Mozilla just released the latest developers version of their popular browser. The new codenamed “Minefield” comes in version 4.0, to be more precise 4.0b2pre. It reached beta, showing the journey to 4.0 final will soon come to an end.
If you don’t want to wait, you can download Firefox Minefield 4.0b2pre for 32-bit and 64-bit systems HERE.
Here are the newest benchmark results for Mozilla’s latest browser, the Minefield 3.7a6 (32-bit as well as 64bit). The testing procedure was the same as explained here.
V8 Benchmark - Firefox 32 bit (base 0) vs Firefox 64bit (performance in %)
As seen before, the official Firefox x64 only outruns the x86-version in complex cryptographic tasks.
Much better seem the results of Futuremark’s Pecekeeper benchmark. The Firefox Minefield 3.7a6 x64 wins (see “average score”) against it’s little x86 brother . When ignoring the results from “complex graphics” (due to some errors in x64), the “old” architecture wins, see “Peacekeeper Scoring”.
Peacekeeper - Firefox 64bit vs 32bit, (bigger numbers are better)
Now, you can see the gaps between x64 and x86, but not what is gained by changing from 3.7a5 to 3.7a6. That is why we provide you with another diagram, which shows you both x86 and x64 changes from 3.7a5 to 3.7a6 in percent.
Firefox 3.7a5 vs. Firefox 3.7a6(positive results mean a faster 3.7a6)
We excluded the “rendering” – results from this chart, because the new 64-bit Firefox gained over 50% in performace, making the bars unreadable due to rescaling. To sum it up, changing from 3.7a5 to 3.7a6 pays off. More security, more stability and more speed, whether or not you are using the x64-version. With 32-bit systems, you get a plus of 2.9 % and with 64-bit systems even 4% more power.
New speedcams are available for your iGo navigation systems. The provided package contains all kinds of speedcams, fixed or mobile as well as or traffic (red) light or distance measuring – worldwide of course.
All information provided HERE apply for this new download, too.
To keep your current installation of KLCP (K-Lite Codec Pack) up-to-date, it is recommended to install the latest update (version 6.0.7).
It updates:
As always you can download it right here:
Firefox Minefield 3.7a6 is ready to be downloaded – new tests, benchmarks and news on the new release will be posted here soon – as well as some information about when Adobe is ready to release flash for x64-bit Windows OS’s…
To keep your current installation of KLCP, short for K-Lite Codec Pack up-to-date, you may want to install the latest update for versions 6.0.x.
The Update to 6.0.4 contains a new Media Player Classic Home Cinema (1.4.1976), revision 3467 of ffdshow and VP8 decoder in version 0.9.7.0 as well as the Codec Tweak Tool 4.4.2. As usual, you can find the download in full speed here:
As promised, here’s the first test of Mozilla’s new Firefox Minefield 3.7a5pre 64 bit.
The new x64-based browser did well and considering it is the first official version ever made and still a pre-alpha it did surprisingly good.
Here is how we tested:
We choose two popular benchmarks (V8 and Peacekeeper). Every benchmark was ran three times on every browser on the same machine (Windows 7 Professional 64bit, Intel Core(TM)2 Quad Q6600 @ 2,4 GHz, Nvidia 9800 GT, 4 GB RAM).
We then took all three results, calculated the average and compared it to the corresponding results of the opponent.
Expecting a rather weak performance of the new x64 Firefox – please remember it’s early stage in development – we were surprised.
The following diagram of the V8 benchmark shows the performance of the new Firefox 64bit in percent to it’s 32bit brother (=0, basis). Green bars indicate a better result than the 32bit version, red bars mean a worse result.
V8 Benchmark - Firefox 32 bit (base 0) vs Firefox 64bit (performance in %)
While the 7% lower CPU usage (max) isn’t very sound (x86: 29%, x64: 27%), the benefits of the new architecture are quity obvious when looking at the results of the V8 crypto benchmark. That’s a 17.5% jump compared to the 32bit version and exactly the 64-bit boost expected by Mozilla. They also hope to see improvements on speed with media-rich websites, but more of that later this article.
Since Firefox 3.7a5pre x64 is in a very early stage, it is very dispensable to discuss the weaker partial results like Splay or DeltaBlue. The over all performance is just 8.6 percent behind the x86 (32bit) version – remarkable for this early stage.
Even more stunning are the Peacekeeper results.
Futuremark Corporations versatile Benchmark resulted in the 64bit browser being on a par with the 32bit one. Only a subtle distinction of -2.4% or 3039 Points (x86) vs 2965 Points (x64) was measurable.
Including all test Peacekeeper partial results into a final score, the Firefox 64bit even wins the duel by +18.26% or 3984,5 Points (x86) vs. 4712 Points (x64).
But see the following diagram for more details:
Peacekeeper - Firefox 64bit vs 32bit, (bigger numbers are better)
You have to know, that Futurmark’s Peacekeeper doesn’t add up all partial results, because some quite modern tests are not supported by some of the other browser producer. Luckily, both Foxes master these tests so for better comparison, these were included into calculation into the mentioned final score.
Examining the diagram, one partial result comes to the viewers eye: A giant 56% performance jump for the young 64bit browser in calculating / displaying complex graphics. As mentioned before, this is the second area developers think where the most potential of 64bit browsers are.
To hardware resources:
While the differences in CPU usage were neglect-able, the RAM usage was quit out of line. While the 32bit Firefox needed a maximum of 192 MB RAM, the new 64bit Firefox used 265 MB RAM (Peacekeeper Benchmark) and even 308 MB while computing V8.
You see, on the one hand there are a few things to improve, like memory management and overall performance but especially in the results of the Peacekeeper benchmark you can recognize the high potential the new 64-bit architecture has.
Download Mozilla Firefox / Minefield 3.7a5pre 64bit for x64 systems
Download Mozilla Firefox / Minefield 3.7a5pre 32bit for x86 systems
The 'about' window of Firefox Minefield 3.7a5pre Win64 / x64
Today, Firefox for x64 systems was released as a ‘latest trunk’ build. User of 64 bit systems should see improvements on speed, especially when browsing encrypted pages or websites with media contents. We will benchmark the new one to measure the betterment. Also we will report here, if common add-ons and plug-ins written for the standard 32 bit version are working on the 64bit systems, too.
Note: This build for Windows x64 (AMD64 or x86_64) will not work on systems with Windows 32bit.
Download Mozilla Firefox / Minefield 3.7a5pre 64bit for x64 systems
Edit 1: Some users reported problems with running firefox. The error message ‘msvcr100.dll is missing’ occured – meaning their system was missing a quite modern run-time. Programs written in Visual C++ 2010, like Firefox 3.7a5 pre for x64-Systems, need this run-time to work properly. As always, you can download the latest version right HERE or directly from Microsoft. After a quick install, starting the Fox should be no problem at all.
Codecguide’s K-Lite Codec Pack 6.0.0 has been released!
Due to many changes, including playback support for Google’s .webm video file format, there will be no update from versions 5.x.
You will find the Installer here:
Download K-Lite Codec Pack 6.0.0 Basic
Download K-Lite Codec Pack 6.0.0 Standard
Version 3.5.0 is available, containing:
ffdshow [revision 3461]
AC3Filter [version 1.63b]
AC3File [version 0.7b]
Haali Media Splitter [version 1.10.175.0]
MP4 splitter (Gabest) [version 1.3.1959.0]
FLV splitter (Gabest) [version 1.3.1959.0]
RealMedia splitter (Gabest) [version 1.3.1959.0]
MPEG splitter (Gabest) [version 1.3.1959.0]
CDXA Reader (Gabest) [version 1.3.1959.0]
DirectVobSub [version 2.40.1959]
Codec Tweak Tool [version 4.4.0]
Win7DSFilterTweaker [version 3.2]
GraphStudio [version 0.3.2.0]
