We power users are expecting Apple to offer Mac Pros in the near future that feature either the QX97xx series "Yorkfield" or the X54xx series "Penryn based Xeon" processor. The Intel processors will offer faster core speeds (up to 3.4GHz), a faster frontside bus (up to 1600MHz), and a faster memory bus (up to 1333MHz).
With the help of a Dave, one of our remote mad scientists, we've been able to put together a shootout between a Mac Pro with a 4-core 3.0GHz Xeon ("Woodcrest" 5160) processor and a PC with a 4-core 3.2GHz "Yorkfield" (QX9770) processor. In the case of the Mac Pro, we ran our benchmarks under both Mac OS X "Leopard" and Windows Vista Ultimate 64 bit. The PC was running Vista Ultimate 64 bit. (Note: We didn't include results for the 8-core Mac Pro with its "Clovertown" X5365 since that would not be a fair fight.)
GRAPH LEGEND
Yorkfield = Windows PC with 3.2GHz Quad-Core 45nm Yorkfield (QX9770) processor, 1600MHz front side bus, and 1066MHz DDR2 memory.
Mac Pro = Mac Pro with 3.0GHz Quad-Core Xeon (Woodcrest 5160) processor, 1333Mhz front side bus, and 667MHz DDR2 FB memory.
(Vista64) = Windows Vista Ultimate 64 bit
(Leopard) = Mac OS X "Leopard" 10.5.1
TEST SOFTWARE
Primate Labs Geekbench runs under Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux.
Maxon's Cinebench 10 runs under Mac OS X and Windows.
