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G5 vs. x86 and Mac OS X vs. Linux

Posted by Zonk on from the head-to-head dept.

demonbug writes "Anandtech has an article up comparing performance of dual G5s to AMD Opteron and Intel Xeon workstations. The article also takes a look at performance under Mac OS X versus Linux. It provides an interesting look at some of the strengths and weaknesses of the different CPUs." From the article: "This article is written solely from the frustration that I could not get a clear picture on what the G5 and Mac OS X are capable of. So, be warned; this is not an all-round review. It is definitely the worst buyer's guide that you can imagine. This article cares about speed, performance, and nothing else! No comments on how well designed the internals are, no elaborate discussions about user friendliness, out-of-the-box experience and other subjective subjects. But we think that you should have a decent insight to where the G5/Mac OS X combination positions itself when compared to the Intel & AMD world at the end of this article."

3 of 486 comments (clear)

  1. No PowerPC Linux in the Review?! by Noksagt · · Score: 4, Insightful
    The article also takes a look at performance under OSX versus Linux.
    They look at PowerPC running Darwin 8.1 and two Xeons and an Opteron running Linux 2.4/2.6. Why not show the PowerPC running Linux?! I want to see how Linux on PPC compares to Linux on x386 these days!

    Anyway..here's the article summary:
    Mac OS X is incredibly slow, between 2 and 5(!) times slower, in creating new threads, as it doesn't use kernel threads, and has to go through extra layers (wrappers). No need to continue our search: the G5 might not be the fastest integer CPU on earth - its database performance is completely crippled by an asthmatic operating system that needs up to 5 times more time to handle and create threads.
    So, forget OS X in the server room, but have fun if you want a desktop OS.
    1. Re:No PowerPC Linux in the Review?! by lederhosen · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I totaly agree that they should have done a comparison using Linux/PPC.

      I would allso like to see them use the latest Intel compiler.

      I dont, however, agree on the microkernel stuff. darwin is no microkernel design at all, all the
      driver, filesystem and memory management is done
      in kernel space. There is nothing in that design that makes the OS more stable.

  2. They lost me right here... by mark_wilkins · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "Thirdly, hardcore gamers are not the ones buying Apples, but rather, creative professionals.

    So, we focus on workstation and server applications..."

    How could anyone who has ever met a "creative professional" think they care about "workstation and server applications" like MySQL and Apache??

    Sorry, guys, but being a sysadmin does not make you a "creative professional..."

    -- Mark