World of Apple

Apple has today quietly added the ability to configure Mac Pro and Xserve systems with a 3.33GHz Quad-Core processor for an additional $1200 as well as the ability to configure both the quad-core and 8-core models with 2TB hard drives.

The new option of 2TB hard drives priced at $550 each will allow Mac Pro’s to contain up to 8TB of internal hard drive space. The same option is available for the Xserve allowing for a total hard drive capacity of 6TB.

[Update - the new options only appear to be available on the U.S. online Apple Store.]

As rumoured Apple has today updated its line of enterprise servers boasting twice the performance of the previous models.

Using Intel “Nehalem” Xeon processors and a next generation system architecture, the 1U rack-optimized Xserve delivers up to an 89 percent improvement in performance per watt. Xserve is available with up to two 2.93 GHz Intel Xeon processors and industry-leading storage options that include a low-power solid state drive (SSD) and up to 3TB of internal storage. Starting at $2,999, Xserve includes an unlimited client license for Mac OS X Server version 10.5 Leopard.

“The Xserve is the best workgroup server for our education, business and creative customers,” said David Moody, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Mac Product Marketing. “With up to twice the performance, better power efficiency and an innovative SSD drive option, this is the best Xserve we’ve ever made.”

The new Xserve includes Intel Xeon processors running at speeds up to 2.93 GHz, each with an integrated memory controller with three channels of 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC memory that delivers up to 2.4 times the memory bandwidth while cutting memory latency up to 40 percent. Using high-efficiency power supplies and intelligent thermal management, Xserve delivers a 19 percent reduction in idle power use.

Xserve’s industry-leading storage capabilities include a 128GB SSD boot-drive option that requires a fraction of the power of a hard disk and delivers up to 48 times faster random access times without occupying a drive bay. Xserve’s three 3.5 inch drive bays support both 7200 rpm SATA and 15,000 rpm SAS drives and can be configured with up to 3TB of internal storage. Two PCI Express 2.0 x16 expansion slots provide massive I/O bandwidth to support the latest high-bandwidth expansion cards. The Xserve RAID card option now delivers improved performance up to 497MB/s and supports RAID levels 0, 1 and 5 with 512MB of cache without using a valuable PCI Express expansion slot. A 72-hour backup battery is included for enhanced data protection.

The new Xserve joins Apple’s latest hardware products in setting new standards for environmentally friendly design. Xserve uses PVC-free internal cables and components, contains no brominated flame retardants and features a power supply with an average energy efficiency of 89 percent.

The Xserve standard configuration, with a suggested retail price of $2,999 (£2,399), includes:

• a single 2.26 GHz Quad-Core Xeon 5500 series processor with 8MB of fully shared L3 cache;
• 3GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC RAM;
• a single 160GB 7200 rpm SATA Apple Drive Module;
• dual Gigabit Ethernet on-board;
• two PCI Express 2.0 x16 expansion slots;
• Bonjour-enabled Lights-Out Management processor and Server Monitor Software;
• internal graphics with Mini DisplayPort output;
• two FireWire 800 and three USB 2.0 ports; and
• an unlimited client license for Mac OS X Server version 10.5 Leopard.

PCWorld.com reports that an online Apple Store has inadvertently hinted at the rumoured update due for Apple’s range of Xserve servers.

The error appeared on the Hong Kong Apple online store, despite displaying information about the “Nahalem” based Xserves the link is inactive. The broken image is named “promo-ribbon-nahalem.jpg” and has an ALT attribute of “Pre-order the new Xserve with Intel Xeon (Nehalem).”

Following initial rumours that an Xserve update was imminent several references to the update were found in recent builds of Mac OS X 10.5.7. The update is most likely due in the coming days.

Hardmac.com has posted a handful of short concise rumours. Despite not looking entirely confident in any of these rumours the site publishes them anyway.

• Snow Leopard looks like to be ready sometime after September. Apple will tell us more in May but has much work to do on Open CL, QuickTime X and Grand Central.
• New Xserve models will arrive in June.
• New Mac Pro will be introduced packing a 3.2GHz Xeon and Quadro FX 5800.
• Notebooks will move to “Nahalem” platform in November.
• Updates to Final Cut Studio, DVD Studio Pro, Shake and Logic in the pipeline.

AppleInsider reports on multiple files in the recent builds of Mac OS X 10.5.7 that point towards the imminent update of Apple’s Xserve range of servers.

A reader of AppleInsider pointed out that extension file AppleTyMCEDriver contains a reference to “Xserver3,1″ a machine ID which is one major upgrade up from the current “Xserver2,1″ models.

If this wasn’t enough confirmation of a nearing Xserve update, AppleInsider points towards references to Marvell’s Yukon 2 ethernet controller. Currently Xserve models use the Yukon 1 controller.

AppleInsider reports that Apple is planning to refresh its range of server products in the next few weeks. The new Xserve models are said to follow similar footsteps as the recent Mac Pro releases gaining Nahalem based processors.

AppleInsider adds that models will likely use “Gainestown” and “Bloomsfield” Xeon processors.

New models, should they follow the same configuration format, would therefore include a single processor model capable of accepting 2.66GHz, 2.93GHz, and 3.2GHz quad-core Bloomfield chips and a dual-pocessor model that would take two 2.26GHz, 2.66GHz, 2.8GHz, or 2.93GHz quad-core Gainestown chips.

“Gainestown” is also available in 2.4GHz, 2.53GHz, and 3.2GHz variants, though Apple has expressed little interest in these parts thus far.

AppleInsider refers to shipping times as a good indication of an imminent update with shipping estimates reducing from 1 – 2 weeks to 5 to 7 days in the last few days.

Along with todays announcement of Xsan 2, some have noticed that the Xserve RAID is no longer available on the online Apple Store.

In addition to this the product page now redirects to http://www.apple.com/server/storage which shows off a 3U external RAID manufactured by a company called Promise.

The Promise RAID solution is also the build-to-order option when buying an Xserve.

Apple has today updated the Mac Pro workstation and its Xserve server range. Both machines now feature Intels “Harpertown” processors.

The Mac Pro combines two 45-nm Quad-Core Xeon processors running up to 3.2GHz and up to 4TB of internal storage. The standard 8-core configuration starts at $2799.

“The new Mac Pro is the fastest Mac we’ve ever made,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With 3.2 GHz 8-core Xeon processing, a 1600 MHz front side bus and 800 MHz memory, the new Mac Pro uses the fastest Intel Xeon architecture on the market.”

Every Mac Pro comes standard with the ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT graphics card with 256MB of video memory. The Mac Pro includes a new PCI Express 2.0 graphics slot that delivers up to double the bandwidth compared to the previous generation, and supports the latest generation of graphics cards from NVIDIA, such as the NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT with 512MB of video memory, or NVIDIA Quadro FX 5600 with 1.5GB of video memory and a 3-D stereo port for stereo-in-a-window applications. With support for up to four graphics cards, the new Mac Pro can drive up to eight 30-inch displays at once for advanced visualization and large display walls.

The standard 8-core Mac Pro, with a suggested retail price of $2,799, includes:

• two 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon processors with dual-independent 1600 MHz front side buses;
• 2GB of 800 MHz DDR2 ECC fully-buffered DIMM memory, expandable up to 32GB;
• ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT with 256MB of GDDR3 memory;
• 320GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
• 16x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
• two PCI Express 2.0 slots and two PCI Express slots;
• Bluetooth 2.0+EDR; and
• ships with Apple Keyboard and Mighty Mouse.

The Xserve range was also updated today to include up to two Quad-Core 3.0 GHz Intel Xeon processors for 8-core performance.

“With the latest Intel processors and no client access licenses, Xserve offers unbeatable server performance and value for under $3,000,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Xserve’s power, storage and Leopard Server make it ideal for supporting Mac clients and mixed platform workgroups.”

The Xserve standard configuration, with a suggested retail price of $2,999, includes:

• a single 64-bit 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Xeon processor with 12MB of L2 cache and a 1600 Mhz front side bus;
• 2GB of 800 MHz DDR2 ECC FB-DIMM RAM, expandable up to 32GB;
• a single 80GB SATA Apple Drive Module;
• dual Gigabit Ethernet on-board;
• internal graphics;
• two FireWire 800 and three USB 2.0 ports; and
• an unlimited client license for Mac OS X Server version 10.5 Leopard.