Xserve Xeon Nehalem 2.26 "Quad Core" Specs (Early 2009, MB449LL/A, Xserve3,1, A1279, 2279) @ EveryMac.com

Apple Xserve Xeon Nehalem 2.26 "Quad Core" Specs

Identifiers: Early 2009 - MB449LL/A - Xserve3,1 - A1279 - 2279

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Apple Intel Xserve The Xserve Xeon Nehalem 2.26 "Quad Core" (Early 2009) is powered by a 2.26 GHz Quad Core 45-nm Xeon E5520 (Nehalem) processor with a dedicated 256k of level 2 cache for each core and 8 MB of "fully shared" level 3 cache. This model also could be ordered with a second 2.26 GHz Quad Core Xeon E5520 (Nehalem) processor, or custom configured with dual 2.66 GHz Quad Core Xeon (X5550) processors or dual 2.93 GHz Quad Core Xeon (X5570) processors.

By default, it was configured with 3 GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC SDRAM, a 160 GB (7200 RPM, 8 MB cache) hot-plug "Apple Drive Module" (a 128 GB SSD option -- which does not occupy a drive bay -- was available for an additional US$500), an 8X dual-layer "SuperDrive", and NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 graphics with 256 MB of GDDR3 memory. Ports include Mini DisplayPort (VGA and DVI supported with optional adapters), three USB 2.0 ports, and two Firewire "800" ports.

Compared to the "Early 2008" Xserve that it replaced, the Xeon Nehalem 2.26 "Quad Core" (Early 2009), uses a substantially faster architecture that supports "Hyper-Threading" -- which "allows two threads to run simultaneously on each core" -- and "Turbo Boost" -- which "automatically boosts the processor speed based on workload" (so if an application is only using one core 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 Xserve subsystems". Apple reported that these improvements add up to "twice the performance" of the previous system.

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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.

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Introduction Date:

April 7, 2009

Discontinued Date:

January 31, 2011*

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.

*On November 5, 2010, Apple quietly announced that the Xserve would no longer be available after January 31, 2011.

Also see: All Macs introduced in 2009.

Processors:

1 (4 Cores)

Geekbench:

7292/8254*

Details:

*These Geekbench 2 benchmarks are in 32-bit and 64-bit modes, respectively.

Geekbench 2 benchmarks reflect results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better. Individual user-submitted benchmarks can vary, but an average can be useful to get an idea of the relative performance of different Macs. You also might be interested in combing through all Geekbench user-submissions for Macs with the Xserve3,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models.

To dynamically compare Geekbench results from different Macs side-by-side, please see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison.

Processor Speed:

2.26 GHz

Processor Type:

Q. Core Xeon E5520

Details:

The standard configuration has a single 64-bit 45-nm Xeon E5520 (Nehalem) processor with 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" -- 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).

Custom Speeds:

2.26, 2.66, 2.93 GHz*

Architecture:

64-Bit

Details:

*This model also could be ordered with a second 2.26 GHz Quad Core Xeon E5520 (Nehalem) processor for an additional US$600, or custom configured with dual 2.66 GHz Quad Core Xeon (X5550) processors or dual 2.93 GHz Quad Core Xeon (X5570) processors -- originally for an additional US$2000 or US$3200, and US$1400 or US$2600, respectively, starting December 4, 2009.

As requested by readers, EveryMac.com also has documented these custom configurations as their own models.

Processor Upgrade:

N/A

FPU:

Integrated

Details:

It is not clear whether or not the processor can be upgraded on this model.

System Bus Speed:

QPI*

Cache Bus Speed:

2.26 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 Xserve subsystems".

ROM/Firmware Type:

EFI

EFI Architecture:

64-Bit

Details:

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 memory" (PC-8500) modules.

Standard RAM:

3 GB

Maximum RAM:

48 GB*

Details:

3 GB of RAM installed as three 1 GB modules. Three slots free in default Quad-Core configuration.

*As originally shipped on April 7, 2009, Apple reported that the "Early 2009" Quad-Core model held 12 GB of memory. On December 4, 2009, Apple formally added support for 4 GB modules and increased the maximum memory to 24 GB. However, third-parties have confirmed that this model actually supports 48 GB of RAM using 8 GB modules.

Apple additionally reports that the "system supports up to 32 GB in MacOS X Server v10.5" and "up to 96 GB in MacOS X Server v10.6".

Site sponsor Other World Computing sells Xserve memory, as well as hard drives and other upgrades.

Also see: Actual Max RAM of All G3 & Later Macs.

Motherboard RAM:

None

RAM Slots:

Details:

*Apple reports that the system has six DIMM slots in the (default) quad-core configuration (and twelve DIMM slots in the build-to-order eight core configurations). Apple also reports that the "operating system supports up to 32 GB in Mac OS X Server v10.5" and "up to 96 GB in Mac OS X Server v10.6".

Video Card:

GeForce GT 120

VRAM Type:

GDDR3 SDRAM

Details:

Apple reports that this Xserve model has "NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 graphics with 256 MB of GDDR3 memory and Mini DisplayPort output". Adapters to VGA and DVI output are sold separately.

Standard VRAM:

256 MB

Maximum VRAM:

256 MB

Details:

N/A

Display Support:

N/A

Resolution Support:

N/A

Details:

N/A

2nd Display Support:

None

2nd Max. Resolution:

N/A

Details:

Single display supported in default configuration. Additional displays can be supported with expansion cards.

Standard Hard Drive:

160 GB (7200 RPM)

Int. HD Interface:

SATA/SAS

Details:

Default hard drive is a 160 GB 7200 RPM SATA "Apple Drive Module" with 8 MB of cache. Apple also offered 1 TB and 2 TB 7200 RPM SATA drives with 32 MB of cache as US$200 and US$400 options, respectively, (2 TB option beginning December 4, 2009) as well as a 128 GB SSD (which does not occupy a drive bay) for an additional US$500. Apple formally supports "up to 6 TB of hot-plug internal storage" using three 2 TB drive modules.

Standard Optical:

8X DL "SuperDrive"

Standard Disk:

None

Details:

An 8X double-layer SuperDrive (DVD+R DL/DVD�RW/CD-RW) is standard.

Standard Modem:

None

Standard Ethernet:

Gigabit (x2)

Details:

The system has "two independent 10/100/1000BASE-T [Gigabit] Ethernet (RJ-45) interfaces with support for jumbo frames."

Standard AirPort:

None

Standard Bluetooth:

None

Details:

N/A

USB Ports:

3 (2.0)

Firewire Ports:

2 (800)

Details:

Three USB 2.0 ports (one on front panel, two on rear) and two Firewire "800" ports on rear panel.

Expansion Slots:

2 PCIe 2.0 x16*

Expansion Bays:

3 3.5"

Details:

Apple explains that this system offers "two open PCI Express 2.0 x16 expansion slots: one half-length (6.6-inch) and one 9.25-inch length".

In the default configuration, one external 3.5" bay is occupied by a hard drive and two bays are free. If configured with an SSD, the SSD does not occupy a drive bay.

Incl. Keyboard:

None

Incl. Input:

None

Details:

N/A

Case Type:

Rack-Mountable

Form Factor:

Xserve Intel

Details:

Fits "most industry-standard (EIA-310-D) four-post racks and cabinets with a rack depth of 24 inches to 36 inches deep."

Apple Order No:

MB449LL/A

Apple Subfamily:

Early 2009

Details:

The Apple order number should be unique to this system.

Apple Model No:

A1279 (EMC 2279)

Model ID:

Xserve3,1

Details:

Please note that these identifiers often refer to more than one model.

Also see: All Macs with the A1279 Model Number, the 2279 EMC Number, and the Xserve3,1 Model Identifier.

For more about these identifiers and how to locate them on each Mac, please refer to EveryMac.com's Mac Identification section.

Battery Type:

N/A

Battery Life:

N/A

Details:

N/A

Pre-Installed MacOS:

X Server 10.5.6

Maximum MacOS:

Current*

Details:

*This model fulfills the minimum hardware requirements to run the latest version of OS X 10.7 "Lion." Additional details regarding the upgrade path from OS X Server to OS X Lion and the OS X Lion Server "app" will be added when available.

Minimum Windows:

None*

Maximum Windows:

None*

Details:

*Apple's Boot Camp provides no support for running Windows on the Intel-based Xserve models.

MacOS 9 Support:

None

Windows Support:

N/A

Details:

N/A

Dimensions:

1.73 x 17.6 x 30.0

Avg. Weight:

30.8 lbs. (14.0 kg)

Details:

In inches - height by width by depth, (4.4 cm, 44.7 cm, 76.2 cm). 30.8 pounds (14.0 kg) for "base" configuration. Apple reports that it weighs "38.3 pounds (17.4 kg) for [the] 8-core system with twelve DIMMs, three 1 TB SATA Apple Drive Modules, and two power supplies".

Original Price (US):

US$2999

Est. Current Retail:

N/A

Details:

To purchase a used Xserve, free of sales tax, please visit site sponsor PowerMax.

Photo Credit: Apple Computer.

Click on the underlined category text for additional details. The most commonly needed info is "open" by default, but all info is important. The icons correspond with the icons for each port on the computer.

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Video (Monitor):

1 (Mini DisplayPort)

Floppy (Ext.):

None

Details:

Single Mini DisplayPort. VGA and DVI output supported with adapters (sold separately).

ADB:

None

SCSI:

None

Details:

N/A

Serial (Standard):

1 (DB-9)

Serial (Geoport):

None

Details:

This system has a single DB-9 serial port (RS-232) for accessing the server through a serial console session. This is not a "Mac serial" port.

USB:

3 (2.0)

Firewire:

2 (800)

Details:

Three USB 2.0 ports (one on front panel, two on rear) and two Firewire "800" ports on rear panel.

Modem:

None

Ethernet:

2 (RJ-45)

Details:

The system has "two independent 10/100/1000BASE-T [Gigabit] Ethernet (RJ-45) interfaces with support for jumbo frames."

S-Video Input:

None

S-Video Output:

None

Details:

N/A

Microphone:

None

Sound In:

None

Details:

N/A

Sound Out:

None

Headphone:

None

Details:

N/A

Security (Lock):

1 (Lock)

Joystick (PC):

None

Details:

N/A

Power:

Power Adapter:

N/A

Details:

In the stock configuration, this model has a single 750W power supply. It optionally could be configured with a second load-sharing 750W power supply.

Apple reports that the line voltage is "universal input (100V to 240V AC), power factor corrected" and the maximum input current is "8.0A (100V to 120V) or 4.0A (200V to 240V); current is shared when system is configured with two power supplies". It has a single phase frequency of "50 Hz to 60 Hz".

Global original prices for the Xserve Xeon Nehalem 2.26 "Quad Core" in 24 different countries and territories follow; organized alphabetically by region.

For global original prices for Intel Macs in one particular country on a single page, please refer to EveryMac.com's Global Original Prices section.

Original Prices - North America

Canada:

C$3499

United States:

US$2999

Original Prices - Europe

Austria:

€2899

Belgium:

€2899

Denmark:

DKK 22,199

Finland:

€2899

France:

€2899

Germany:

€2899

Ireland:

€2899

Italy:

€2899

Netherlands:

€2899

Norway:

NOK 25.990

Portugal:

€2899

Spain:

€2799

Sweden:

SEK 32.995

Switzerland:

CHF 3'899

United Kingdom:

£2399

Original Prices - Asia

China:

RMB 24,998

Hong Kong:

HK$25,900

Japan:

¥338,800

Singapore:

S$5,088

Taiwan:

NT$113,900

Original Prices - Australia & New Zealand

Australia:

A$5899

New Zealand:

NZ$6699

Ten of the most popular Q&As about the Xserve models follow.

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