XCode Hardware Options - Hyper threading?

[DribbleCastle]

I'm currently planning the upgrade purchase of our XCode server. Since the Mac Mini is dated, I'm looking at a 2017 iMac and wanted to get some opinions on if I should spec an iMac one of the following processor options. I guess the big difference would be Hyperthreading according to Apple. So I guess my big question is does the XCode Server take advantage of Hyper-Threading?

- 3.4GHz quad-core 7th-generation Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 3.8GHz
- 3.6GHz quad-core 7th-generation Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 4.2GHz

Apple's note on the the i7 regarding hyperthreading

The Intel Core i7 processor takes advantage of Hyper-Threading, a technology that kicks in when the processor is handling several big jobs at the same time. It lets each of the processor’s cores run two threads simultaneously, which means it can do two things at once. So it’s as if your iMac has eight cores at its disposal instead of four, allowing it to multitask more efficiently.

 

[Bob Zimmerman]

It looks like the specific processors they use are the i5-7500 and the i7-7700K. The last few versions of i5 have all had hyperthreading, but Apple's page is right: this one does not.

I would not expect hyperthreading to make a major difference for Xcode use. I would recommend looking into benchmarks comparing those two processors. My bet is the i7 isn't that big a performance boost over the i5.

 

[DribbleCastle]

Thanks. Ended up buying the 24" iMac because of the user replaceable RAM. Got the top end 4.2 GHZ i7. Could have picked up an older Mac Pro for less but need it under warranty and also need the display.

 

[sevoneone]

Intel has yet to release a desktop version of the i5 with Hyper-Threading. The mobile variants of the i5 with only two cores have Hyper-Threading though.

Desktop:
i3 - Dual Core w/ Hyper-Threading
i5 - Quad Core No Hyper-Threading
i7 - Quad or More Cores w/ Hyper-Threading

Mobile Processors:
i3 - Dual Core w/ Hyper-Threading
i5 - Dual Core Versions have Hyper-Threading, Quad Core Versions Have No Hyper-Threading (Apple has never used a mobile i5 with Quad Cores in any of their products to date).
i7 - Dual or Quad Cores w/ Hyper-Threading