Xserve Refresh Coming Within the Next Week or Two?

MacRumors · Mar 31, 2009, 11:07 AM

AppleInsider reports that Apple may release updated versions of its Xserve rackmountable server computers within the next few weeks. The new models are expected to utilize new Intel Xeon 3500 "Bloomfield" processors, as well as the same Xeon 5500 "Gainestown" processors found in the new Mac Pro but only officially introduced yesterday.

Quote:

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 notes that Apple's online store is showing shipping times of 5-7 business days for the Xserve, down from a 1-2 week window offered late last week, suggesting that a refresh may be just around the corner. Apple Store representatives are also reportedly informing Xserve customers of possible short-term delays to their orders.

Article Link: Xserve Refresh Coming Within the Next Week or Two?

Santabean2000 · Mar 31, 2009, 11:20 AM

Sweet. Now if only I had a use for this...

fleshman03 · Mar 31, 2009, 11:22 AM

YaY! Apple Servers!

Yeah, a use would be nice.... (for me)

talkingfuture · Mar 31, 2009, 11:23 AM

I think many people are reading this thinking wow that is awesome, wish I needed one!

BTW · Mar 31, 2009, 11:25 AM

It is nice to see Apple still cares about the enterprise markets. They still don't have a blade solution like all of their competitors but an updated xServe at least states they want to stay in the market.

zombitronic · Mar 31, 2009, 11:25 AM

I hope the storage capacity is significantly increased. 6TB (with three 2TB drives) would be nice.

edesignuk · Mar 31, 2009, 11:28 AM

I'd love to know the sales figures on the Xserve. They must be minuscule. It's hard to believe the whole line is worth bothering with at all.

The Tall One · Mar 31, 2009, 11:29 AM

I work in server rooms for clients all over the world, and only once did I see a rack full of xservs and xraids. I'm curious about how many customers Apple has for these products. They are great for large final cut editing suites in post production facilities, but I can't imagine that there are really that many of those in existence.

Schizoid · Mar 31, 2009, 11:29 AM

Rejoice, for Apple's finest computer is being updated!
Hopefully they'll keep 2 x FW 800 in the back!
Fibre Channel should be as standard!!

haravikk · Mar 31, 2009, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zombitronic

I hope the storage capacity is significantly increased. 6TB (with three 2TB drives) would be nice.

Apple probably won't offer these by default, but you can always buy them yourself surely? Are the Apple Drive Modules not just special cases for hot-plugging? I'd be surprised if you can't just fire a load of drives from elsewhere into the machine.

I may be getting a dedicated server-machine some time in the future, and XServes are on the top of my list of possibilities, I'd probably go for the middle model (whatever the minimum dual-processor set-up is) and put a RAID card in and three good-sized, high-speed SAS drives.
I'll need to investigate where to get RAM I suppose, as the Apple RAM prices on the current XServe models are pretty ridiculous as it is, I got 8gb of the same type of RAM for my "Early 2008" Mac Pro and it only set me back $400-500 yet they still want $1400 for 6gb?

themoonisdown09 · Mar 31, 2009, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edesignuk

I'd love to know the sales figures on the Xserve. They must be minuscule. It's hard to believe the whole line is worth bothering with at all.

I'm sure Disney and Pixar use them!

edesignuk · Mar 31, 2009, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themoonisdown09

I'm sure Disney and Pixar use them!

If they were using their brain rather than going on influence from up above, I can't see why they would.

Grimace · 12:03 PM

There are over 300 Xserves deployed at my [large research-based] university, and I just returned one a few weeks ago (sealed) when the new Xeon processors came out. I had until June 30 to make a purchase, and so it made sense for us to send it right back and wait a little bit.

Apple may not have the largest share of the server market, but it is still a profitable arm of its corporate business.

schneb · Mar 31, 2009, 11:49 AM

Lackluster specs at a higher price? Seems to be the recent trend.

The Samurai · Mar 31, 2009, 11:53 AM

Kinda funny how all these updates are coming around when Jobs is not in office (well, technically).

Rocketman · Mar 31, 2009, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themoonisdown09

I'm sure Disney and Pixar use them!

Nope. They use generic unix/linux boxen.

I wouldn't be surprised if there were a single X-serve to deal with Apple specific issues, but all the rendering and content libraries are on generic cheap(er) server hardware.

Rocketman

cites:

http://blogs.computerworld.com/pixar...ervers_not_mac

http://infotech.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1141476.cms

iMacmatician · Mar 31, 2009, 12:13 PM

The current Xserves use a maximum of 2 80 W CPUs. If Apple stays this way, the fastest 80 W Xeon is 2.53 GHz.

zombitronic · Mar 31, 2009, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haravikk

Apple probably won't offer these by default, but you can always buy them yourself surely? Are the Apple Drive Modules not just special cases for hot-plugging? I'd be surprised if you can't just fire a load of drives from elsewhere into the machine.

You can, but the current capacity is only 3TB.

Schizoid · Mar 31, 2009, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schneb

Lackluster specs at a higher price? Seems to be the recent trend.

I'm betting on exactly the same case, with no Firewire, slightly faster CPUs, still one 80gb drive as standard, and a $250 price hike...

cswiger1 · Mar 31, 2009, 12:24 PM

10" touch screen netXserve. Bank on it.

guzhogi · Mar 31, 2009, 12:37 PM

I work in an all Mac district w/ easily 3 dozen xServes spread throughout the district. Each school has an IBM server for some Windows-only software, but still.

I wonder how much of a speed boost Virginia Tech's System X would get if they replaced their G5 xServes with Nehalem xServes. Add in Snow Leopard and wow!

xnu · Mar 31, 2009, 12:48 PM

I have two in a small business, they work flawlessly. Prevents me from needing a IT department, really easy to set up and use for both Mac and Windows computers.

t0mat0 · Mar 31, 2009, 01:03 PM

I think the benchmarks of these will show promise - will be interesting to see how Apple re-benchmarks all their Macs, and this new XServe, once 10.6 gets demoed/released.

wonderbread57 · Mar 31, 2009, 01:07 PM

What the hell do people use mac servers for?

Hosting iTunes apps?

Hosting, er, photoshop?

lool

twoodcc · Mar 31, 2009, 01:07 PM

very glad to hear this. i am hoping that apple starts to really focus on the IT/server market

Mar 31, 2009, 11:20 AM	#2
Santabean2000 macrumors regular Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Hamiltron, City of the Future	Sweet. Now if only I had a use for this... __________________ i7 iMac, MBP 13", mini HTPC

Mar 31, 2009, 11:22 AM	#3
fleshman03 macrumors 68000 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Tampa, FL	YaY! Apple Servers! Yeah, a use would be nice.... (for me) __________________ Penguin: Early 2008 MacBook Pro C2D @ 2.5GhZ, 2GB, 250GB / iPhone 3GS 32GB Monkey: Early 2006 MacBook Black CD @ 2GhZ, 2GB, 80GB / iPhone 3G 16GB

Mar 31, 2009, 11:23 AM	#4
talkingfuture macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The back of beyond.	I think many people are reading this thinking wow that is awesome, wish I needed one! __________________ Futuristical bloggery with a twist.

Mar 31, 2009, 11:25 AM	#5
BTW macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2007	It is nice to see Apple still cares about the enterprise markets. They still don't have a blade solution like all of their competitors but an updated xServe at least states they want to stay in the market. __________________ Tory Hagen Break the Wedge!

Mar 31, 2009, 11:28 AM	#7
edesignuk Demi-God (Moderator emeritus) Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Great(?) Britain	I'd love to know the sales figures on the Xserve. They must be minuscule. It's hard to believe the whole line is worth bothering with at all. __________________ V's wise words Search before you post: MRoogle **Better BBC Search**

Mar 31, 2009, 11:25 AM	#6
zombitronic macrumors 6502a Join Date: Feb 2007	I hope the storage capacity is significantly increased. 6TB (with three 2TB drives) would be nice.

Mar 31, 2009, 11:29 AM	#8
The Tall One macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2008	I work in server rooms for clients all over the world, and only once did I see a rack full of xservs and xraids. I'm curious about how many customers Apple has for these products. They are great for large final cut editing suites in post production facilities, but I can't imagine that there are really that many of those in existence. __________________ user since 1989

Mar 31, 2009, 11:29 AM	#9
Schizoid macrumors regular Join Date: May 2008 Location: UK	Rejoice, for Apple's finest computer is being updated! Hopefully they'll keep 2 x FW 800 in the back! Fibre Channel should be as standard!!

Mar 31, 2009, 11:48 AM	#13
Grimace Contributor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: with Hamburglar.	There are over 300 Xserves deployed at my [large research-based] university, and I just returned one a few weeks ago (sealed) when the new Xeon processors came out. I had until June 30 to make a purchase, and so it made sense for us to send it right back and wait a little bit. Apple may not have the largest share of the server market, but it is still a profitable arm of its corporate business. __________________ Canon 1Ds Mk III • Canon 5D MkII 16-35mm f/2.8L II • 24-70mm f/2.8L • 70-200mm f/2.8L IS 50mm f/1.2L • 85mm f/1.2L • 135mm f/2L • 300mm f/2.8L IS Last edited by Grimace : Mar 31, 2009 at 12:03 PM.

Mar 31, 2009, 11:49 AM	#14
schneb macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2008	Lackluster specs at a higher price? Seems to be the recent trend.

Mar 31, 2009, 11:53 AM	#15
The Samurai macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Glasgow	Kinda funny how all these updates are coming around when Jobs is not in office (well, technically). __________________ My YouTube Page - Reviews & Unboxings Twitta

Mar 31, 2009, 12:13 PM	#17
iMacmatician macrumors 68040 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The world of Macmatics, flying with my calculator…	The current Xserves use a maximum of 2 80 W CPUs. If Apple stays this way, the fastest 80 W Xeon is 2.53 GHz. __________________ babyj: "One day, all Apple products will be running the iPhone OS …"

Mar 31, 2009, 12:24 PM	#20
cswiger1 macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2009	10" touch screen netXserve. Bank on it.

Mar 31, 2009, 12:37 PM	#21
guzhogi macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2003	I work in an all Mac district w/ easily 3 dozen xServes spread throughout the district. Each school has an IBM server for some Windows-only software, but still. I wonder how much of a speed boost Virginia Tech's System X would get if they replaced their G5 xServes with Nehalem xServes. Add in Snow Leopard and wow!

Mar 31, 2009, 12:48 PM	#22
xnu macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2004	I have two in a small business, they work flawlessly. Prevents me from needing a IT department, really easy to set up and use for both Mac and Windows computers.

Mar 31, 2009, 01:03 PM	#23
t0mat0 macrumors 68040 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Home	I think the benchmarks of these will show promise - will be interesting to see how Apple re-benchmarks all their Macs, and this new XServe, once 10.6 gets demoed/released. __________________ Looking forward to big things by Apple in 2009

Mar 31, 2009, 01:07 PM	#24
wonderbread57 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2008	What the hell do people use mac servers for? Hosting iTunes apps? Hosting, er, photoshop? lool

Mar 31, 2009, 01:07 PM	#25
twoodcc macrumors 603 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Right side of wrong	very glad to hear this. i am hoping that apple starts to really focus on the IT/server market __________________ tville pump Smarter than the average bear

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