We followed the component-specific tests with additional benchmarks that test a system’s overall capabilities with everyday tasks. We ran both PCMark 7, for which we have a large comparison pool, and the newer PCMark 8.
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Futuremark PCMark 7
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Simulated Application Performance
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When it comes to testing PCs, Futuremark is one of the better-known names in the industry. PCMark 7 runs the system through a series of typical home and office tasks, including media playback, video processing, and some light gaming. The benchmark also tests the computer’s storage devices.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P70 scored at the top of the pack in PCMark 7, though it couldn't quite muscle past Dell's Precision 15 5510, another system built around Intel's Xeon E3-1505M processor. You might be wondering how that can be since the ThinkPad P70 is wielding a burlier GPU in the Quadro M4000M. PCMark 7 doesn't really emphasize graphics performance—it's more heavily weighted towards and storage and CPU performance. While the scores were close between Lenovo's ThinkPad P70 and Dell's Precision 15 5510, Lenovo's decision to use just a single stick of RAM in its system probably cost it a first-place finish here.
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Futuremark PCMark 8
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Simulated Application Performance
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Futuremark's PCMark 8 has several built-in benchmark tests. The Home test measures a system's ability to handle basic tasks such as web browsing, writing, gaming, photo editing, and video chat. The Creative test offers similar types of tasks, but has more demanding requirements than the Home benchmark and is meant for mid-range and higher-end PCs. The Work test measures the performance of typical office PC systems that lack media capabilities. Finally, the Storage benchmark tests the performance of SSDs, HDDs and hybrid drives with traces recorded from Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office and a selection of popular games.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P70 posted the fastest storage score in PCMark 8, earning a tip-of-the-hat to the Samsung 950 Pro NVMe SSD that's inside. It was also one of just two systems to break 3,000 points in the Home Accelerated test and came close to joining Dell's Precision 15 1510 in the 4,000-point club in in the Work Accelerated run.
