For many workloads I think they are pulling definitely ahead. However, I think there is still much to gain in software. For example, my Linux/Fedora desktop with 5900X is many times more responsive than my 16” M1 Pro.
Java runs faster. GraalVM native generated native images run way waster. Golang runs faster. X86_64 has seen more love from optimalisations than aarch64 has. One of the things I hit was different GC/memory performance due to different page sizes. Moreover, docker runs natively on Linux, and the network stack itself is faster.
But even given all of that, the 16” M1 PRO edges close to the desktop. (When it is not constrained by anti virus.) And it does this in a portable form factor, with way less power consumption. My 5900X tops out at about 180W.
So yes, I would definitely say they are pulling ahead.
I suspect that’s an OS issue. Linux is simply more optimized and faster at equivalent OS stuff.
Which isn’t too surprising given a lot of the biggest companies in the world have been optimizing the hell out of it for their servers for the last 25+ years.
On the flipside of the coin though Apple also clearly optimizes their OS for power efficiency. Which is likely paying some good dividends.
For sure, the networking is on the OS level because in both I’m using the tcp stack provided by the OS. (Also GUI in Linux has less transitions and feels snappier in general.)
The remainder can be attributed to compiler optimisations or lack thereof.
Java runs faster. GraalVM native generated native images run way waster. Golang runs faster. X86_64 has seen more love from optimalisations than aarch64 has. One of the things I hit was different GC/memory performance due to different page sizes. Moreover, docker runs natively on Linux, and the network stack itself is faster.
But even given all of that, the 16” M1 PRO edges close to the desktop. (When it is not constrained by anti virus.) And it does this in a portable form factor, with way less power consumption. My 5900X tops out at about 180W.
So yes, I would definitely say they are pulling ahead.