Apple Powering Xerves with New Xeon (Nehalem) Chips

Apple is planning to refresh its Xserve lineup in the next few weeks, rumors say. The new servers are said to pack Intel's fresh Xeon (Nahalem) processors, just like the recently-upgraded Mac Pro. However, one source in particular claims that new Xserve models are likely to use “Gainestown” and “Bloomsfield” Xeon processors.

Based on the latter assumption, AppleInsider believes that new models would include a single processor model capable of accepting 2.66GHz, 2.93GHz, and 3.2GHz quad-core Bloomfield chips, as well as a dual-pocessor model that would take two 2.26GHz, 2.66GHz, 2.8GHz, or 2.93GHz quad-core Gainestown chips. This could be the case only if new Xserves follow the same configuration format, the site claims. Gainestown, available in 2.4GHz, 2.53GHz, and 3.2GHz variants, could also make its way into fresh Xserves, according to the same report, although Apple doesn't look too fond of the respective architecture.

More proof that new Apple servers are waiting on the launching pad comes from Apple's Hong Kong online store. The store is currently set to take pre-orders of fresh Xserves packing new Intel Xeon chips, as spotted by PC World. Apple's Hong Kong store states the following, "Preorder the new Xserve with Intel Xeon (Nehalem)."

The report goes to note that Apple may include quad-core chips from the Xeon 5500 and 3500 family with new Xserve models, since Apple has already beefed up its Mac Pro workstations using the respective chips. Additionally, Intel has said that the chips its current server solutions (chips) are its fastest to date, being able to go up to 3.46GHz.

Intel's Nehalem micro architecture could actually double server performance while consuming less power compared to its predecessors, Intel has revealed. As such, the chips' low energy consumption in relation to performance gives users enough reason to upgrade, according to Dean McCarron, principal analyst at Mercury Research.

"The idea of saving power is more pervasive in Nehalem. You're seeing a much more fine-grained level of power control across [switches] on the chip," McCarron said, according to PC World, which notes that Apple's servers currently run on Intel Penryn chips.