OS X El Capitan VS Yosemite Speed Test - Is It Faster

**Upgrading to El Capitan: A Closer Look**

As I sat down to test the latest upgrade from Yosemite to El Capitan, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. The promise of improved performance and new features had me eager to dive in and see just how much of an upgrade this would be. With my R9 graphics card, which is incredibly powerful, I was ready to put El Capitan through its paces.

I decided to start with the startup test, shutting down my computer and watching it boot up on both Yosemite and El Capitan. I used a timer to ensure accuracy and observed that, while not dramatically faster, the startup time did seem slightly quicker on El Capitan, clocking in at just over 14 seconds compared to 15 seconds on Yosemite.

**Geekbench Results**

Next, I turned my attention to Geekbench, a comprehensive benchmarking tool that tests both multi-core and single-core performance. Running the full version of the software, I was pleased to see that El Capitan outperformed Yosemite in nearly every category. The multi-core score was 14,541 compared to 13,141 on the previous OS, while the single-core score shot up to 3,886 from 2,891.

I also decided to test the performance of my computer's processor using a demanding game, Lego Jurassic World. I ran the game for an extended period, watching as it loaded and then quickly froze, displaying a blank screen with some minor graphical artifacts. This was frustrating, but not entirely unexpected, given that El Capitan is still in its beta phase and there may be bugs present.

**El Capitan Upgrade Process**

To ensure accurate comparisons, I performed the same tests on both Yosemite and El Capitan, starting with the Geekbench scores and then moving on to the game test. On both occasions, the results were impressive, with El Capitan consistently outperforming its predecessor.

Next, I chose to perform a full reset of my computer to return it to the new OS 10.1.1 installation, as the upgrade was still in beta. Once restored, I ran through the startup process again and watched as El Capitan loaded up relatively quickly, though slightly slower than before, taking around 70 seconds compared to 65 seconds.

**Conclusion**

The overall results of my testing were overwhelmingly positive, with El Capitan outperforming Yosemite in nearly every category. While not perfect, with some minor bugs present, the upgrade seems to have made a significant impact on performance. However, as with any new OS release, it's essential to exercise caution and wait for further updates before upgrading.

In particular, I'd recommend waiting until OS 10.1.1 is released, as this may address some of the issues I experienced during testing. For now, El Capitan seems like a solid upgrade, offering faster performance and improved features, making it an attractive option for those looking to take advantage of Apple's latest innovations.