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Technology (Apple) Businesses Apple Technology

Apple Ships Xserve G5 104

Posted by pudge from the ship-one-to-me dept.
An anonymous user writes, "Apple announced it has begun shipping its Xserve G5, the most powerful Xserve yet, to customers. Single processor is $2,999.00, dual processor is $3,999.00."
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Apple Ships Xserve G5 More

Apple Ships Xserve G5

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  • because it's the newest, and uses the newest, fastest processor. That's kind of intrinsic, isn't it?

  • Also available... (Score:4, Informative)

    by The One and Only ( 691315 ) <[ten.hclewlihp] [ta] [lihp]> on Wednesday March 24, 2004 @11:40AM (#8656426) Homepage
    Also available is a $2,999 DUal 2 GHz cluster node [apple.com], which can run Xgrid [apple.com], so you too can feel like Virginia Tech [vt.edu].

  • Price Comparison (Score:5, Informative)

    by vasqzr ( 619165 ) <`vasqzr' `at' `netscape.net'> on Wednesday March 24, 2004 @11:42AM (#8656453)


    Apple
    $3,999

    Dual 2GHz PowerPC G5
    512K L2 cache/processor
    1GHz system bus/processor
    1GB DDR400 ECC SDRAM
    80GB Serial ATA drive
    Mac OS X Server (Unlimited Client)
    Dual Gigabit Ethernet
    CD ROM drive

    Dell
    $4,127

    PE1750 1U
    Dual 2.4GHz Xeon
    72GB HD
    1GB RAM
    Dual Gigabit Ethernet
    CDROM
    NO OS

    $5,626 if you get the dual 3.2 GHz chips (1MB Cache, 2MB is more) that Apple compares the XServe to on their website.

    • Re:Price Comparison (Score:3, Informative)

      by ERJ ( 600451 )
      Sun
      $3,945.00

      2 AMD Opteron Model 242 Processor
      2-GB Memory
      1 36-GB 10000 RPM Ultra320 SCSI Disk Drive
      2 10/100/1000 Ethernet Ports
      Sun Solaris 9

      • Re:Price Comparison (Score:5, Informative)

        by RalphBNumbers ( 655475 ) on Wednesday March 24, 2004 @12:29PM (#8657070)
        Actually that price you quote for the Sun doesn't include the operation system.

        It's also worth noting that the Opteron 242 is the 1.6Ghz version.

        Sun doesn't sell the Opteron 246 (the 2ghz chips that apple compares it's XServe to on it's site), but either the 244 (1.8Ghz) or 248 (2.2Ghz) would probably make a more fair comparison.

        The base prices for Sun's dual 244 and 248 1U servers are $4,445.00 and $6,995.00 respectively.

        • Re:Price Comparison (Score:4, Informative)

          by ERJ ( 600451 ) on Wednesday March 24, 2004 @12:44PM (#8657259)
          Hate to nitpick but...

          From the order page: The Solaris Operating System (x86 Platform Edition) is pre-installed on the server in 32-bit and 64-bit support will be available soon. Includes software, license and documentation.
    • http://h71016.www7.hp.com/dstore/ctoBases.asp?Prod uctLineId=431&FamilyId=1704&Jumpid=re_hphqiss/DLta ble_Buy/DL140

      DL140 1U
      Dual 3.06 Ghz Xeon
      1MB L2 Cache/Processor
      1GB ECC DDR
      80GB ATA/100 HDD
      Dual Gigabit Ethernet
      $1849

      Add a CDROM, +$100, add Red Hat Enterprise Server 3.0 Basic, +$349.

      Total: $2298

      Don't compare to Dell. Their servers are *way* overpriced.

      • Re:Price Comparison (Score:5, Informative)

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 24, 2004 @01:08PM (#8657583)
        There are alot of reasons that HP model is cheaper.

        Unlike the XServe, the Dell, and the Sun, that HP's drives are not hot swapable. (and I'd be willing to bet alot of other internals aren't either)

        It has the least cache of the x86 offereings.

        It has the by far the slowest memory of any of the servers in the thread (it has DDR266, where most have DDR333, and the XServe has DDR400).

        It has only one PCIX slot, where most of the offerings in the thread have 2 or more.

        etc...

        You get what you pay for.
    • So then why aren't their Desktop PCs and Laptops reasonably priced too? You could argue that you pay for what you get - so then are you saying that the Dell server is better than the Apple?
      • So then why aren't their Desktop PCs and Laptops reasonably priced too?

        You mean Apple? If so, I think you'll find that the iBooks are very reasonably priced. The last time I did a comparison I found the iBooks actually beat x86 laptops in my price/feature comparison. I'll agree that Apple desktops are overpriced though. (Yes, even the "super-duper-dirt-cheap" eMacs the Mac lovers love to point to).

        Disclaimer: I do not now, nor have I ever, owned anything made by Apple.

    • Re:Price Comparison (Score:1, Informative)

      by Anonymous Coward
      Excuse me?

      I just went to dell.com and configured a 1750 just as you said: the price came to $1,948.

      Am I missing something?

      Go here [dell.com] and add a second CPU, one GB of RAM and the 72GB, 10K rpm hard disk.

      that's $1499+ 2nd Processor Intel Xeon, 2.4GHz w/512K Cache, 533Mhz Front Side Bus [add $299 or $8/month1] + 1GB DDR SDRAM (2X512MB) at a 512 price (mail-in rebate not valid) Dell Recommended + 73GB,10K RPM, 1in (Ultra 320) SCSI Hot Plug Hard Drive [add $150 or $4/month1]

      $1948 dude, not $4127.
      • Apparently the difference is that he configured the system through the medium & large businesses link (starting at $3474) [dell.com] while you used the small businesses configuration (starting at $1499).

        I think the difference lies in the warranty and/or service contract.

    • Re:Price Comparison (Score:3, Interesting)

      by Blakey Rat ( 99501 )
      $4127 from Dell? The problem with this figure is that you picked the wrong service contract. Look at what Apple offers with their AppleCare program, then look at what you got with Dell.

      That's the price Dell gives you with their uber service, but Apple's service doesn't match up with it. You're looking at $2714 with a service contract equilivant to Apple's *and* 2.8 ghz Xeons instead of 2.4s.
    • Minus the 15% Dell discount coupons that are ever-present. Just because Apple always charges MSRP doesn't make it valid in a price comparison. That brings the Dell price down to $3,500. And it comes with features that the XServe doesn't, like redundant power supplies. I mean, come on Apple - these are standard (or at least available) on pretty much every single rack machine these days...
    • Well, either US and Australian prices are *way* out of whack, or there's something in your comparison you're not telling us.

      Xserve: AU$6,499
      2x 2Ghz G5
      1Gb RAM
      1x 80Gb 7200 RPM SATA drive
      CDROM
      Dual Gb ethernet.
      OS X Server
      1 year (next day response ?)

      Dell 1750: AU$6,560
      2x 3Ghz Xeon (512k cache)
      1Gb RAM
      1x 73Gb 10k RPM SCSI drive
      CDROM
      Dual Gb ethernet.
      3 year next day warranty
      Redhat AS

      Nice things about the Dell box missing from the Xserve:

      Redundant PSU option

      Hardware RAID (w/128Mb cache) without sac

      • So far i only know of one compant that sells xserves (and only g4's, at the moment) with redundant PSU - Grande Vitesse Systems (or GVS). they also sell this hot 5 x 17" LCD panel display
    • I got an offer at the Apple Store Europe online for a 4-node Xserve cluster. I was given a substantial rebate of about 15 % on the grounds that I will use the hardware for scientific research -- albeit for a commercial company. Extra memory is also on sale at the moment. Check it out before you buy a Dell or something.
    • I configured the same system. Are you adding a bunch of stuff that you aren't listing there? Im not exactly sure how you got that price. Here's the price I came up with using the components that you listed for the Dell:

      Dual Xeon 2.4ghz
      No Operating System
      1GB Ram
      73GB Ultra 320 SCSI HDD
      Dual Intel Gigabit Ethernet
      CDROM

      $2075

      Or if you would like Dual 3.2ghz Xeon procs, the price is $3574.
      I'm not a Dell fanboy, but Im really interested in how you arrived at that price.

  • Price per gigaflop (Score:5, Informative)

    by Somegeek ( 624100 ) on Wednesday March 24, 2004 @01:37PM (#8658013)
    I looked at the results and figured, ok the Apple is faster, but the Opteron will be cheaper and faster on a per dollar basis. That's not what I found:

    G5 server as configured for Apple's linpac test:
    dual g5, 1gb ram, dual 250gb sata
    $4799.00 at apple.com
    achieved 9 gigaflops in Apple's test
    $533/gigaflop
    (its worth noting that in Apple's tech paper (link below), they quote $333/gigaflop, but that in a footnote, #5, they base that on a MSRP of 2799 and 9 gigaflop performance. Now where they are getting that price from I don't know, and the math doesn't work out either, so I'm going with my numbers.)

    IBM e325 server as configured by Apple for linpac test:
    dual Opteron 246, 1gig 2700, dual scsi 15k 36gb
    (user installed linux os)
    $5191.00 at ibm.com
    achieved 5.9 in Apple's test
    $878/gigaflop

    generic server with similar config as Apple used for IBM server for linpac test:
    dual Opteron 246, 1gig 2700, dual sata 7200 80gb
    preinstalled linux os
    $3126.00 at asaservers.com
    assuming 5.9 in Apple's test
    $529/gigaflop.
    (sure you could probably build something cheaper yourself, but this comes with a warranty and support.)

    So, for this benchmark, Apple looks like the best performer, and at a good price/performance standpoint too. And to get similar performance, you would need more Opteron blades, which means more space, heat, juice, etc.

    Yes, this still leaves a lot up in the air; it would be nice to see these tests run by an independent party, etc, using an AMD hardware configuration that was optimized for the test as the Apple surely was, etc. etc.

    Apple's notes on test configurations and performance results for the xserve G5:
    http://a192.g.akamai.net/7/192/51/0c5b0d0ef0f 03b/w ww.apple.com/server/pdfs/L301323A_XserveG5_TO.pdf
  • You know the drill ;-)

    -psy

  • XServe vs... Powermac? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by X_Caffeine ( 451624 ) on Wednesday March 24, 2004 @08:42PM (#8662723)
    OK, not trying to troll, just a serious question: why on earth would anyone pay $1000 more for the dual-processor XServe over a dual-2ghz G5? I don't get this pricing discepancy at all.

    The XServe has hot-swappable bays, but doesn't the Powermac have hot-swappable drives? (I know it's part of the SATA spec) Is the thousand bucks just for OS X Server? What if you already have a copy and want to transfer the license?

    On a loosely related note, it's too bad they aren't still manufacturing G4 XServes... there could be a huge market for Cobalt-style, low cost OS X servers for small offices.

    • I can think of a few... (Score:5, Informative)

      by Llywelyn ( 531070 ) on Wednesday March 24, 2004 @10:00PM (#8663300) Homepage
      0) It is a 1U Rackmount. Significantly smaller.
      1) *Dual* onboard gigabit ethernet on an independent bus.
      2) 3 SATA drive channels w/ *hardware* RAID 0, 1, 3, and 5. This is opposed to the Tower's support for Software RAID 0 and 1.
      3) ECC RAM.
      4) Lower heat and possibly power. This is (strictly) a guess based on them using a newer revision of the processor.
      5) A DB-9 serial port.
      6) Blinkenlights :-)
      7) Yes, OS X Server.

    • > ...there could be a huge market for Cobalt-style, low cost OS X servers [to heat] small offices.

      Sorry, couldn't resist.

      -fred

    • Re:XServe vs... Powermac? (Score:1, Interesting)

      by Anonymous Coward
      X:

      I made the same comparison and I too came to the conclusion that the cost delta is the price of OS X server. An unlimited license of Server (which is what X Serve's ship with) is ~$1000.

      The scary thing about that comparison isn't the hot swap drive issue if that diference exists, it is the lack of Superdrive and low end video card that come with the X Server - that makes it even harder to buy one unless you really need the small footprint and pre-installed Server OS.

      BTB - Anyone out there know what so

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