It’s been a couple of months since I’ve posted a comprehensive Mac performance comparison using Geekbench and the results from the Geekbench Browser. While the last one compared the performance of Intel-based Macs, this one compares the performance of Intel- and PowerPC-based Macs. There are over a 145 different Macs listed below, ranging from the old Power Mac G3 (Blue and White) to the new Mac Pro (8-core). That’s over eight years of Macs represented in this comparison!
Setup
Results were collected from Geekbench 2 for Mac OS X running on Macs with standard processors (i.e., no processor upgrades or overclocked processors) and at least 512MB of RAM.
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 (8-core) Dual Quad-Core Intel Xeons @ 3.00 GHz |
8618 | |
| Xserve (Late 2006) Dual Dual-Core Intel Xeons @ 3.00 GHz |
5632 | |
| Mac Pro Dual Dual-Core Intel Xeons @ 3.00 GHz |
5565 | |
| Xserve (Late 2006) Dual Dual-Core Intel Xeons @ 2.66 GHz |
5093 | |
| Mac Pro Dual Dual-Core Intel Xeons @ 2.66 GHz |
5014 | |
| Mac Pro Dual Dual-Core Intel Xeons @ 2.00 GHz |
3894 | |
| Xserve (Late 2006) Dual Dual-Core Intel Xeons @ 2.00 GHz |
3831 | |
| Power Mac G5 (Late 2005) Dual Dual-Core PowerPC G5 @ 2.5 GHz |
3284 | |
| MacBook Pro (Mid 2007) Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.40 GHz |
3152 | |
| iMac (24-inch) Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.33 GHz |
3056 | |
| iMac (Late 2006) Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.33 GHz |
3048 | |
| MacBook Pro (17-inch Core 2 Duo) Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.33 GHz |
3016 | |
| MacBook Pro (Core 2 Duo) Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.33 GHz |
2971 | |
| MacBook Pro (Mid 2007) Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.20 GHz |
2963 | |
| iMac (24-inch) Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.16 GHz |
2862 | |
| iMac (Late 2006) Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.16 GHz |
2856 | |
| MacBook Pro (17-inch Core 2 Duo) Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.16 GHz |
2821 | |
| MacBook (Late 2006) Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.16 GHz |
2821 | |
| MacBook Pro (Core 2 Duo) Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.16 GHz |
2773 | |
| MacBook Pro Intel Core Duo @ 2.16 GHz |
2679 | |
| iMac (Late 2006) Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.00 GHz |
2637 | |
| MacBook Pro (17-inch) Intel Core Duo @ 2.16 GHz |
2635 | |
| MacBook (Late 2006) Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.00 GHz |
2601 | |
| iMac (Early 2006) Intel Core Duo @ 2.00 GHz |
2515 | |
| MacBook Pro Intel Core Duo @ 2.00 GHz |
2492 | |
| MacBook Intel Core Duo @ 2.00 GHz |
2464 | |
| MacBook (Late 2006) Intel Core 2 Duo @ 1.83 GHz |
2383 | |
| iMac (17-inch Late 2006 CD) Intel Core 2 Duo @ 1.83 GHz |
2366 | |
| iMac (Early 2006) Intel Core Duo @ 1.83 GHz |
2338 | |
| MacBook Pro Intel Core Duo @ 1.83 GHz |
2312 | |
| Mac mini (Early 2006) Intel Core Duo @ 1.83 GHz |
2305 | |
| MacBook Intel Core Duo @ 1.83 GHz |
2298 | |
| Power Mac G5 (June 2004) Dual PowerPC G5 @ 2.7 GHz |
2245 | |
| Mac mini (Early 2006) Intel Core Duo @ 1.67 GHz |
2110 | |
| Power Mac G5 (Late 2005) Dual-Core PowerPC G5 @ 2.3 GHz |
2108 | |
| Power Mac G5 (June 2004) Dual PowerPC G5 @ 2.5 GHz |
2103 | |
| Xserve G5 Dual PowerPC G5 @ 2.3 GHz |
2065 | |
| Power Mac G5 (June 2004) Dual PowerPC G5 @ 2.3 GHz |
1960 | |
| Power Mac G5 (Late 2005) Dual-Core PowerPC G5 @ 2.0 GHz |
1818 | |
| Power Mac G5 (June 2004) Dual PowerPC G5 @ 2.0 GHz |
1745 | |
| Power Mac G5 Dual PowerPC G5 @ 2.0 GHz |
1671 | |
| Power Mac G5 (June 2004) Dual PowerPC G5 @ 2.0 GHz |
1645 | |
| Xserve G5 Dual PowerPC G5 @ 2.0 GHz |
1629 | |
| Power Mac G5 Dual PowerPC G5 @ 1.8 GHz |
1592 | |
| Power Mac G5 (June 2004) Dual PowerPC G5 @ 1.8 GHz |
1580 | |
| Power Mac G5 (June 2004) Dual PowerPC G5 @ 1.8 GHz |
1513 | |
| Mac mini (Early 2006) Intel Core Solo @ 1.50 GHz |
1399 | |
| iMac G5 (iSight) PowerPC G5 @ 2.1 GHz |
1229 | |
| iMac G5 (Ambient Light Sensor) PowerPC G5 @ 2.0 GHz |
1172 | |
| Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors) Dual PowerPC G4 @ 1.42 GHz |
1159 | |
| iMac G5 (iSight) PowerPC G5 @ 1.9 GHz |
1128 | |
| Power Mac G5 PowerPC G5 @ 1.8 GHz |
1127 | |
| Xserve (Slot Load) Dual PowerPC G4 @ 1.33 GHz |
1126 | |
| Power Mac G5 (Late 2004) PowerPC G5 @ 1.8 GHz |
1085 | |
| iMac G5 (Ambient Light Sensor) PowerPC G5 @ 1.8 GHz |
1063 | |
| Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors) Dual PowerPC G4 @ 1.25 GHz |
1048 | |
| iMac G5 PowerPC G5 @ 1.8 GHz |
1044 | |
| iMac G4 (20-inch Flat-Panel) PowerPC G4 @ 1.92 GHz |
1008 | |
| Power Mac G5 PowerPC G5 @ 1.6 GHz |
988 | |
| PowerBook G4 (Double-Layer SD, 15-inch) PowerPC G4 @ 1.67 GHz |
907 | |
| PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.67 GHz) PowerPC G4 @ 1.67 GHz |
888 | |
| Xserve Dual PowerPC G4 @ 1000 MHz |
882 | |
| PowerBook G4 (Double-Layer SD, 17-inch) PowerPC G4 @ 1.67 GHz |
879 | |
| Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors) Dual PowerPC G4 @ 1000 MHz |
873 | |
| PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.67/1.5 GHz) PowerPC G4 @ 1.67 GHz |
863 | |
| Xserve (Slot Load) PowerPC G4 @ 1.42 GHz |
854 | |
| iMac G5 PowerPC G5 @ 1.6 GHz |
848 | |
| Power Mac G4 (Quicksilver) Dual PowerPC G4 @ 1000 MHz |
833 | |
| eMac (USB 2.0) PowerPC G4 @ 1.42 GHz |
814 | |
| PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.5/1.33 GHz) PowerPC G4 @ 1.50 GHz |
807 | |
| Mac mini (Late 2005) PowerPC G4 @ 1.50 GHz |
806 | |
| Mac mini (Late 2005) PowerPC G4 @ 1.33 GHz |
801 | |
| PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.67/1.5 GHz) PowerPC G4 @ 1.50 GHz |
793 | |
| iBook G4 (Mid 2005) PowerPC G4 @ 1.42 GHz |
774 | |
| PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.5 GHz) PowerPC G4 @ 1.50 GHz |
772 | |
| Mac mini PowerPC G4 @ 1.42 GHz |
768 | |
| PowerBook G4 (12-inch 1.5 GHz) PowerPC G4 @ 1.50 GHz |
748 | |
| PowerBook G4 (12-inch 1.33 GHz) PowerPC G4 @ 1.33 GHz |
723 | |
| eMac (USB 2.0) PowerPC G4 @ 1.25 GHz |
719 | |
| eMac PowerPC G4 @ 1.40 GHz |
710 | |
| Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors) Dual PowerPC G4 @ 867 MHz |
710 | |
| Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors) PowerPC G4 @ 1.25 GHz |
705 | |
| eMac (USB 2.0) PowerPC G4 @ 1.25 GHz |
704 | |
| Mac mini PowerPC G4 @ 1.25 GHz |
700 | |
| PowerBook G4 (15-inch FW800) PowerPC G4 @ 1.25 GHz |
692 | |
| iBook G4 (Mid 2005) PowerPC G4 @ 1.33 GHz |
690 | |
| PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.33 GHz) PowerPC G4 @ 1.33 GHz |
689 | |
| iMac G4 (USB 2.0) PowerPC G4 @ 1.25 GHz |
682 | |
| iBook G4 (Early 2004) PowerPC G4 @ 1.33 GHz |
674 | |
| PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.5/1.33 GHz) PowerPC G4 @ 1.33 GHz |
673 | |
| Power Mac G4 (Quicksilver) Dual PowerPC G4 @ 800 MHz |
671 | |
| iMac G4 (20-inch Flat-Panel) PowerPC G4 @ 1.25 GHz |
667 | |
| iBook G4 (Early 2004) PowerPC G4 @ 1.20 GHz |
601 | |
| iBook G4 (Early 2004) PowerPC G4 @ 1.07 GHz |
595 | |
| PowerBook G4 (17-inch) PowerPC G4 @ 1000 MHz |
575 | |
| PowerBook G4 (1 GHz/867 MHz) PowerPC G4 @ 1000 MHz |
561 | |
| PowerBook G4 (15-inch FW800) PowerPC G4 @ 1000 MHz |
554 | |
| Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors) PowerPC G4 @ 1000 MHz |
551 | |
| Power Mac G4 (Digital Audio) Dual PowerPC G4 @ 533 MHz |
542 | |
| eMac PowerPC G4 @ 1000 MHz |
530 | |
| Power Mac G4 (Quicksilver) PowerPC G4 @ 933 MHz |
524 | |
| PowerBook G4 (12-inch DVI) PowerPC G4 @ 1000 MHz |
516 | |
| Power Mac G4 (Quicksilver) PowerPC G4 @ 933 MHz |
510 | |
| Power Mac G4 (Gigabit Ethernet) Dual PowerPC G4 @ 500 MHz |
500 | |
| iMac G4 (USB 2.0) PowerPC G4 @ 1000 MHz |
499 | |
| PowerBook G4 (1 GHz/867 MHz) PowerPC G4 @ 867 MHz |
489 | |
| iBook G4 PowerPC G4 @ 933 MHz |
484 | |
| Power Mac G4 (Quicksilver) PowerPC G4 @ 867 MHz |
482 | |
| iBook G4 PowerPC G4 @ 1000 MHz |
465 | |
| PowerBook G4 (DVI) PowerPC G4 @ 800 MHz |
454 | |
| Power Mac G4 (Digital Audio) PowerPC G4 @ 800 MHz |
451 | |
| PowerBook G4 (12-inch) PowerPC G4 @ 867 MHz |
434 | |
| iBook G4 PowerPC G4 @ 800 MHz |
431 | |
| Power Mac G4 (Quicksilver) PowerPC G4 @ 800 MHz |
419 | |
| Power Mac G4 (Gigabit Ethernet) Dual PowerPC G4 @ 450 MHz |
418 | |
| iMac (Flat-Panel) PowerPC G4 @ 800 MHz |
413 | |
| PowerBook G4 (DVI) PowerPC G4 @ 667 MHz |
392 | |
| iMac G4 (17-inch Flat-Panel) PowerPC G4 @ 800 MHz |
390 | |
| eMac PowerPC G4 @ 800 MHz |
372 | |
| Power Mac G4 (Quicksilver) PowerPC G4 @ 733 MHz |
368 | |
| iBook (Opaque 16 VRAM) PowerPC G3 @ 700 MHz |
363 | |
| eMac PowerPC G4 @ 700 MHz |
353 | |
| Power Mac G4 (AGP Graphics) PowerPC G4 @ 500 MHz |
353 | |
| Power Mac G4 (Digital Audio) PowerPC G4 @ 533 MHz |
352 | |
| PowerBook G4 (Gigabit Ethernet) PowerPC G4 @ 667 MHz |
351 | |
| iMac (Flat-Panel) PowerPC G4 @ 700 MHz |
350 | |
| PowerBook G4 PowerPC G4 @ 500 MHz |
329 | |
| Power Mac G4 Cube PowerPC G4 @ 500 MHz |
325 | |
| iBook (Opaque 16 VRAM) PowerPC G3 @ 600 MHz |
318 | |
| Power Mac G4 (Digital Audio) PowerPC G4 @ 467 MHz |
314 | |
| iBook (16 VRAM) PowerPC G3 @ 600 MHz |
304 | |
| iMac G3 (Early 2001) PowerPC G3 @ 600 MHz |
291 | |
| Power Mac G4 (AGP Graphics) PowerPC G4 @ 450 MHz |
289 | |
| Power Mac G4 Cube PowerPC G4 @ 450 MHz |
285 | |
| PowerBook G4 (Gigabit Ethernet) PowerPC G4 @ 500 MHz |
284 | |
| Power Mac G4 (Gigabit Ethernet) PowerPC G4 @ 400 MHz |
261 | |
| Power Mac G4 (AGP Graphics) PowerPC G4 @ 350 MHz |
236 | |
| iBook (Dual USB) PowerPC G3 @ 500 MHz |
233 | |
| iMac G3 (Early 2001) PowerPC G3 @ 500 MHz |
229 | |
| Power Mac G4 (AGP Graphics) PowerPC G4 @ 400 MHz |
228 | |
| Power Mac G3 (Blue and White) PowerPC G3 @ 450 MHz |
223 | |
| PowerBook G3 PowerPC G3 @ 400 MHz |
213 | |
| PowerBook G3 (FireWire) PowerPC G3 @ 400 MHz |
210 | |
| Power Mac G3 (Blue and White) PowerPC G3 @ 350 MHz |
186 | |
| iMac (Slot Load) PowerPC G3 @ 400 MHz |
177 |