Web Browser Grand Prix 2: Running The Linux Circuit

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Last week we showed Opera 10.60 to be the world's fastest Web browser. That was in the Windows world. But where do Chrome, Firefox, and Opera stand in Linux? Today we find out. Adding the Win 7 results, we'll also learn which OS has the speediest browser.

Benchmark Results: Startup Times

We maintain the single-tab and eight-tab startup time test in order to compare against the Windows 7 benchmark scores, even though the eight-tab limit of Internet Explorer 8 is not a factor here.

Single Tab

With a single page to load, Chrome manages to come out on top, shaving a second and a half off of its Windows 7 startup time. Second-place finisher Firefox also starts up a fraction of a second faster in Ubuntu than Windows, but Opera's stellar Windows 7 startup time is almost doubled in Linux.

Eight Tabs

With a load of eight tabs, it's Mozilla Firefox that starts up first, more than six seconds sooner than it does in Window 7. Chrome comes in second, with a little over ten seconds. Opera places third, only one second behind Chrome. Google's browser again starts up faster in Linux than in Windows, but Opera's time is five seconds slower than its amazing six-second start in Windows 7.

Adam Overa
70 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Tamz_msc
    The article that I was waiting for.How the tables have turned!
    Conclusion:Firefox is quite capable in both Linux and Windows.
    I'm using Firefox 4 beta and I find it pretty quick.
    Reply
  • micr0be
    yes i would have loved to have seen the firefox 4 beta with the results. although great article.
    Reply
  • opmopadop
    Interesting how FireFox chose to sacrifice speed for memory.
    Reply
  • adamovera
    weirdguy99Why not put firefox 4 into the equation?micr0beyes i would have loved to have seen the firefox 4 beta with the results. although great article.When it's final, I'll test it.
    Reply
  • Tamz_msc
    DamdamanI'll get berated for this I'm sure but will we see an OSX article on browsers as well?You are kidding,right?
    Reply
  • arnweb
    Opera Turbo feature, is not mentioned here, it can boost speed in real surf. And also when we open a closed tab in Opera it opens them instantly, that's why Opera holds memory for closed, tab.
    Reply
  • Sihastru
    Opera still can't render pages properly, still can't print content properly, and we waste our time with senseless tests of imperceptible speed.
    Reply
  • The_King
    I dont think anyone using firefox will change to another browser even if it is Faster. I love my firefox :)
    Reply
  • Tamz_msc
    Wow, Chrome uses more memory than Crysis on my computer. :lol:
    Reply
  • Tamz_msc
    arnwebOpera Turbo feature, is not mentioned here, it can boost speed in real surf. And also when we open a closed tab in Opera it opens them instantly, that's why Opera holds memory for closed, tab.Opera Turbo increases page load times on slow connections.On my 2Mbps connection the time in which Opera Turbo connects to its servers is the time in which Google loads in Firefox.
    Reply