3:Test System Specs And Setup
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Page 4:Performance Benchmarks: Startup Times
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Page 5:Performance Benchmarks: Page Load Times
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Page 6:Performance Benchmarks: JavaScript
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Page 7:Performance Benchmarks: Peacekeeper, Dromaeo DOM, And Acid3 Speed
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Page 8:Performance Benchmarks: HTML5
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Page 9:Performance Benchmarks: Adobe Flash
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Page 10:Performance Benchmarks: Java And Silverlight
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Page 11:Efficiency Benchmarks: Memory Usage And Management
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Page 12:Compliance Benchmarks: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, And Acid3
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Page 13:Final Results: Placing
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Page 14:Conclusion
Conclusion
Now that we've seen the final results in performance, efficiency, and standards compliance testing, as well as overall placing, let's break down how the Web browsers perform in individual categories.
| Category/Test | Winner | Also Strong | Weak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance Testing | |||
| Startup Times | IE9 | Opera | |
| Page Load Times | IE9 | ||
| JavaScript | Chrome | Opera, IE9 | Firefox |
| Peacekeeper | Chrome | Opera | Firefox |
| DOM | Opera | Firefox | |
| HTML5 | IE9 | Opera | |
| Flash | Opera | IE9 | |
| Java | Opera | Firefox | |
| Silverlight | Chrome | IE9 | |
| Efficiency Testing | |||
| Memory Usage (Light Load) | IE9 | Chrome, Firefox | |
| Memory Usage (Heavy Load) | Firefox | IE9, Chrome | |
| Memory Management | IE9 | Chrome, Firefox | Opera, Safari |
| Standards Conformance Testing | |||
| HTML5 | Chrome | ||
| CSS3 | Firefox, IE9, Opera, Safari | Chrome | |
| JavaScript | IE9 | ||
| Acid3 | Chrome, Opera, Safari | IE9, Firefox | |
Internet Explorer 9 manages to pull ahead, regardless of whether you look at individual categories or the overall placing. IE9 comes out on top in seven categories, while Opera and Chrome only top five each.
Despite Firefox losing so terribly, the biggest upset in WBGP3 has to be Chrome. Since the release of IE9, Firefox 3.6 is the oldest Web browser here, and it is about to be replaced with the much-anticipated and long overdue Firefox 4. Chrome 10, on the other hand, is only as old as IE9.
IE9 really put the hurt on Chrome. Disciplines like page load times, JavaScript performance, and memory management have traditionally been bastions for Chrome's success. This time, IE9 excelled in all three. Chrome also gives us disappointing results in HTML5 performance, the CSS3 Selectors Test, and it was unable to run Dromaeo DOM.
Opera, though not as terribly battered by IE9 as Chrome, also gives up some ground to Microsoft's newest Web browser. IE9 demonstrates excellent performance in areas where Opera is also strong, such as HTML5 and Flash.
Not only does IE9 manage to beat previous WBGP champions Opera and Chrome with regard to performance, but it also succeeds in strutting its stuff in efficiency and standards compliance. IE9 is the clear winner of Web Browser Grand Prix 3, and we at Tom's Hardware approve of Microsoft Internet Explorer 9.
By beating the stiffest competition (Opera and Chrome) in areas where the competition has historically dominated, Microsoft has made IE a real contender. But with the launch of Mozilla Firefox 4 just over the horizon, the company's arch-nemesis in the browser wars might pose the gravest threat to IE9's WBGP championship.
Follow Adam Overa on Twitter @adamovera.
- Introduction
- Getting To Know Internet Explorer Again
- Test System Specs And Setup
- Performance Benchmarks: Startup Times
- Performance Benchmarks: Page Load Times
- Performance Benchmarks: JavaScript
- Performance Benchmarks: Peacekeeper, Dromaeo DOM, And Acid3 Speed
- Performance Benchmarks: HTML5
- Performance Benchmarks: Adobe Flash
- Performance Benchmarks: Java And Silverlight
- Efficiency Benchmarks: Memory Usage And Management
- Compliance Benchmarks: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, And Acid3
- Final Results: Placing
- Conclusion
but there is no mention of any addon/extentions for IE..
i mean there is no comparision on who's got nice addons and startup time "with" addons.. since users tend to use web browsers with addons knowingly or un-knowingly..
it would be better if you include those two comparisions as well.. and who takes advantage of GPU and all..
lol
maybe not!!
and FFS why doesnt that "submit my comment" button not working in IE!! I am using chrome for that ;(
Then they would have to include every random nightly build of every browser? Comparing the latest release is fair you'll always get one browser or two that is near a new stable version but that's just how it works.
depends in Microsoft moves up an update schedule that doesn't just include making the browser more secure and fixing bugs. IE8 was pretty snappy back when it was first out it got old in like 3 months compared to other browsers though.
We only test final products in the WBGP.
Where are ya'll getting a set date from?
We add/modify tests every time with the WBGP. We're already looking into those suggestions.
Doh! Fixing that now.
http://groups.google.com/group/mozilla.dev.planning/browse_thread/thread/d7cd3c9e9650b1b3
(I'm assuming they tested the Windows version of Safari, because why would you compare browsers for different systems?)
I'm sticking with Opera on my Windows machine and Safari on my Mac.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03/16/mozilla_ship_firefox_4_22_march/
Although most websites link to this website, so perhaps it was nothing more than a rumor.
Opera sucks balls in memory management and lacks handy add-on such as Tab Mix Plus (which is same for Chrome). I would definitely move to Opera if it has these 2 issues fixed.
This article looks like a case of premature e.. something.
On the 16th he said RC1 would become the final code on the 22nd, but they released an RC2 since. I don't believe them anymore. Where is an official announcement or press release? RC1 was supposed to be here in November 2010. WBGP3 was going to feature FF4 at the end of 2010, then again at the end of this Feb. IE9 gave a date, so WBGP3 was made to coincide with its release. IF Firefox 4 launches tomorrow, it's purely coincidental. We stopped holding the WBGP series up for FF4 when MS officially gave their IE9 release date.