Best browser for a core i7 windows 7 laptop?

I've been using Firefox for years, but recently I read that Chrome is already multithreaded, while Firefox is not. Is this true? I just got a new i7 laptop, would the fastest browser for it be Chrome? Thanks for your help.

 

I don't think you would notice the difference.
Just stick with firefox.

 

That's kind of like asking which windshield-wipers would be the best on a Ferrari. Just use whatever works for you.

And to answer your question, Firefox is not fully multi-threaded, so from a pure resource availability perspective, Chrome would be your best best. That being said, I have an i7 and Chrome will never see the light of day on my laptop, nor any other computer I own.

 

I would rep you for that if I could.

 

My problem with Chrome is just a personal one. I'm sure it works fine for a lot of people, I just can't stand the thing.

 

Read what's been posted, but keep in mind that Firefox 3.7 and IE9 will support Direct2d rendering...

The i7 will not speed up any browser... well, only in benchmarks...

 

it should in scrolling (intel demoed how the auto-overclock of the i7 reacts fast enough to make scrolling more smooth.. )

 

Ok, I didn't know that, thanks

I'm so waiting for Direct2d rendering, but Firefox 3.6 is not even out yet!

 

it's in beta it's .. nice but mine is changed in ui and featureset so i don't see the differences actually. and on the ssd, it's fast anyways.

 

Is it the lack of add-ons, perhaps? I might try Chrome once they implement this feature. The problem with this for Google is that it makes their browser more like Firefox.

Yes, I am looking forward to this feature as well. GPGPU applications are exciting to me for some reason.

 

I am a total Chrome convert. Frankly, it doesn't sound like anyone in this thread has even tried it - it is by any standard ridiculously faster than FF and it certainly DOES support add-ons now.

There is absolutely NO comparison between Chrome and FF from a speed perspective - Chrome starts up in the blink of an eye and renders pages far, far faster than FF.

Just read any of the hundreds of articles comparing the two and you'll see for yourself how much faster Chrome is.

I don't even have FF installed on any of my machines anymore....if I need an alternate browser, I just suffer with IE.

At first the minimalist design is very odd, but after you get used to it, there's absolutely no going back.

I've been running the beta (4.x.x.x) for some time now because of the built-in bookmark syncing and it has been running GREAT.

There are also extensions available for Chrome, and I know the lack of them up to this point has been a major reason keeping people on FF and off Chrome, but now there's no reason not to switch.

Everyone who I've introduced to Chrome absolutely loves it and the first thing they always say is, "man, it's SO fast!"

I'm very glad to hear that Chrome is multithreaded, BTW....

 

IE8 is multitheaded as well and the speed is comparable to chrome, but just slightly slower. Also, battery life last longer when using IE8 as opposed to Chrome. I use IE8 on the battery and for compatibility and integration features and chrome for just a quick browsing.
Though, IE8 with flash block and adblock and DNS cache is faster than chrome.

 

I don't want to use a product from the number 1 data miner - Google.
If they stop all data mining operations I may consider.

And while I don't care about the UK... Google is - using existing laws - evading tax on 1,6 Billion Pounds of income... I don't feel like using a company that does its best to evade tax on money it effectively gets for nothing... (the key income for Google is advertisments - which are very little work for the company) - and on the "legal tax evasion" - Google UK has its HQ in Ireland... and that's where they pay tax... much less...

 

i did, and the great reasons you state are none for me. speed? i'm on an ssd, and my systems are fast enough, so that it's mostly placebo in my case.

features? nice that it catches up with what firefox delivers. one thing it doesnt: that much flexibility.

but it's a nice browser. it's just not on par to what i want.

 

My biggest gripe with FF is startup speed, and the horrible UI.

Once they start getting those "planned changes" in place I'll start using it again.

 

startup speed is no problem for me

and the ui is completely changed for me, prefering it over any of the fixed-not-freely-configurable uis of any other browser.

 

Firefox 3.5 + FlashBlock + Tab Mix Plus + Download Status Bar = a great browser.

 

you forgot adblockplus and much more (grab'n'drag is great. got used to it from my tablet, love it now everywhere )

 

My main reason for getting rid of FF is a silly one - this is the second computer that I have owned where receiving a facebook chat message freezes my browser for 5-10 seconds (currently running brand new i7 machine, 4gb ram, windows 7).

 

Solution - get rid of Facebook.

 

solution: find out if it's a common problem. if not, fix it. running away from a problem is not really cool..

you had any funky addons on your firefox? or spell checkers? one of the spell checkers made chat in fb very slow. but it had a recent update and is fine again, now.

 

Actually, after spending a while on google, this is an EXTREMELY common problem with Firefox. The solution seems to be disabling sound on new chat messages.

So, ignoring that, I still just want to run the fastest browser. It seems to make sense that Chrome would be the ideal browser for an i7 processor, but there is more opposition than I initially would have thought. All of the input is interesting, though. However the Chrome users actually seem to be talking about speed, and Firefox users just seem to be inherently anti-Chrome

 

hehe disabled annoying sounds long ago

 

actually, when i get a good system, it's for not needing to care about "having the fastest, best optimised configuration", but maybe the slowest one, if it's the one fitting my needs best. the speed of the system should be enough that it doesn't matter. but as cpus and ram don't matter, that's why i have an ssd.

yeah, firefox users are quite anti-chrome as they don't get it. it works, it does what i want, and more than chrome can. so why, again, should i use chrome?

speed, exactly. lets check: it's the same speed on my system (i have a fast system, dude!! ), so, again, why?

 

You make a valid point, dave.

Really what browser you use doesn't depend on perceived speed or UI; it's based on what you NEED. If IE is enough for you, then why install any other browser? If you need thousands of add-ons and lots of customization, then Firefox is the way to go.

This list can go on and on.

 

indeed. and the lack of speed of firefox gave me two choises: get your ****ing system fast, or change the browser. i've chosen to get my system fast, invested in an ssd that enhances everything, and now i have the browser of choice fast enough.

i don't care if it's the fastest. fast enough it has to be of course (it took 1minute to boot before switching to the ssd back in those days). that was inacceptable, obviously.

 

I'm with you Dave.. I've never sat and waited for a page to render and thought, man, this browser sure is slow. FF is fast enough for me. If pages load slowly, it's an internet issue, and the browser isn't going to help.

I'm just amazed when I hear people say "browser X is so FAST" because I've never seen a browser be slow before. Must be people using older hardware or something.. I've been using GUI browsers since Mosaic, and I've yet to get frustrated by a "slow-rendering" browser.

 

yeah, i suggest chrome for netbooks regularly. as there, browser speed actually matters (slow disks, slow cpus)

 

it's a bit like the guys comparing their fast cars, while they still are not allowed to drive faster anyways..

browser speed depends mainly on one thing: the internet

 

firefox run the best on my computer

 

The reason why I'm not switching to Chrome, is that, there's still no good ad-blocker!

 

My experience is similar - but not always! For a quick example: try and load the current Engadget on IE7 on XP. Locks up terribly, text rendering screws up.
Script-complex sites can really bog down 'slower' browsers. Not a lot of people regularly use these kind of sites - but they're out there, ready to grind IE to a halt.

Hahah, and Flash is another issues entirely.

 

Ok, but then IE7 is the issue here try IE8.

(and all the "normal users" should get that through Windows Update )

 

Currently I have Chrome installed, but I use IE8 most of the time. I have zero problems with any of the sites I visit, Engadget being one of them.