The P-rating system will allow end-users to base purchases on relative PC performance levels, rather than just the clock speed of the processor. The new evaluation system relates the results of industry-standard benchmarks to what is achieved by an Intel Pentium(r) processor of a given frequency. For example, a processor with a P150 rating would have performance comparable to a 150 MHz Pentium processor, regardless of its actual clock speed. PC manufacturers choosing alternatives to Pentium processors can thereby communicate system performance in a readily understood form.
According to Michael Slater, president of MicroDesign Resources and publisher of the Microprocessor Report, "This is the first comprehensive and credible method for comparing competing processors based on the relative performance they bring PC users under real-world conditions. It standardizes test system configurations based on commercially available components, and it uses the most widely recognized and utilized application-based benchmark tests. I expect the new P-rating methodology to achieve broad industry acceptance."
While clock frequency is important, Slater pointed out that it is no longer an accurate or consistent measure of CPU performance. Architectural differences between processor designs add another variable to the equation.
"Now, with the P-rating in place, a buyer can easily evaluate all personal computer processors for a given performance category," added Slater. "After all, the last thing the consumer wants to do is scrutinize the architectural merits of the different processors."