Xserve Xeon (Early 2008)

Apple finally upgraded the Xserve from a base 2.0 GHz dual-core configuration to a base 2.8 GHz quad-core machine – with dual 2.8 GHz and 3.0 GHz quad-core Intel Xeon CPUs optional. It matches the power of the Mac Pro, whereas the previous model had lagged behind.

The base 2.8 GHz 4-core Xserve benchmarks 37% higher than the 2.0 GHz 2006 Xserve in Geekbench 2, 3.5% higher than the 2.66 GHz version, and 6.5% behind the 3.0 GHz model. Going from 4 cores up to 8 boost performance by almost 80%, and there’s little additional benefit (less than 1% in 32-bit Geekbench 2, a bit more with other versions of Geekbench) from going to the 3.0 GHz 8-core Xserve.

Xserve supports up to 2.25 TB of internal storage, RAID, hot swappable drives, and remote management while running Mac OS X Server. It supports the SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) interface, which gives it access to 15,000 rpm hard drives.

Xserve includes an unlimited user license for Mac OS X Server.

Got an Intel-based Xserve or thinking about buying one? Join our Macintel group.

Details

introduced 2008.01.08 at $2,999 with one 2.8 GHz quad-core Intel Xeon CPU; dual 2.8 GHz, $3,499; dual 3.0 GHz, $4,299; replaced 2009.04.07
requires Mac OS X Server 10.5.1 Leopard to 10.7 Lion, not compatible with 10.8 Mountain Lion or later
CPU: 1 or 2 quad-core Intel Xeon CPUs, 2.8 or 3.0 GHz
Bus: 1.6 GHz
system performance:
- Geekbench 2, 32-bit: 5423 (2.8 GHz quad), 9201 (2.8 GHz 8-core), 9257 (3.0 GHz 8-core)
- Geekbench 2, 64-bit: 10279 (2.8 GHz 8-core), 11103 (3.0 GHz 8-core)
- Geekbench 3, 32-bit, single core: 1535 (2.8 GHz quad), 1537 (2.8 GHz 8-core), 1625 (3.0 GHz 8-core)
- Geekbench 3, 64-bit, single core: 1748 (3.0 GHz 8-core)
- Geekbench 3, 32-bit, multicore: 5357 (2.8 GHz quad), 10397 (2.8 GHz 8-core), 10965 (3.0 GHz 8-core)
- Geekbench 3, 64-bit, multicore: 11933 (3.0 GHz 8-core)
RAM: 2 GB standard, expandable to 32 GB using 800 MHz DDR2 ECC FB-DIMMs
video: ATI Radeon X1300 with 64 MB RAM
L2 cache: 12 MB per processor
L3 cache: none
Hard drive: 80 GB 7200 RPM, 3 drive bays, Serial ATA
optical drive: slot-loading Combo drive, 8x SuperDrive DL optional
2 8-lane PCI Express slots (1 configurable as PCI-X)
no 400 Mbps FireWire port
two FireWire 800 ports on back
two USB 2.0 ports on back, one on front
one DB-9/RS-232 port
dual 10/100/1000Base-T ethernet
size (HxWxD): 1.73″ x 17.6″ x 30″ (44 x 447 x 762mm)
Weight: 31.7-38.3 lbs. (14.4-17.4 kg)
PRAM battery: 3.6V half-AA
upgrade path: none yet
Part no.: MA882