Processors Toolkit

Apple serves up new G5

John G. Spooner CNET News.com

Published: 23 Mar 2004 16:30 GMT

After a month delay, Apple Computer has begun shipping a single-processor version of its Xserve G5 server, and plans a dual-processor version in April.

Several of the one-chip machines have now been delivered into its customers' hands.

The Xserve G5 is an all-new version of the "1U," or 1.75-inch-thick, rack-mount Apple server. It was designed for jobs as simple as handling office email or as complex as crunching numbers for biotech researchers. The Xserve G5 is based around IBM's PowerPC 970FX processor, which Apple calls PowerPC G5.

The computer maker originally planned to begin shipping the Xserve G5 in February. However, shipments were delayed into March.

"We're on track now. We're shipping the single-processor Xserve G5. We'll be shipping the dual G5 [Xserve] in April," said Alex Grossman, director of hardware storage for Apple.

The Xserve G5 is an important product for Apple because it enables the company to expand its presence in the upper echelons of the computer market, where products such as high-performance computing clusters are sold. These clusters, some of which now use Xserve machines, string together numerous servers in order to harness their collective computing power.

Aside from giving manufacturers bragging rights based on performance, clusters can help them sell lots more servers. Virginia Tech for one has said it would upgrade its cluster from Power Mac G5s to Xserve servers.

Apple's single-processor Xserve G5 costs $2,999 (£1,622) and comes with a 2GHz PowerPC G5 processor, 512MB of error-correcting code (ECC) RAM, an 80GB hard drive, dual Gigabit Ethernet and an unlimited Mac OS X Server client licence. Customers will be able to add larger amounts of memory and more hard drive space, if they desire.

A dual-processor Xserve G5 will come with twin 2GHz PowerPC G5s and 1GB of ECC RAM, for $3,999. Its basic configuration is otherwise the same as the single-processor Xserve G5's.

The company said it will also make available a "cluster-optimised" version of the dual-processor Xserve G5, which will sport two PowerPC G5 chips, 512MB ECC RAM and an 80GB hard drive for $2,999, the company said.