Apple introduces its Xserve server with 64-bit Intel Xeon processors

Within the framework of the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2006) which opens today in San Francisco (USA), Apple has presented the new Xserve: a 64-bit server of the type Quad Xeon (with four process cores), with the Mac OS X Server Tiger operating system on two Intel Xeon Dual-Core processors at speeds of up to 3.0 GHz, which translates to more than five times the performance of its predecessor.

The new Xserve introduces a new server architecture and offers up to four times the I/O bandwidth, up to three times the memory bandwidth and twice the storage bandwidth of the Xserve G5. It is the most customizable server ever released by Apple, with more than a million possible custom configurations, and offers unbeatable flexibility, management versatility, and price/performance, making it ideal for anything from workgroups to from creation to scientific computing.

WWDC 2006, San Francisco, USA—August 7, 2006—Apple today announced the new Xserve: a 64-bit quad Xeon server running Mac OS X Server Tiger on two Intel Xeon Dual-Core processors running at speeds of up to 3.0 GHz, which translates to more than five times the performance of its predecessor*. With an industry-leading bandwidth server architecture that includes PCI Express, independent 1.33GHz front-side buses with 4MB of shared L2 cache, and fully-buffered memory (FB- DIMMs), the new Xserve offers up to four times the I/O bandwidth, up to three times the memory bandwidth and twice the storage bandwidth of the Xserve G5. The new Xserve is the most customizable server Apple has ever released, with dozens of options including faster processors, larger hard drives and dual power supplies. With over a million possible custom configurations, the Intel-based Xserve offers unbeatable flexibility, management versatility, and price/performance, making it ideal for anything from workgroups to authoring environments to scientific computing.

“The Xserve has always been the perfect server for Mac workgroups, and now it will work more than five times faster at the same breakthrough price,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With new Intel processors, a redesigned hardware architecture, and a Tiger Server license for unlimited customers, no one can offer better value for money, performance, and management versatility in a 1U form factor server.”

Configurable with two Intel Xeon Dual-Core processors at 2.0, 2.66 or 3.0 GHz, the new Xserve supports up to 32 GB of 667 MHz DDR2 ECC FB-DIMM memory with double the capacity and triple the width. bandwidth than the Xserve G5. Two PCI Express eight-lane expansion slots offer throughput of up to 2 GB/s each to support the next generation of fiber channel, network, and graphics cards. Apple offers industry-leading storage flexibility with support for up to three SATA or SAS 3Gb/s drives that can reach an unrivaled 2.25TB of hot-pluggable storage in a 1U-high server, while advanced thermal management capabilities take advantage of the low power consumption of Intel processors (just 65 W).

Apple has made the system even easier to manage with quick-deploy rackmount rails, a new visual management system that allows administrators to control hardware from a remote location, and including Apple Server Monitor software and Apple Remote Desktop agent.

The new Xserve ships with internal graphics circuitry capable of running up to the 23-inch Apple Cinema Monitor as well as standard VGA devices; and as a custom configuration option, it offers the possibility of including the ATI Radeon X1300 256MB PCI Express graphics card for professional graphics and video applications.

The new Intel-based Xserve will be the first system to ship with an unlimited client version of Tiger Server software optimized to run on Intel-based systems. Tiger Server integrates more than 100 leading open source projects and standards-based software applications, with easy-to-use management tools that make deployment easy for Mac, Windows, and Linux clients.

Apple offers a variety of service and support programs for Xserve, including AppleCare Premium Service for on-site service and 24×7 technical support. For self-employed customers in the service area, Apple offers Service Parts Kits to address most potential incidents.

Price and availability

The new Xserve will be available from October 2006 in the Apple sales channel in Spain and in the Apple Store on the Internet (www.apple.com/es). The base configuration of the Xserve includes two 2.0 GHz Intel Xeon Dual-Core processors with 1 GB of 667 MHz DDR2 fully-buffered ECC memory, an 80 GB SATA 3Gb/s Apple Drive Module, dual on-board Gigabit Ethernet, internal graphics, three FireWire 800 ports and two USB 2.0 ports, and Mac OS X Server version 10.4 Tiger for an unlimited number of customers, at a suggested retail price of €2,758 plus VAT (€3,199 including VAT). Custom configuration options and accessories include: dual Intel Xeon Dual-Core processors at 2.66 GHz or 3.0 GHz; up to 32 GB of RAM on FB-DIMM at 667 MHz; 80GB and 750GB SATA Apple Drive Modules @ 7,200rpm 3Gb/s or 73GB & 300GB SAS Apple Drive Modules @ 15,000rpm; ATI Radeon X1300 graphics card with 256MB SDRAM; Combo or SuperDrive optical drive; and 650 W redundant power supply.

* Based on estimated results from SPECint industry standard performance tests. SPEC is a registered trademark of the Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation (SPEC); see www.apple.com/es/server for more information.