For any given application, there are often several processors which a system designer may select.
Performance is often a key factor when selecting a processor for an embedded application.
Performance is not the only selection criteria but it is often one of the most important, and often the most controversial. While some people could argue the point, there are few useful empirical or absolute measures of workstation performance. The goal is simply to find the fastest system. While workstation processor performance is important, it is usually a low priority when designing a new product. The system price point, and to a lesser extent the target market, determines the processor.