Maxon has updated its Cinebench software to version R23 with several key updates, like support for Apple’s new M1 chips based on the ARM architecture and some improvements to the way Cinebench benchmarks your system’s processor. You can download Cinebench R23 here.

Perhaps the biggest improvement to Cinebench is that it now runs on a 10-minute time interval with multiple benchmark runs to fulfill the time duration. Maxon added this feature to the benchmark for a more accurate representation of CPU performance. Specifically, the 10-minute time interval allows the CPU’s cooling system to become heat soaked and temperatures to rise to realistic levels under full load. On modern processors, this will (usually) force the CPU to lower its turbo frequency as temperature headroom decreases; this will directly affect your Cinebench score and thus, provide you a more realistic score as well.

Here are the full technical details provided by Maxon on the Cinebench R23 update:

• Cinebench R23 now supports Apple’s M1-powered computing systems
• Cinebench is now based on the latest Release 23 code using updated compilers, and has a minimum runtime activated by default (previously hidden in preferences)
• Cinebench R23 provides improved benchmark accuracy for current and next generation CPUs to test if a machine runs stable on a high CPU load, if the cooling solution of a desktop or notebook is sufficient for longer running tasks to deliver the full potential of the CPU, and if a machine is able to handle demanding real-life 3D tasks.
• Users now have the option to directly test the single core performance without manually enabling the “Advanced benchmark” option. The “Advanced benchmark” allows users to set arbitrary minimum runtimes to stress test the hardware for even longer periods of time.
• Because of the code and compiler changes, Cinebench score values are readjusted to a new range so they should not be compared to scores from previous versions of Cinebench.
• Cinebench R23 does not test GPU performance.
• Cinebench R23 will not launch on unsupported processors. On systems lacking sufficient RAM to load the test scene, a warning will be displayed and the CPU benchmark will not be executed.
• Background tasks can significantly influence measurement and create diverse results. It’s always a good idea to shut down all running programs and disable any virus checking or disk indexing but it’s impossible to eliminate all background processes. Modern operating systems perform various background tasks that cannot or should not be disabled, even though they could have a minor influence on the results.
• Test results can vary slightly because it’s impossible to disable every background task of the operating system. These tasks are one factor that may have a slight influence on measurements. Also, modern computers and graphics cards dynamically adjust clock speeds based on environmental conditions like power and temperature. For instance, processors will reduce clock speed when running too hot to allow for cooling and prevent damage. With many modern processors, the reverse is also true. They are able to overclock themselves when the temperature is low enough. Therefore, a system freshly started in a relatively cool environment will typically run faster than the same system that has been performing benchmarks for several hours in a heated office.
• It is also possible to launch Maxon Cinebench with command line options. Please refer to your operating system manual on how to start an application using the command line. After the name of the application enter one of the options listed below. Maxon Cinebench will then be executed, run the specified test, then quit and display the result in the command line console. The result is not saved as a file.