Apple Mac Pro "Quad Core" 2.66 (2009/Nehalem) Specs (MB871LL/A)
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The Mac Pro "Quad Core" 2.66 (Early 2009/Nehalem) is powered by one 2.66 GHz Quad Core 45-nm Xeon W3520 (Nehalem) processor with a dedicated 256k of level 2 cache for each core and 8 MB of "fully shared" level 3 cache.
By default, it is configured with 3 GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC SDRAM, a 640 GB (7200 RPM, 16 MB cache) 3Gb/s Serial ATA hard drive, an 18X dual-layer "SuperDrive" and an NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 with 512 MB of GDDR3 memory.
Expansion includes two external 5.25" "optical" bays (one free by default), four internal 3.5" "cable-free, direct attach" hard drive bays (three free by default), and four PCIe 2.0 slots (one free PCIe 2.0 x16 slot and two free PCIe 2.0 x4 slots with the default single graphics card installed).
Ports include five USB 2.0 ports, four Firewire "800" ports, dual Gigabit Ethernet, and both a Mini DisplayPort and a dual-link DVI port, among others. Bluetooth 2.1+EDR is standard, AirPort Extreme (802.11g/n) is optional.
Although the "Early 2009/Nehalem" models look practically the same externally as the "Early 2008" models, there are major technical differences. The 64-bit "Nehalem" architecture is substantially faster and supports "Hyper-Threading" -- which "allows two threads to run simultaneously on each core" (so MacOS X recognizes eight "virtual cores" on this model) -- and "Turbo Boost" -- which "automatically boosts the processor speed based on workload" (so if an application is only using one of the four cores it will automatically increase the speed of the core in use and turn off the unused cores).
It also replaces the frontside bus with a new "QuickPath Interconnect" (QPI) system described as a "bidrectional, point-to-point connection" that provides "quick access to the disk, I/O, and other Mac Pro subsystems".
Other changes include four PCIe 2.0 slots (instead of two PCIe and two PCIe 2.0 slots), four Firewire "800" ports (instead of two Firewire "400" and "800" ports), and a redesigned interior case with the processors and memory on a removable "tray".
Also see:
- What are the differences between the "Early 2009/Nehalem" Mac Pro models?
- What are the differences between the "Early 2009/Nehalem" Mac Pro models and the "Early 2008" Mac Pro models that they replaced?
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Click on the underlined category text for related details. The most commonly needed info is "open" by default, but all info is important.
| Introduction Date: |
March 3, 2009 |
Discontinued Date: |
N/A |
| Details: |
The "Introduction Date" refers to the date a model was introduced via press release. The "Discontinued Date" refers to the date a model either was replaced by a subsequent system or production otherwise ended. |
| Processor Type: |
Q. Core Xeon W3520 |
Processor Speed: |
2.66 GHz |
| Details: |
The 64-bit 45-nm Xeon W3520 (Bloomfield/Nehalem) processor has four independent processor "cores" each with a dedicated 256k level 2 cache, 8 MB of "fully shared" level 3 cache, an integrated memory controller, and "a 128-bit SSE4 SIMD engine". It also supports "Hyper-Threading" -- which "allows two threads to run simultaneously on each core" (so MacOS X recognizes eight "virtual cores" on this model) -- and "Turbo Boost" -- which "automatically boosts the processor speed based on workload" (so if an application is only using one of the four cores it will automatically increase the speed of the core in use and turn off the unused cores).
Via custom configuration, this model also can be equipped with a single 2.93 GHz Quad Core Xeon W3540 processor for US$500 more.
Also see: How much faster are the "Early 2009/Nehalem" Mac Pro models than the "Early 2008" Mac Pro models? |
| Processor Upgrade: |
771-pin LGA Sockets |
FPU: |
Integrated |
| Details: |
Also see: How do you upgrade the processors in the "Early 2009/Nehalem" Mac Pro models? How are the processors mounted? |
| System Bus Speed: |
QPI* |
Cache Bus Speed: |
2.66 GHz (Built-in) |
| Details: |
*This system replaces the frontside bus with a new "QuickPath Interconnect" (QPI) system described as a "bidirectional, point-to-point connection" that provides "quick access to the disk, I/O, and other Mac Pro subsystems". |
| ROM/Firmware Type: |
EFI |
ROM/Firmware Size: |
N/A |
| L1 Cache: |
32k/32k x4 |
L2/L3 Cache: |
256k (x4), 8 MB* |
| Details: |
*Each core has its own dedicated 256k level 2 cache and the system has 8 MB of "fully shared" level 3 cache as well. |
| RAM Type: |
DDR3 ECC SDRAM* |
Min. RAM Speed: |
1066 MHz |
| Details: |
Uses "1066 MHz DDR3 ECC SDRAM" (PC-8500) modules.
Also see: How do you upgrade the RAM in the "Early 2009/Nehalem" Mac Pro? How much RAM of what type does it support? |
| Standard RAM: |
3 GB |
Maximum RAM: |
8 GB* |
| Details: |
By default, 3 GB of RAM is installed as three 1 GB modules. One slot free.
*Apple officially supports a maximum of 8 GB of RAM but third-parties have been able to upgrade the system to 16 GB of RAM using four 4 GB memory modules.
Site sponsor Other World Computing sells Mac Pro memory, as well as hard drives, accessories, and other upgrades. |
| Motherboard RAM: |
None |
RAM Slots: |
4 |
| Details: |
Four memory slots are provided on a "slide out" processor tray. |
| Video Card: |
GeForce GT 120 |
VRAM Type: |
GDDR3 SDRAM |
| Details: |
By default, a NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 with 512 MB of GDDR3 memory is installed in a double-wide, 16-lane PCI Express 2.0 graphics slot. It has both a Mini DisplayPort and a dual-link DVI port. By custom configuration, this model also is available with as many as four NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 graphics cards (for US$150/each after the first one) or an ATI Radeon HD 4870, also with 512 MB of GDDR5 memory, for an additional US$200.
Also see: What graphics cards are available for the Mac Pro? Which models have which ports? |
| Standard VRAM: |
512 MB |
Maximum VRAM: |
512 MB |
| Details: |
Other graphics cards can be pre-installed at the time of purchase or can be installed later.
Also see: How does the gaming performance of the "Early 2009/Nehalem" Mac Pro compare to earlier models? |
| Display Support: |
Up to 8 Displays* |
Resolution Support: |
2560x1600* |
| Details: |
*With four video cards installed. By default, one NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 is installed and it can support two 30-inch displays. The default video card is capable of supporting digital resolutions up to 2560x1600 and analog resolutions up to 2048x1536. |
| 2nd Display Support: |
Dual/Mirroring |
2nd Max. Resolution: |
2560x1600 |
| Details: |
The NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 is capable of supporting two 30-inch displays with a resolution of 2560x1600 in either dual display or mirrored mode.
Also see: Apple Cinema Displays. |
| Standard Hard Drive: |
640 GB (7200 RPM) |
Int. HD Interface: |
Serial ATA (3Gb/s) |
| Details: |
By default, this system ships with a single 640 GB (7200 RPM, 16 MB cache) Serial ATA 3Gb/s hard drive. Apple formally supports up to 4 TB of storage with four 1 TB hard drives (one in each internal bay).
Also see: How do you upgrade the hard drives in the Mac Pro models? How many drives of what type are supported? |
| Standard Optical: |
18X DL "SuperDrive" |
Standard Disk: |
None |
| Details: |
Apple reports that this SATA "18X" double layer DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW SuperDrive "writes DVD+R and DVD-R discs at up to 18x speed, DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL discs at up to 8x speed, DVD+RW discs at up to 8x speed, DVD-RW discs at up to 6x speed, reads DVDs at up to 18x speed writes CD-R and CD-RW discs at up to 32x speed, [and] reads CDs at up to 32x speed."
Also see: What options are available for the second "optical drive bay" on the Mac Pro? How do you install a second optical drive or replace the primary one? |
| Standard Modem: |
None |
Standard Ethernet: |
Gigabit (x2) |
| Details: |
External Apple USB Modem offered for US$49. The system has
"two independent 10/100/1000BASE-T [Gigabit] Ethernet (RJ-45) interfaces with support for jumbo frames." |
| Standard AirPort: |
802.11a/b/g/n (Opt) |
Standard Bluetooth: |
2.1+EDR |
| Details: |
Bluetooth 2.1+EDR is standard. AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g) can be installed at additional cost. |
| USB Ports: |
5 (2.0) |
Firewire Ports: |
4 (800) |
| Details: |
This Mac Pro model has five USB 2.0 ports on the system (two on the front panel and three on the back) and four Firewire "800" ports (two on the front and two on the back). Apple also advertises that there are "two USB 2.0 ports on [the] included keyboard".
Also see: Complete Ports. |
| Expansion Slots: |
4 PCIe 2.0, AP* |
Expansion Bays: |
4 3.5", 2 5.25" |
| Details: |
*This model has four full-length PCI Express (PCIe) 2.0 expansion slots, two x16 slots and two x4 slots. In the default configuration, one PCIe 2.0 x16 slot is occupied by the graphics card. Apple also reports that "all slots provide mechanical support for 16-lane cards" and there is a "300W combined maximum for all PCI Express slots."
AirPort Extreme (802.11g/n) additionally can be installed at extra cost.
In the default configuration, one internal 3.5" bay is occupied by a hard drive and three are free, and one external 5.25" bay is occupied by a "SuperDrive" and the other is free. |
| Incl. Keyboard: |
Apple Aluminum KB |
Incl. Input: |
Mighty Mouse |
| Details: |
Ships with an "ultra-thin aluminum" Apple Keyboard with an embedded numeric keypad (0.33 inches at the front edge) based on the polarizing keyboard design introduced with the MacBook.
Also see: How does the "ultra thin" aluminum keyboard compare to a more traditional desktop keyboard? How does it feel? |
| Case Type: |
Tower |
Form Factor: |
Mac Pro |
| Apple Order No: |
MB871LL/A |
Apple Subfamily: |
Mac Pro Early 2009 |
| Details: |
The Apple order number should be unique to this system. |
| Apple Model No: |
A1289 |
Machine Model: |
MacPro4,1 |
| Details: |
Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model. |
| Battery Type: |
N/A |
Battery Life: |
N/A |
| Pre-Installed MacOS: |
X 10.5.6 (9G3553) |
Maximum MacOS: |
Current |
| Details: |
Please note that this system can run the current version of MacOS X 10.6 "Snow Leopard" including booting in 64-bit mode as well as OpenCL and Grand Central Dispatch support. |
| MacOS 9 Support: |
None |
Windows Support: |
Boot/Virtualization |
| Details: |
Also see: Are there any third-party programs to run MacOS 9/Classic applications on Intel Macs?
Site sponsor OHS specializes in heavily upgraded Macs capable of running both MacOS X and MacOS 9 applications.
For more on running Windows on Intel Macs, please refer to the exhaustive Windows on Mac Q&A. |
| Dimensions: |
20.1 x 8.1 x 18.7 |
Avg. Weight: |
39.9 lbs. (18.1 kg) |
| Details: |
In inches - height by width by depth, (51.1 cm, 20.6 cm, 47.5 cm). |
| Original Price: |
US$2499 |
Est. Current Retail: |
US$2499 |
| Details: |
To purchase a Mac Pro, free of sales tax, please visit site-sponsor PowerMax.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. |
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