Xserve

Xserve Intel

Xserve 'Nehalem'

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Overview

Apple upgraded the Xserve to the same Nehalem CPUs found in the Mac Pro. Even though the clock speed of these chips is lower than on the 2008 Xserve, the efficiencies of the Nehalem architecture power it well past last year's models. The Nehalem chips also support Hyperthreading, so each core can emulate two cores, and Turbo Boost, which allows some cores to run faster than their rated speed when other cores are not being used heavily (for instance, a 2.93 GHz core can reach 3.33 GHz when necessary).

Another efficiency is energy efficiency, and for the first time Apple is offering a Solid State Drive (SSD) option for Xserve, which reduces power draw, heat, and noise vs. a normal hard drive and costs $500. Apple says the SSD is "ultrafast", with minimal seek time (0.16 ms) and the same throughput as a 7200 rpm hard drive. All this while sipping less than 1 Watt of power (vs. 12-18 for a typical hard drive). And because the SSD is so small, it doesn't use a drive bay, leaving all 3 available for hard drives.

For optimal memory performance, RAM is installed in sets of 3 matching modules, as Nehalem's memory controller can work most efficiently that way. Mac OS X 10.5 supports up to 32 GB of RAM, and the 2009 Xserve should be able to use 48 GB once OS X 10.6 "Snow Leopard" ships.

Like other 2009 Macs, Xserve uses Mini DisplayPort for video output. This means anyone using it with an existing monitor will need to purchase an adapter.

Xserve supports up to 3 TB of internal storage, RAID ($700 option), hot swappable drives, and remote management while running Mac OS X Server. It supports the SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) interface, which gives it access to 15,000 rpm hard drives.

Xserve includes an unlimited user license for Mac OS X Server.

Details

introduced 2009.04.07 at $2,999 with one 2.26 GHz quad-core Intel Xeon 5500 "Nehalem" CPU; dual 2.26 GHz, $3,599; dual 2.66 GHz, $4,999; dual 2.93 GHz, $6,199
requires Mac OS X Server v10.5.1 or later
CPU: 1 or 2 quad-core Intel Xeon 5500 CPUs, dual CPUs available at 2.26, 2.66, or 2.93 GHz
bus: 1.6 GHz
system performance: unknown
RAM: 3 GB standard, expandable to 24 GB using 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC FB-DIMMs in 12 slots
video: Nvidia GeForce GT 120 with 256 MB RAM
L2 cache: 256 KB per core
L3 cache: 8 MB per processor
hard drive: 160 GB 7200 RPM, 128 GB SSD optional, 1 TB drive optional, 450 GB 15,000 rpm SAS available, 3 drive bays, Serial ATA
optical drive: 8x SuperDrive DL
2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots
no 400 Mbps FireWire port
two FireWire 800 ports on back
two USB 2.0 ports on back, one on front
one DB-9/RS-232 port
dual 10/100/1000Base-T ethernet
size (HxWxD): 1.73" x 17.6" x 30" (44 x 447 x 762mm)
weight: 30.8-38.3 lbs. (14.0-17.4 kg)
PRAM battery: 3.6V half-AA
upgrade path: none yet
Part no.: MA882

Accelerators & Upgrades

none yet

Online Resources

Best online Xserve deals.
The 64-bitness of Mac OS X 10.6 'Snow Leopard', Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2009.08.19. Although Apple is promoting 'Snow Leopard' as a fully 64-bit operating system, it defaults to running in 32-bit mode.
The road ahead: 64-bit computing, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2009.08.19. Personal computers started with 8-bit CPUs, Macs started out with a 24-bit operating system, and 32-bit computing is starting to give way to 64 bits.
Apple trumps Microsoft in making the 64-bit transition transparent to users, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 2008.09.18. To use more than 4 GB of RAM under Windows, you need a 64-bit PC and the 64-bit version of Windows. On the Mac, OS X 10.4 and later already support it.
Xserve, Apple

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