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User profile for user: TFannon
TFannon Author
User level: Level 1
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bootcamp performance on 2012 mac air way off

I purchased a new fully loaded (2ghz, 8gb ram, 512SSD) Mac Air (2012 edition) and came home and configured it. Under Mac-OS, everything was as I expected it. It turned in a GeekBench score of 7634 which was right inline with what others were seeing. As a reference, my 2011 Mac Air was 6407.

However, under Windows bootcamp, Geekbench reported 5500. On my Mac Air 2011, Windows Geekbench had a 7200 score. So, thinking that perhaps something was wrong with Geekbench under Windows, I also ran the WEI.

The numbers were similarly lower than the 2011 Air in CPU performance.


I think I may have discovered why. Turbo boost does not seem to be working properly under Windows boot camp.

I installed both the Intel Turbo Boost monitor utility as well as Core Temp, and neither of them show the CPU spinning up past its default clock rate of 2.0 ghz.

I have also looked for updated Ivy Bridge chipset drivers on Intel's site but I could not find anything.


So, it seems to me that the drivers are not optimized yet for Windows on the 2012 Mac Air.

Anyone have similar experiences or thoughts?



MacBook Air, Windows 7

Posted on Jun 28, 2012 12:58 PM

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9 replies
User profile for user: The hatter
The hatter
User level: Level 9
60,990 points

Jun 28, 2012 1:38 PM in response to TFannon

zWhen the first 2012 Air users tried to download Apple support software for Windows they had to wait 24-72 hrs for them to be posted to Apple servers.


Redownload thru Boot Camp Assistant to get new version (but you never actually know if or when).


I know I have seen others, not even with Air, post issues with not seeing Tubo Boost beng active. But then there was an EFI frmware update for those. I would assume the same could happen here for the 2012 Air. After they learn about the problem!


Being on cutting edge...


btw, are you using graphic driver from vendor also or just Apple?


2.0GHz Intel Dual-Core Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz


Try AIDA64 and take a look - shows a lot more than Core Temp will.

http://www.aida64.com/downloads - try the latest beta for support for more new processors and boards.


  • Intel HD Graphics 4000
  • Dual display and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on an external display, both at millions of colors


$1499 model configurable to dual-core 2.0GHz Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz) with 4MB shared L3 cache.


http://support.apple.com/kb/SP650


Look like could be this:


Processor Number

i7-3667U

http://ark.intel.com/products/64898/Intel-Core-i7-3667U-Processor-%284M-Cache-up -to-3_20-GHz%29

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User profile for user: TFannon
TFannon Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

Jun 28, 2012 1:58 PM in response to The hatter

That is the correct processor, and I can confirm it is spooling up in Mac. I just got the bootcamp drivers yesterday but i'll keep checking for new ones. I guess eventually they will fix it.


I'll try Aida and see if i can get some more info.


I have used the HD4000 in MacOSx. I was surprised to learn it can actually play Diablo and Starcraft, albeit just a little slower than my 7970 Radeon 🙂


I am using Apple drivers on Boot Camp and have not tried any games there. I am not going to use Boot Camp for anything except programming in Visual Studio on one project where the performance doesnt quite cut it in Parallels. thanks for your tips!


-tommy

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User profile for user: The hatter
The hatter
User level: Level 9
60,990 points

Jun 28, 2012 2:03 PM in response to TFannon

There is another thread and person went to Intel Download Center: 4000 and grabbed the driver (Windows).


I saw some other Intel 3rd gen processor mobile models that would have been nice


I assume that heat on the Wiindows side is something to keep your eye on.

AIDA64 has all the details you might want. For OS X I'd look at Hardware Monitor - just updated this week for the Air and others. Known to be more accurate and reliable than iStatPro.


http://www.bresink.com/osx/HardwareMonitor.html

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User profile for user: ckahn
ckahn
User level: Level 1
18 points

Jul 2, 2012 2:06 PM in response to The hatter

My Windows Support Software download is dated June 14, 2012 (at least the setup.exe file is dated that day).


How do we know when a new update is available to download? Is there an alert page somewhere to check?


I'm not seeing Thunderbolt in the Windows Device Manager, BTW, which is another reason I'm hoping an update will fix things.


06/04/2012 08:39 PM 407,541 Boot Camp Installation & Setup Guide.pdf

14/06/2012 04:37 PM 164,953 BootCamp.xml

14/06/2012 04:43 PM 164,539 BootCamp64.xml

01/07/2012 02:24 PM <DIR> Documentation

01/07/2012 02:25 PM <DIR> Drivers

14/06/2012 04:31 PM 704,936 setup.exe

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User profile for user: The hatter
The hatter
User level: Level 9
60,990 points

Jul 2, 2012 2:19 PM in response to ckahn

Apple Support Boot Camp page is the only place, seeing they aren't and have not used updates to Boot camp via Apple Windows Software Updates in Lion.


I start my day looking at recent KB changes

http://support.apple.com/kb/index?page=articles


TB and Windows updated June 14th

Thunderbolt ports and displays: Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4617

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bootcamp performance on 2012 mac air way off

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