Wednesday, April 8th 2009
Apple Updates Xserve with the Latest Intel Xeon 5500 Series Processors
Thanks to the addition of the new Quad-core Intel Nehalem Xeon processors series 5500, the updated Xserve announced today delivers up to twice the performance of the previous system. For those not familiar with the term Xserve, this is the name of Apple's first 1U rackmount line of servers. It was first introduced in 2002, and thanks to this update now it is available with up to two 2.93 GHz Intel Xeon processors, up to 3 TB of hot-plug internal storage using various hard drive modules and up to 32 GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC memory on 8 slots. Starting at $2,999, Xserve includes an unlimited client license for Mac OS X Server version 10.5 Leopard and enough power to become your file or web server. For the full tech specs, please click here.
Source:
Apple
17 Comments on Apple Updates Xserve with the Latest Intel Xeon 5500 Series Processors
Looks snazzy too.
I bet it squeals like any other 1U server.
The Q about noise is important. The passive coolers on the CPUs look good, BUT how noisey are those exit fans to the front? (Big holes visible in the front, looking like some Turbo's exhaust pipes :D)
Tech specs claim Turbo boost... but I thought that server based Nehalem-EPs didnt have that overdrive feature.
WAIT is that a slot CD/DVD drive in the upper RHS. Apple have really designed something desirable here.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=by36R_6T4gg
www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3tC8J3eqAU
Not entirely sure if the Xserve is still designed that way, but it'll still be pretty loud.
Yes, noise is very relevant. An Xserve is a very suitable way to scale existing Apple workstation(s) for additional rendering or encoding power... not just for underground datacentre stuff. If you work on audio or video etc. one of these babies is a great way to double the horsepower of your machine... or indeed you thin client to one of these and let it do all the work.
And remember that Apples are more common in small business or independents. They DONT have datacentres, just a corner of the room with the NAS/printer stack.
Noise is OK... but then the level of noise excludes certain uses of the device. Particularly one that is designed to LOOK at, not just bury in the data-cellar.
Perhaps Apple should consider a 2U rather than 1U rack that is silent(ish) for the at-home or small business segment.
It would also be more stylish than a rack with only a couple Xserves installed, I think :)
Should have thought about that as some of my favorite desks are audio/video oriented:
www.omnirax.com/index.php/DisplayProduct/0-31
I look at it and see a 4U for myself, some 2U home servers, racked UPS's, etc. Not too big on audio side of things (I have audio guys for that :D). Though a racked receiver would be nice.
A double sided rack desk... solid cherry... would be beautiful. (not just choice of melamine laminate colors. LOL)
PS. That picture has got me thinking... Perhaps I should build myself a nice soundproofed 19" rack to go under the desk, on wheels. I could then build a rack based PC and stuff all sorts of other rubbish down there.
Out of curiosity though... Did anyone else notice the GT 120 they list in the specs? o_O
The two G5-based Xserves here at work both have the base model video card of the time - some ATI Xxxxx card.