Penryn Mac Pro and Xserve hands-on

We don't know what you're looking for, but outside a few minor cosmetic changes (like one RAM riser board being upside down now) and a few technical changes (like SAS drive support, dual 16x PCI-E slots, etc.) Apple's new high performance Penryn Xeon machines -- the Mac Pro and Xserve -- look just the same as they were two weeks ago. Except faster now -- according to their site, anyway. Sorry to disappoint, though, Apple didn't demo the quad PCI-Express slots running eight simultaneous 30-inch monitors. Maybe next time.

Gallery: Penryn Mac Pro hands-on

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Gallery: Penryn Xserve hands-on

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[Rafer @ Jan 17th 2008 9:16PM]

Thats some fine lookin ram on the xserve

[bluvg @ Jan 18th 2008 12:41PM]

Very nice gear... I can't wait to install Windows on it!

[funkright @ Jan 17th 2008 9:19PM]

Am I 1st..?? Cool machines these are..

[xploit @ Jan 17th 2008 9:25PM]

no ur not ta for playing better luck next time.

[Richard @ Jan 17th 2008 9:52PM]

still one of the best looking oem cases out there. Granted its gettig long in tooth, but its still nice.

[Isaac @ Jan 17th 2008 9:44PM]

*Sigh* Time to sell my sister in to slavery to get one of these.

[Abuzar @ Jan 17th 2008 9:51PM]

You could save about 400 and build a better computer. A computer that Runs Windows, Linux, and Mac.

[ollie @ Jan 17th 2008 10:19PM]

... this DOES run Windows, Linux, and Mac

[Abuzar @ Jan 17th 2008 10:45PM]

I didn't know it ran Linux.

Why did you Mac fanboys down vote me? I just said you couls save yourself 400 bucks.

[jere @ Jan 17th 2008 11:24PM]

I perceived hostile overtones.

[xploit @ Jan 17th 2008 11:04PM]

lol now u have changed ur tune old sonny.

[Abuzar @ Jan 17th 2008 11:13PM]

Yes, I did change it a bit. I believe that I sounded more factual the first time, and a bit indignant the second.

All I said was that look, build yourself a better computer and save some money along the way.

[jere @ Jan 20th 2008 11:20PM]

Yeah I was kind of kidding, I've seen a lot worse (the apple survey thread from both camps).

[Grandalf @ Jan 17th 2008 11:47PM]

Because home build systems are just as reliable and thoroughly tested as pre-assembled ... oh and you're going to have a hard time building a equivalent system for less.

[ethana2 @ Jan 18th 2008 12:18AM]

'I didn't know it ran Linux.'

Does it run unsigned code? Yes? Does it have an MMU? Yes? Does it use an ISA supported by gcc? Yes?

Then yes, it runs linux. Does it have an openGL driver for the GPU? Then it also plays doom and blends.

[potato @ Jan 18th 2008 5:13AM]

Abuzar has clearly never opened up a Mac Pro. It goes WAY beyond merely the hardware specs, the Mac Pro is simply the best designed case in every category except weight, bar none, in the world.

Upgrading RAM can finally be done without fiddling and flexing your motherboard, nor reaching into a hazardous garden of sharp, poorly finished steel.

Nor can you change a hard drive nearly as quickly - just pull on the tab-looking thing and out it comes, inserting is just as easy.

Airflow in the case is impeccable, and temperatures are icy cold.

You can definitely build the same performance machine for less, but there's no way in hell you can replicate the hardware quality. There are some PC cases out there that come close to the Mac Pro case's quality, but using one of these suckers will push your price tag up, way up.

[Abuzar @ Jan 18th 2008 5:52AM]

From what I see in the pictures a Cosmos 1000 is a far better case.

[macona @ Jan 18th 2008 2:36PM]

@Abuzar

$400 less if you BUILD it... How much do you value your time? And most people who want a system want something preassembled.

Then you still wont have a machine that will run Mac OS. (At least not without hacking it)

[Elliott @ Jan 18th 2008 3:57PM]

@ Azubar
You can't win...don't even try anymore...the fanboys run deep within these walls.

Although I grew up on PCs (building and using), I use a G5 mac every day at work...and they really are well built machines, I'd get one, if I could afford it.

[Snipermonky @ Jan 17th 2008 9:54PM]

Is that an 8800GT? So THATS where they've been going...

[jioklo @ Jan 18th 2008 1:29PM]

Shouldn't a 'hands-on' actually detail your experiences with a product and not just a gallery of screenshots? Just something that's always bugged me about Engadget. Still an awesome site.

[Reader @ Jan 17th 2008 10:00PM]

*drool at internal pics*

This deserves a transparent case... All that RAM... OMGOODNESS

[e_grz @ Jan 17th 2008 10:22PM]

Of course no one will get one. Unless steve jobs will be giving these things out to his workers.

[DT @ Jan 17th 2008 11:36PM]

Bwahahahahaha! Industries order these things by the TRUCKLOAD. Of course, Pixar, Boeing, Genentech, and Microsoft (yes, Microsoft) are "no one" I suppose.

[andres @ Jan 17th 2008 11:43PM]

of course you are a pc fanboy

[a sauce @ Jan 18th 2008 2:18AM]

it's hard to ignore you're bias w/ the zune pic

[farfisa @ Jan 18th 2008 1:05PM]

I guess you can call me "no one."

[tyler @ Jan 17th 2008 10:43PM]

damn that nvidia geforce 8800gt must get super hot. plus that fan probally kills its super quiet design.

[Michael LaFramboise @ Jan 17th 2008 11:22PM]

Well the Mac Pro isn't really that quiet to begin with, but w/ that said its still much quieter then most other desktops...

[engadget @ Jan 18th 2008 12:48AM]

The 8800GT is based on the 65nm fabs and they run alot cooler than previous 88xx cards. I have one in my desktop right now and it doesnt add any sound to my PC at least.

I could have sworn the old Mac Pro had 4 x16 PCIE slots (Physically, not all were x16 electronically) but in the gallery they show 3 slots (1 for the 8800 and 2 empty and the 4th one looks like it has some huge card in it??? Perhaps this is a SAS Controller? Doesnt have any external connectors according to one of the other pictures.


And for the person drolling over the RAM in the XServe - its just FB-DIMMS dude. Even the cheap Dell 1955 Blades use FBD. And unfortunately the FBDIMMS eat up so much power that the savings from the Core architecture (including the extra drop from Penryn) pretty much goes right out the door. Would be nice to see them offer straight DDR2 options as well. Could get 24 or 32GB of DDR2 ECC REG in a 1U form factor these days with no problems.

Would be very interesting to see Apple team up with Dell or HP or IBM and start making Mac XServe Blades that fit in one of the big 3's existing Chassis. Would save them the time to create their own, especially since the internals are now all identical anyway. Penryn, FBDIMMS, SAS Drives, Power, Ethernet, etc.

[Zeus.:God @ Jan 18th 2008 2:06AM]

You're totally wrong. The 8800GT (of which I own) runs at 80 degrees plus, even in the coolest of situations. Until they decide to put a dual slot cooler on it, its not going to be comparable with the GTX or GTS.

[pyro @ Jan 17th 2008 10:58PM]

Enough with the artsy shots engadget. I don't care about how well you can take a picture of a couple of capacitors, I want to see the product.

[Michael LaFramboise @ Jan 17th 2008 11:23PM]

Can't see the product? Apple.com/MacPro/Gallery.html

[pyro @ Jan 18th 2008 12:50AM]

Your link is broken. Besides, I doubt that they updated the pictures just for a small, recent revision, which is what this article is for.

[reddawn @ Jan 18th 2008 1:07PM]

Now that it has dual 16x PCI-E slots would it be possible to put in two NVIDIA Quadro FX 5600's with SLI?

[anon @ Jan 17th 2008 11:54PM]

That is one fiiine lookin' cheese grater!

[MickeyMoo @ Jan 18th 2008 1:37AM]

Most Pixar artists use Dells (funny huh?) running, I believe, Linux. but i'm sure there's a MacPro or 20 in the building.

[ethana2 @ Jan 18th 2008 12:20AM]

Which one of those chips is the TPM? Take a soldering iron to it once you've got Ubuntu and XP installed. Then see what the Apple folks do..

"What's the problem?" "Well, sir, it's uh... actually just refusing to boot. Says something about unholy hardware..." "The other OS'es work just fine, but" "INSOLENCE! You're fired!"

[Pat H @ Jan 18th 2008 12:31AM]

I just got one of these out of frustration after my new HP desktop arrived dead last week (motherboard was bad). I'd have to say it's probably the best computer decision I've ever made - insanely fast, EXTREMELY quiet and it looks damn good too. Mac OSX is ok as well..I like it over windows but I'm not joining the Mac cult anytime soon though.

For 2,799 (w/education discount) you can't beat it for the specs and the beautiful layout of the inside, which makes installing hardware much easier than combing through the rats nest of PSU wires and odd drive placement on most built to order PCs.

[DefPo3t @ Jan 18th 2008 1:44AM]

if im spending tht muc i want 2 8800gt why cant i have two imean wtf 8 cores and a sinlge 8800gt at lease put a gtx in there or three ultra's now that be nice n but yeah if u build it online and choose the most expensive item on every things the total is 27,000 dollars( that apple store employees at the all of georgia almost had a heart attack) i bet u i can build a PC that would put thiss in the stone age for 27 thousand

[DefPo3t @ Jan 18th 2008 1:50AM]

idid this on my touch so dont bash me for my spelling please

[Bloobie @ Jan 18th 2008 1:58AM]

It's still no excuse for your piss-poor spelling. :)

[Agentblue @ Jan 18th 2008 2:20AM]

Am i the only one her who thinks mac osx should be open source? how awesome that would be. they already dont really protect macs well. no activation server like in windows.

Come on Steve just release the source for mac osx.
I myself would like to be able to compile and assemble mac osx in a gentoo type way.

I am not a fanboy, of anything, im a fan of open source operating systems, so i guess linux, but i like all unix based os's. windows has a purpose too though.

Everyone have a nice night.

brandon

[RedBull Runner @ Jan 18th 2008 9:18AM]

A majority of OSX is already opensource.
http://www.opensource.apple.com/darwinsource/

Obviously they are not going to go out and release the source for a lot of their hard work, just to have someone come along and steal it, but apple does do a lot do give back to the open source community. Just take a look at their recent purchase of CUPS (The Common Unix Printing System) which they have been using in their OS for years.

[Agentblue @ Jan 18th 2008 3:21PM]

Yes, i am aware that apple uses cups, im sure they use a bunch of other open source libraries, and i know they will not release it, sacrificing all their "hard" work.

but w/e its a thought.

[John @ Jan 18th 2008 2:42AM]

Anyone know what model those Hitachi Deskstar's are and if they come stock on the new Pro?

[Miles @ Jan 18th 2008 2:59AM]

A revolution indeed.

[Troels N @ Jan 18th 2008 6:16AM]

Really look good, but just a quick question - Who are marking the 8800GT graphicscard? Foxconn?

[Viking @ Jan 18th 2008 7:20AM]

A question? I am looking to purchase one of these new MACPROS and am primarily looking to use it for graphic creation (Motion) and hardcore editing on FINAL CUT PRO. Running two 23INCH screens.

Regarding the graphics card:
Are 2 Radeon HD 2600 XT's@256MB better than 1 Nvidia Geforce 8800 GT 512MB? I.E. More graphics cards give better performance when editing or multiple cards are simply used for attaching more displays? (Quadro FX too expensive)

Lastly:
I was told that when buying hard drives for (EDITING (FCP), it is not the capacity that is important but how many drives you have. More drive heads allow for faster rendering/playback. So, one 1TB drive or 4 250GB drives?

Any other SPEC considerations that someone might be able to give me for an EDITING setup?

BTW, I asked the same questions in the apple shop on REGENTS street, London and got like 5 different answers.

Pardon for the lack of TECH ignorance!
Cheers Engadget brains!

[Zak @ Jan 18th 2008 11:41AM]

You can run two 23" monitors off of a single 2600 card. Multiple cards do not give more performance for video editing. If you're serious about video editing you may want to consider getting four 300GB SAS drives and RAIDing them together for the best performance, since that configuration comes with a hardware RAID card.

Finally, you want as much RAM as you can afford. Don't buy it from Apple, buy it from somewhere else like http://www.macsales.com/ .