According to media reports, Apple Computer is preparing to transit its server computers Xserve to Intel’s new Xeon 5100-series processors. This will allow Apple to ship more powerful servers, however, this would mean that the company’s PowerMac systems will virtually have lower performance hardware inside.

A report over ThinkSecret web-site claims that Apple is planning to embrace the new code-named Woodcrest processors into its Xserve systems as early as in July, whereas PowerMac computers will be substituted with similarly-positioned Intel-based systems later during the year.

If Apple goes ahead with such a plan, it would not mark the first time its Xserve has trumped the Power Mac in performance, the web-site notes. Apple quietly started shipping Xserves with 2.3GHz Power PC G5 processors when the Power Mac still topped out at 2.0GHz, the publication reminds.

It is currently unclear whether Apple plans to use dual-core Intel Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Extreme processors in the successors of PowerMac systems, but it is known that currently the company uses dual-core G5 chips in its high-end desktops. Intel planning to release its Core 2 desktops chips in July and it is speculated that new pro systems may debut around Apple’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference, which takes place in early August.

Apple announced plans to deliver models of its Macintosh computers using Intel microprocessors by mid-2006, and to transition all of its Macs to using Intel microprocessors by the end of 2007.

The computer maker did not comment on the news-story.