Performance – Intel Skylake Keeps Things Moving
Benchmarks here are going to be more limited than you might be used to seeing on PC Perspective, but that’s not because we are devaluing performance. Instead, I am pushing forward with a more experience-based evaluation method for devices like smartphones, tablets and mainstream notebooks. (Gaming notebooks are a totally different beast.) We’ll still have a handful of system level, processor tests, to make sure that performance is scaling appropriately with the new Skylake architecture. We will also have a few gaming benchmarks on the Surface Book with the inclusion of its discrete NVIDIA GeForce GPU.
First up we have the ever-present SiSoft Sandra suite of tests to help give us a view of synthetic and optimal performance. It also allows us to compare the Surface devices with previous generation Broadwell and Haswell hardware.
The first thing to notice is that, because of our nearly identical configuration between the Surface Book and Surface Pro 4, the scores between the two devices are the same. Totally expected there. The Core i5-6300U compares favorably with the Core i5-5200U found in the Dell XPS 13 and even against the Core i7-5500U (both Broadwell processors) found in Lenovo LaVie Z. Processor throughput and capability isn’t lacking here even with the dual-core / HyperThreaded configurations that Microsoft is using in all models. The step up to the Core i7 will buy you a handful of percentage points additional at peak, but the cost difference doesn’t usually warrant the upgrade in my view.
Handbrake is another CPU performance test that measures long-term performance of a processor by encoding video. While many users will never utilize a notebook for such a task, anyone considering making the Surface devices their only computer will be very interested in how it can handle these tasks.
With an average encoding rate of just over 132 FPS for both the Surface Book and Surface Pro 4, Microsoft’s new flagship hardware is 26% faster than the Dell XPS 13 and even 15% faster than the LaVie Z and its Core i7 Broadwell 5th generation processor.
CineBench is a great test to measure single threaded and multi-threaded compute performance on any given platform. In our testing, both Surface devices scored 1.41 in the single threaded result, essentially matching the performance of the Core i7-5500U but coming in 20% faster than the Core i5-5200U. That’s a crucial result for mobile users when single threaded applications are the norm and are very often the bottleneck of system performance and responsiveness.
The multi-threaded results show an even larger advantage for Intel’s new Skylake processors, with the Surface Book scoring 3.41, 10% faster than the Core i7-5500U and 21% faster than the Core i5-5200U. Not only are these processors more competent at single threaded workloads, but, in multi-threaded workloads, they excel.
Our basic graphics testing will compare the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book, although the Book is tested both with and without the discrete NVIDIA GeForce GTX GPU. This was done by running tests without the keyboard dock attached the tablet.
Using the new 3DMark Sky Diver test, more closely matching the workloads that machine with the gaming capability of the Surface devices can tackle, we see a couple of interesting results. First, the score on both tablets with integrated Intel HD Graphics 520, are close but not identical. In general, the SP4 had a better score, slightly but consistently. That might be due to slightly better cooling (and a thicker design) allow for higher clock speeds for a longer time period. The gap is ~5% so it’s nothing to get overly concerned about.
But when we compare the Surface Book with and without the discrete GPU we see a 75% increase in performance, jumping to Sky Diver score of 6119. That is certainly not a desktop-class GPU result, but the advantages for gaming and compute workloads are going to be substantial.
One thing to keep in mind is that, because the discrete GPU on the Surface Book only has 1GB of memory, playing at high resolutions (or with really high image quality settings) isn’t going to be possible – although it will be better than what the Intel HD 520 would allow. In fact, in our testing with 3DMark Fire Strike, the scores between the integrated and discrete graphics solutions were very close. This indicates that a bottleneck of the memory system (think swapping) was dominating the pipeline, not allowing the obviously faster NVIDIA GPU to showcase its advantage.
Is it possible to take video
Is it possible to take video with the rear camera in “laptop mode” not “tablet mode”?
I want to continue to take notes in laptop mode, but also take video of my lectures with the rear view camera.
Hmm, I can try to find out.
Hmm, I can try to find out. What application would you record video with?
My Surface Pro 3 can do that.
My Surface Pro 3 can do that. You use the Camera app that comes installed on it and it works fine.
Ryan, I think your argument
Ryan, I think your argument about the discrete GPU not being worth it unless one plans on gaming or doing GPU intensive tasks is spot on.
I’ve seen a couple other sights see about 12% battery life improvements in models without the discrete GPU. Doesn’t sound like much, but that’s over an hour extra for $200 less…
Very instructive and helpful.
Very instructive and helpful. Thanks. Many of the non-tech people I know who have always used windows laptops are looking at Apple laptops now. Assuming it isn’t about the op system, but rather about the way it looks and feels, would you say this on par? Fortunately I have never had to own a laptop and the ones I have used were windows machines, so I am in no position to guide them.
Thanks Ryan, is it possible
Thanks Ryan, is it possible that the power connector blocks the displayport connector so you cannot use both at the same time?
The power connector is
The power connector is rotatable so you can avoid that.
On the surface book…
On the surface book…
Hi Ryan,
some corrections for
Hi Ryan,
some corrections for your summary table.
The Surface Pro 4 i7 is not the Core i7-6500U but it’s the Core i7-6650U that has better GPU than 6500U.
The 6650U has the Intel HD-540 (Iris Graphics) instead of HD-520.
While the Surface Book i7 version is the 6600U that has HD-520 (but it is not 6500U)
So the SP4 i7 is much better than the SB i7 (without nVidia).
Here some source:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2989906/laptop-computers/here-are-the-details-of-the-surface-book-and-surface-pro-4-chips-and-why-they-matter.html
http://ark.intel.com/it/products/family/88392/6th-Generation-Intel-Core-i7-Processors#@Mobile
Interesting, thanks.
Updated!
Interesting, thanks.
Updated!
Hi Ryan,
Have you tried
Hi Ryan,
Have you tried editing GoPro videos on Surface Book?
Thanks,
Can’t say that I have. Sorry!
Can't say that I have. Sorry!
I use the Surface Book for
I use the Surface Book for live-stream video productions and editing in real-time for my church. I also use it heavily with Photoshop/Illustrator. I do high-res graphics that are the size of billboard banners. I have not had this machine slow down on me for a single beat.
i7 with Nvidia
Does anybody know:
Is it
Does anybody know:
Is it possible ANYWHERE to get the surface book with 512gb *without* nvidia GPU?
I want the storage but have no desire for the nvidia.
Do you think this will be an option in the future? Should I wait?
Thanks!
The price is too high.
The price is too high.
Just wondering… Has anyone
Just wondering… Has anyone else noticed that the Surface Book fulcrum is identical to the hinge on the Martian heat ray weapon in the “War of the Worlds” (1953) movie?
You can’t help but love the
You can’t help but love the specs. http://www.interwebcom.com/microsoft-surface-book-review/
But I found the Surface Book a bit awkward while converting it from laptop to desktop mode.
The older Surface tablets connect to the Type Cover keyboard via fabric hinge. It works pretty well, but there’s always a tiny bit of flex. Worse still is the kickstand, which Microsoft has never quite figured out how to prevent it from digging into your thighs. The hinge solves all that, holding the monstrous tablet securely. It doesn’t wiggle. Internal, toothlike hooks help secure the tablet to the base.