Web Browser Grand Prix 2: Running The Linux Circuit

Features
By Adam Overa
published

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: JavaScript

Google V8 Benchmark v5

As always, Google places first in its V8 benchmark. But this time it's 200 ms behind the browser's Windows 7 score. Opera earns a close second, just 350 points behind Chrome. At over 2100 points in Ubuntu, Opera comes very close to its Windows 7 score of 2210. Firefox flounders in third with fewer than 200 points, almost half of what Mozilla's browser received in Windows.

JSBenchmark

In the JSBenchmark, Opera 10.60 finally achieves a solid victory over its arch-rival for speed, Google Chrome. The Norwegian browser gets a score just under 300, while Chrome only bags 233 points. However, Chrome's Windows 7 score is still the highest in this benchmark (about 100 points higher than its second-place Ubuntu finish). Firefox earns just over 90 points, thirty less than in Windows 7.

Mozilla Dromaeo JavaScript

Remember that the we have replaced Opera's original Windows 7 score of almost 2000 with an updated score after Mozilla applied fixes to Dromaeo that prevent JavaScript engines from 'gaming' the benchmark.

Unlike in Windows 7, Opera for Linux did not give a ridiculous result in the Dromaeo JavaScript Benchmark, even before the fixes were enabled by Mozilla.

Barely edging out Google Chrome by four points, Opera on Ubuntu still can't match Chrome's Windows 7 score of 290. Mozilla Firefox again comes in last, only managing half of what it earned in Windows 7.

SunSpider v0.9.1

In an unanticipated upset, Opera wins a majority of the JavaScript benchmarks, taking the category from Google Chrome. The SunSpider results for Ubuntu closely mirror the Windows scores, with Opera having a minor edge over Chrome in both OSes (though the Windows 7 scores are better in both cases). Firefox is yet again the distant third-place finisher. Mozilla's Web browser gets a shocking 4200 points, much worse than its 1500 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