Based on the results of our tests, users who want high performance while running demanding workloads should consider the Dell Precision 5680 workstation. Notably, the Precision 5680 workstation offered up to 3.4x the video AI performance and up to 3.3x the 3D rendering performance of the 16-inch MacBook Pro we tested. For a creative professional using Topaz AI to enhance a video clip, the Precision 5680 workstation could render the clip in 10 minutes when the MacBook Pro would need over half an hour. For bigger projects, these types of delays can add up to hours and days of lost productivity. Not only did the Precision 5680 workstation outperform the MacBook Pro in multiple benchmark tests while running heavy workloads, it handled a sustained workload while maintaining a 12.8°F cooler temperature on the underside of its chassis. These findings indicate that the Precision 5680 workstation is an excellent option for individuals seeking to optimize their creative, design, and collaborative workflows.

How we tested

We compared two devices:

To compare the performance of the Dell Precision 5680 workstation and the 16-inch Apple MacBook Pro, we conducted a series of benchmark tests, including:

• Blender Benchmark
• Geekbench 6
• HandBrake
• Cinebench R23
• PugetBench
• Topaz Video AI Benchmark

We also tested the performance of the devices while running a custom collaboration workflow and measured the temperature of the underside of the devices while running a demanding workload using the Cinebench R23 benchmark. For more details about the configurations and pricing of our test systems and our testing procedures, read the science behind the report.

Blender

The Blender Benchmark measures 3D modeling performance using three different render models. The Precision 5680 workstation rendered up to 3.3x as many samples per minute as the MacBook Pro in the Monster and Classroom models and up to 3.1x as many samples per minute in the Junkshop model (Figures 3 through 5). This shows that users who carry out graphics-intensive workflows such as 3D rendering could finish projects faster and spend less time waiting for their systems with the Precision 5680 workstation.

Geekbench 6 Compute OpenCL

The Geekbench 6 Compute OpenCL benchmark measures the performance of a computer’s GPU while running OpenCL (Open Computing Language) workloads. OpenCL is an open-source programming language that works across different platforms and devices. A higher Geekbench 6 Compute OpenCL benchmark score indicates better GPU performance, meaning the system can better handle complex computational tasks. The Precision 5680 workstation achieved a Geekbench 6 Compute OpenCL score that was up to 92.4% higher than the MacBook Pro (Figure 6). This could mean less downtime, more productivity, and finishing projects faster.

HandBrake

Video encoding, essential for compressing video while maintaining quality, is one of the most resource- intensive processes for any system.² Because it stresses CPU, memory, and GPU, it’s a helpful indicator of content creation performance. HandBrake is a popular platform for converting and encoding video. To measure video encoding performance with HandBrake, we used the HandBrake benchmark. This test measures the time to complete encoding and the number of FPS that devices process while encoding a predefined video. For our testing, we used a 2.1 GB, 5-minute MP4 video. The Precision 5680 workstation encoded 4K video in up to 15.4% less time than the MacBook Pro (Figure 5) and processed 22.5% more FPS than the MacBook Pro (Figure 6).

Cinebench R23

Cinebench R23 evaluates a system’s hardware capabilities with CPU-intensive workloads such as those involving 3D graphics. It aims to test whether “a machine runs stable on a high CPU load” and whether “the cooling solution…is sufficient for longer running tasks to deliver the full potential of the CPU.”³ A higher Cinebench R23 score reflects better CPU performance, which could mean a smoother experience when rendering 3D graphics. When we measured the performance of the devices using the Cinebench R23 benchmark, the Precision 5680 workstation achieved a multi-core performance score that was up to 34.9% higher than that of the MacBook Pro, meaning the Precision 5680 workstation offers better performance running this type of CPU-intensive workload (Figure 8).

PugetBench for Photoshop

The PugetBench for Photoshop benchmark evaluates a system’s performance completing various tasks using the photo-editing application Adobe Photoshop^®. PugetBench for Photoshop measures a system’s performance while completing a broad range of common tasks in Adobe Photoshop and uses these subscores to assign a system an overall score. When we compared the Adobe Photoshop performance of the two devices, we found that the Dell Precision 5680 workstation offered performance that was up to 7.5% higher than the Apple MacBook Pro (Figure 10).

Collaboration workflow testing

In a real-world setting, users might be in a Zoom meeting while using multiple applications to collaborate with their coworkers, which can put stress on a system. To measure the performance of the devices in such a scenario, we created a custom collaboration workflow and measured how long it took each device to complete predefined tasks in Outlook, PowerPoint, Google Chrome^™, and Excel, while using Zoom. The Precision 5680 workstation completed the workflow in up to 2.8% less time than the MacBook Pro (Figure 11). For workers who spend countless hours collaborating with teammates, even a small advantage like this can add up over time.

Thermal testing

As remote and hybrid work have become more common, more users are using their laptops and workstations away from their desks. If you’re using your device in your lap, the temperature of the underside of the chassis can impact your comfort level. To assess how hot the devices might run while working hard, we ran a sustained Cinebench R23 workload consisting of five consecutive multi-core tests. As the workload was running, we measured the change in temperature of each device on the underside of its chassis. The Dell brand was notably cooler in this area than the Apple MacBook Pro, offering the possibility of a more comfortable user experience. It delivered this advantage while performing slightly better than the MacBook Pro on the Cinebench workload, meaning users don’t have to sacrifice their comfort to get a better performing device. For these results, read the science behind the report. With the Dell Precision 5680, a cooler laptop doesn’t come at a performance limitation.

Video AI testing

Video AI applications use algorithms to enhance the quality and resolution of videos. According to Topaz Labs, creators of Topaz Video AI, their video AI software “focuses solely on completing a few video enhancement tasks really well: deinterlacing, upscaling, and motion interpolation.”⁴ The Topaz Video AI benchmark test evaluates the performance of systems while processing videos using Topaz Video AI. During the test, the benchmark measures the efficiency and speed of the systems as they process a standardized set of videos of different resolutions. The results of this benchmark test can help users understand how well a system will perform when using the Topaz Video AI software.

When we compared the video AI performance of the two systems using the Topaz Video AI benchmark, we found that the Dell Precision 5680 workstation offered 3.4x the performance of the MacBook Pro while converting 1080p video from 24 to 60 frames per second (FPS) and 3.1x the performance converting 4K video from 24 to 60 FPS. To put this in perspective, the Precision 5680 workstation might only need 30 minutes to convert a video clip that would take the MacBook Pro over an hour and a half.

Audio quality testing

To compare the audio quality of the two systems, we conducted audio quality testing using a jury of three individuals. We played each participant three audio samples using the MacBook Pro and then played the same three audio samples using the Precision 5680 workstation. We then asked them about audio quality and which system’s audio they preferred. For more details about our audio quality testing and the questionnaire we gave participants, read the science behind the report.

The jury assessed the audio quality of the Precision 5680 workstation as being on par with the MacBook Pro. The first participant preferred the Precision 5680 workstation, the second participant preferred the Precision 5680 workstation for two thirds of the audio samples, and the third participant preferred the Apple system. In general, our participants found the Apple system to have more defined low-end sounds, which some perceived as muddier, while they found the Dell system to have clearer high-end sounds.

Conclusion

Whether you’re editing video, rendering 3D graphics, analyzing data, or collaborating with coworkers on a PowerPoint presentation, the performance of your device can impact how productive you are. When you’re catching up on emails on the couch or trying to put the finishing touches on a video project before boarding a flight, the temperature of the device in your lap can impact your comfort. Comparing a Dell Precision 5680 to a MacBook Pro 16", we found the Precision 5680 offered better performance running several demanding workloads, remained up to 12.8°F cooler under a sustained Cinebench workload, and offered comparable audio quality. Based on our tests, users who value performance and comfort should consider the Dell Precision 5680 workstation.