Mac Performance (April 2008)

Back in February Apple released new MacBooks and MacBook Pros which means the previous Mac Performance chart is out of date. Time for an update!

Setup

Results were collected from the Geekbench Browser for Macs with standard processors (i.e., no processor upgrades, overclocked processors, or Hackintoshes) with at least 512MB of RAM running Leopard.

I’ve reported the average overall score for each model and processor combination, where 1000 is the score a Power Mac G5 @ 1.6GHz would receive. Higher scores are better. Keep in mind that Geekbench 2 only measures processor and memory performance which is why, for example, MacBook and MacBook Pro scores are so similar, despite both having radically different graphics adapters.

Results

Mac Pro (Early 2008)
Intel Xeon X5482 3.2 GHz (8 cores)
8499
 
Mac Pro (Early 2008)
Intel Xeon E5472 3.0 GHz (8 cores)
8283
 
Mac Pro (Early 2008)
Intel Xeon X5472 3.0 GHz (8 cores)
8048
 
Mac Pro (8-core)
Intel Xeon X5365 3.0 GHz (8 cores)
7977
 
Mac Pro (Early 2008)
Intel Xeon E5462 2.8 GHz (8 cores)
7645
 
Xserve (Late 2006)
Intel Xeon 5160 3.0 GHz (4 cores)
5433
 
Mac Pro
Intel Xeon 5160 3.0 GHz (4 cores)
5372
 
Mac Pro (Early 2008)
Intel Xeon E5462 2.8 GHz (4 cores)
5330
 
Mac Pro
Intel Xeon 5150 2.66 GHz (4 cores)
4832
 
Xserve (Late 2006)
Intel Xeon 5130 2.0 GHz (4 cores)
3870
 
Mac Pro
Intel Xeon 5130 2.0 GHz (4 cores)
3712
 
iMac (Mid 2007)
Intel Core 2 Extreme X7900 2.8 GHz (2 cores)
3608
 
MacBook Pro (Early 2008)
Intel Core 2 Duo T9500 2.6 GHz (2 cores)
3323
 
MacBook Pro (Mid 2007)
Intel Core 2 Duo T7800 2.6 GHz (2 cores)
3236
 
Power Mac G5 (Late 2005)
PowerPC G5 (970MP) 2.5 GHz (4 cores)
3217
 
MacBook Pro (Early 2008)
Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 2.5 GHz (2 cores)
3171
 
MacBook (Early 2008)
Intel Core 2 Duo T8300 2.4 GHz (2 cores)
3134
 
iMac (Mid 2007)
Intel Core 2 Duo T7700 2.4 GHz (2 cores)
3125
 
MacBook Pro (Early 2008)
Intel Core 2 Duo T8300 2.4 GHz (2 cores)
3046
 
MacBook Pro (Mid 2007)
Intel Core 2 Duo T7700 2.4 GHz (2 cores)
2990
 
iMac (24-inch)
Intel Core 2 Duo T7600 2.33 GHz (2 cores)
2972
 
MacBook Pro (17-inch Core 2 Duo)
Intel Core 2 Duo T7600 2.33 GHz (2 cores)
2920
 
iMac (Late 2006)
Intel Core 2 Duo T7600 2.33 GHz (2 cores)
2896
 
MacBook (Late 2007)
Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 2.2 GHz (2 cores)
2872
 
MacBook Pro (Core 2 Duo)
Intel Core 2 Duo T7600 2.33 GHz (2 cores)
2847
 
MacBook Pro (Mid 2007)
Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 2.2 GHz (2 cores)
2769
 
iMac (Late 2006)
Intel Core 2 Duo T7400 2.16 GHz (2 cores)
2764
 
iMac (24-inch)
Intel Core 2 Duo T7400 2.16 GHz (2 cores)
2762
 
MacBook (Late 2006)
Intel Core 2 Duo T7400 2.16 GHz (2 cores)
2744
 
MacBook (Early 2008)
Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 2.1 GHz (2 cores)
2743
 
MacBook Pro (Core 2 Duo)
Intel Core 2 Duo T7400 2.16 GHz (2 cores)
2679
 
MacBook (Late 2007)
Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 2.0 GHz (2 cores)
2659
 
iMac (Mid 2007)
Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 2.0 GHz (2 cores)
2652
 
MacBook Pro
Genuine Intel T2600 2.16 GHz (2 cores)
2608
 
Mac mini (Mid 2007)
Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 2.0 GHz (2 cores)
2594
 
iMac (Late 2006)
Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 2.0 GHz (2 cores)
2588
 
MacBook Pro (17-inch)
Genuine Intel T2600 2.16 GHz (2 cores)
2547
 
MacBook (Late 2006)
Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 2.0 GHz (2 cores)
2531
 
iMac (Early 2006)
Genuine Intel T2500 2.0 GHz (2 cores)
2490
 
MacBook
Genuine Intel T2500 2.0 GHz (2 cores)
2450
 
MacBook Pro
Genuine Intel T2500 2.0 GHz (2 cores)
2379
 
iMac (17-inch Late 2006 CD)
Intel Core 2 Duo T5600 1.83 GHz (2 cores)
2373
 
Mac mini (Mid 2007)
Intel Core 2 Duo T5600 1.83 GHz (2 cores)
2368
 
MacBook (Late 2006)
Intel Core 2 Duo T5600 1.83 GHz (2 cores)
2331
 
iMac (Early 2006)
Genuine Intel T2400 1.83 GHz (2 cores)
2321
 
MacBook
Genuine Intel T2400 1.83 GHz (2 cores)
2262
 
Power Mac G5 (June 2004)
PowerPC G5 (970FX) 2.7 GHz (2 cores)
2244
 
MacBook Pro
Genuine Intel T2400 1.83 GHz (2 cores)
2212
 
MacBook Air
Intel Core 2 Duo P7700 1.8 GHz (2 cores)
2138
 
Mac mini (Early 2006)
Genuine Intel T2300 1.66 GHz (2 cores)
2094
 
Power Mac G5 (June 2004)
PowerPC G5 (970FX) 2.5 GHz (2 cores)
2079
 
MacBook Air
Intel Core 2 Duo P7500 1.6 GHz (2 cores)
2024
 
Power Mac G5 (Late 2005)
PowerPC G5 (970MP) 2.3 GHz (2 cores)
2013
 
Power Mac G5 (June 2004)
PowerPC G5 (970FX) 2.3 GHz (2 cores)
1910
 
Power Mac G5 (Late 2005)
PowerPC G5 (970MP) 2.0 GHz (2 cores)
1785
 
Power Mac G5 (June 2004)
PowerPC G5 (970) 2.0 GHz (2 cores)
1706
 
Power Mac G5 (June 2004)
PowerPC G5 (970FX) 2.0 GHz (2 cores)
1644
 
Power Mac G5
PowerPC G5 (970) 2.0 GHz (2 cores)
1614
 
Power Mac G5 (June 2004)
PowerPC G5 (970) 1.8 GHz (2 cores)
1549
 
Power Mac G5 (June 2004)
PowerPC G5 (970FX) 1.8 GHz (2 cores)
1533
 
Power Mac G5
PowerPC G5 (970) 1.8 GHz (2 cores)
1532
 
Mac mini (Early 2006)
Genuine Intel T1200 1.5 GHz (1 core)
1323
 
iMac G5 (iSight)
PowerPC G5 (970FX) 2.1 GHz (1 core)
1137
 
Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors)
PowerPC G4 (7445/7455) 1.25 GHz (2 cores)
1053
 
Power Mac G5
PowerPC G5 (970) 1.8 GHz (1 core)
1049
 
iMac G5 (iSight)
PowerPC G5 (970FX) 1.9 GHz (1 core)
1009
 
iMac G5 (Ambient Light Sensor)
PowerPC G5 (970FX) 2.0 GHz (1 core)
993
 
Power Mac G5 (Late 2004)
PowerPC G5 (970FX) 1.8 GHz (1 core)
958
 
iMac G5
PowerPC G5 (970FX) 1.8 GHz (1 core)
890
 
Power Mac G5
PowerPC G5 (970) 1.6 GHz (1 core)
875
 
Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors)
PowerPC G4 (7445/7455) 1.0 GHz (2 cores)
872
 
Power Mac G4 (Quicksilver)
PowerPC G4 (7445/7455) 1.0 GHz (2 cores)
837
 
iMac G5
PowerPC G5 (970FX) 1.6 GHz (1 core)
826
 
Mac mini (Late 2005)
PowerPC G4 (7447A) 1.5 GHz (1 core)
809
 
PowerBook G4 (Double-Layer SD, 17-inch)
PowerPC G4 (7447A) 1.66667 GHz (1 core)
809
 
Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors)
PowerPC G4 (7445/7455) 1.002 GHz (2 cores)
787
 
Mac mini
PowerPC G4 (7447A) 1.41667 GHz (1 core)
783
 
PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.67 GHz)
PowerPC G4 (7447A) 1.66667 GHz (1 core)
772
 
PowerBook G4 (Double-Layer SD, 15-inch)
PowerPC G4 (7447A) 1.66667 GHz (1 core)
765
 
PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.67/1.5 GHz)
PowerPC G4 (7447A) 1.66667 GHz (1 core)
759
 
iBook G4 (Early 2004)
PowerPC G4 (7447A) 1.33333 GHz (1 core)
741
 
Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors)
PowerPC G4 (7445/7455) 866 MHz (2 cores)
729
 
Mac mini (Late 2005)
PowerPC G4 (7447A) 1.33333 GHz (1 core)
724
 
eMac
PowerPC G4 (7445/7455) 1.4 GHz (1 core)
705
 
Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors)
PowerPC G4 (7445/7455) 1.25 GHz (1 core)
703
 
eMac (USB 2.0)
PowerPC G4 (7447/7457) 1.25 GHz (1 core)
700
 
eMac (USB 2.0)
PowerPC G4 (7447A) 1.25 GHz (1 core)
696
 
PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.67/1.5 GHz)
PowerPC G4 (7447A) 1.5 GHz (1 core)
695
 
PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.5/1.33 GHz)
PowerPC G4 (7447A) 1.5 GHz (1 core)
673
 
Power Mac G4 (Quicksilver)
PowerPC G4 (7441/7450/7451) 800 MHz (2 cores)
667
 
Mac mini
PowerPC G4 (7447A) 1.25 GHz (1 core)
667
 
PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.5 GHz)
PowerPC G4 (7447A) 1.5 GHz (1 core)
666
 
PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.5/1.33 GHz)
PowerPC G4 (7447A) 1.33333 GHz (1 core)
636
 
iBook G4 (Early 2004)
PowerPC G4 (7447A) 1.2 GHz (1 core)
634
 
PowerBook G4 (12-inch 1.5 GHz)
PowerPC G4 (7447A) 1.5 GHz (1 core)
634
 
PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.33 GHz)
PowerPC G4 (7447/7457) 1.33333 GHz (1 core)
627
 
iBook G4 (Mid 2005)
PowerPC G4 (7447A) 1.42 GHz (1 core)
620
 
PowerBook G4 (17-inch)
PowerPC G4 (7445/7455) 1.0 GHz (1 core)
591
 
PowerBook G4 (12-inch 1.33 GHz)
PowerPC G4 (7447A) 1.33333 GHz (1 core)
586
 
Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors)
PowerPC G4 (7445/7455) 1.0 GHz (1 core)
582
 
PowerBook G4 (1 GHz/867 MHz)
PowerPC G4 (7445/7455) 1.0 GHz (1 core)
582
 
iBook G4 (Mid 2005)
PowerPC G4 (7447A) 1.33333 GHz (1 core)
575
 
PowerBook G4 (15-inch FW800)
PowerPC G4 (7447/7457) 1.25 GHz (1 core)
561
 
iBook G4 (Early 2004)
PowerPC G4 (7447A) 1.06667 GHz (1 core)
557
 
iMac G5 (Ambient Light Sensor)
PowerPC G5 (970FX) 1.8 GHz (1 core)
553
 
eMac
PowerPC G4 (7445/7455) 1.0 GHz (1 core)
552
 
iMac G4 (USB 2.0)
PowerPC G4 (7445/7455) 1.25 GHz (1 core)
541
 
iBook G4
PowerPC G4 (7445/7455) 1.0 GHz (1 core)
539
 
iMac G4 (USB 2.0)
PowerPC G4 (7445/7455) 1.0 GHz (1 core)
528
 
iMac G4 (20-inch Flat-Panel)
PowerPC G4 (7445/7455) 1.25 GHz (1 core)
515
 
Power Mac G4 (Quicksilver)
PowerPC G4 (7445/7455) 933 MHz (1 core)
492
 
PowerBook G4 (15-inch FW800)
PowerPC G4 (7447/7457) 1.0 GHz (1 core)
489
 
Power Mac G4 (Gigabit Ethernet)
PowerPC G4 (7400) 500 MHz (2 cores)
484
 
Power Mac G4 (Digital Audio)
PowerPC G4 (7410) 533 MHz (2 cores)
474
 
PowerBook G4 (DVI)
PowerPC G4 (7445/7455) 800 MHz (1 core)
469
 
PowerBook G4 (1 GHz/867 MHz)
PowerPC G4 (7445/7455) 867 MHz (1 core)
452
 
Power Mac G4 (Gigabit Ethernet)
PowerPC G4 (7400) 450 MHz (2 cores)
437
 
iBook (Opaque 16 VRAM)
PowerPC 750FX 800 MHz (1 core)
432
 
Power Mac G4 (Quicksilver)
PowerPC G4 (7441/7450/7451) 866 MHz (1 core)
426
 
iBook G4
PowerPC G4 (7445/7455) 800 MHz (1 core)
424
 
iMac (Flat-Panel)
PowerPC G4 (7441/7450/7451) 800 MHz (1 core)
416
 
PowerBook G4 (DVI)
PowerPC G4 (7445/7455) 667 MHz (1 core)
415
 
eMac
PowerPC G4 (7441/7450/7451) 800 MHz (1 core)
404
 
PowerBook G4 (12-inch)
PowerPC G4 (7445/7455) 867 MHz (1 core)
377
 
PowerBook G4 (Gigabit Ethernet)
PowerPC G4 (7441/7450/7451) 667 MHz (1 core)
376
 
PowerBook G4 (12-inch DVI)
PowerPC G4 (7447/7457) 1.0 GHz (1 core)
346
 
iMac (Flat-Panel)
PowerPC G4 (7441/7450/7451) 700 MHz (1 core)
327
 
PowerBook G4
PowerPC G4 (7410) 500 MHz (1 core)
312
 
Power Mac G4 (AGP Graphics)
PowerPC G4 (7400) 450 MHz (1 core)
309
 
Power Mac G4 (Quicksilver)
PowerPC G4 (7441/7450/7451) 733 MHz (1 core)
277
 
Power Mac G4 Cube
PowerPC G4 (7400) 450 MHz (1 core)
257
 
PowerBook G4
PowerPC G4 (7410) 400 MHz (1 core)
253
 
Power Mac G4 (AGP Graphics)
PowerPC G4 (7400) 400 MHz (1 core)
243
 

Conclusions

There are a few results on the chart that I found interesting.

Apple is using two different Xeon processors (the X5472 and the E5472, both at 3.0 GHz) in the eight-core Mac Pro, and it looks like the E5472 (in addition to consuming less power) is about 2.5% faster.

I commented last month that the latest base-model MacBooks were slower than the previous base-model MacBooks. Well, I was wrong. According to the MacBook results in the chart, the new base-model MacBooks are slightly faster. I dug into the results a bit and found that performance was poor with Mac OS X 10.5.2 (Build 9C2015) (the version I tested with) but improved with later builds.

Finally, I still marvel at the fact that the latest dual-core MacBook Pros have the same processor performance as the fastest PowerPC-based Mac (the four-core Power Mac G5).


 
John Poole is the founder of Primate Labs and lives in Toronto, Ontario with his wife Deborah. You can find John on Twitter or .