Xserve G5 Cluster Node Early 2005 Explained

Xserve Cluster Node
Source: wikipedia.org – Xserve Cluster Node

In the early 2000s, Apple Inc., renowned for its consumer-oriented products, decided to venture into the enterprise space. Among its endeavors was the introduction of the Xserve G5 Cluster Node Early 2005, unveiled on January 4, 2005. This network server computer was a part of Apple’s Macintosh Xserve G5 series, aiming to compete with established players like IBM and Dell.

Apple upped its game by upgrading the Xserve 1U rack-optimized server. It boasted dual 64-bit 2.3 GHz PowerPC G5 processors, delivering over 35 gigaflops of processing power per system. The inclusion of the industry’s fastest front-side 1U server system bus, running at up to 1.15 GHz, provided up to 9.2 GBps of bandwidth per processor.

Additionally, the Xserve G5 featured up to three 400 GB drives, achieving a groundbreaking 1.2 TB of hot-plug storage. With configurations starting at just $2,999, it became an ideal choice for various applications, from file and print serving to computational clusters.

Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, emphasized the significance of the Xserve G5’s enhancements, citing its unbeatable price performance and manageability. Notably, the Xserve G5 formed the backbone of Virginia Tech’s upgraded System X supercomputer cluster, showcasing its prowess by achieving over 12.25 trillion operations per second. Srinidhi Varadarajan, director of the Terascale Computing Facility at Virginia Tech, praised the Xserve G5 for its computing power, unit density, low power consumption, and cost-effectiveness compared to other supercomputers.

Equipped with dual 2.3 GHz PowerPC G5 processors and up to 8 GB of 400 MHz DDR memory, the Xserve G5 packed phenomenal computational power in an optimized 1U rack-optimized enclosure. Its support for up to three 7200 rpm 400 GB Serial ATA Apple Drive modules and industry-leading 1.2 TB of internal storage made it a standout choice. The inclusion of two full-length 64-bit, 133 MHz PCI-X slots provided up to 1 Gbps throughput and allowed easy expansion to high-performance storage and networking cards.

The Xserve G5 shipped with an unlimited client edition of Mac OS X Server 10.3 Panther software pre-installed, offering seamless integration with Mac, Windows, and Linux clients. Apple complemented its hardware offerings with world-class services and support programs, including AppleCare Premium Service, ensuring reliability and peace of mind for users.

While the Xserve G5’s journey was cut short with its discontinuation on August 7, 2006, just a year and a half after its launch, its legacy remains significant. Today marks 19 years since the unveiling of the Xserve G5 Cluster Node Early 2005, reflecting on Apple’s bold step into the enterprise market. Despite not achieving massive commercial success, the Xserve G5 paved the way for Apple’s continued expansion into enterprise solutions, leaving an indelible mark on its journey towards becoming the tech giant it is today.

Apple Xserve Cluster Node
Source: worthpoint.com – Apple Xserve Cluster Node

Xserve G5 Cluster Node Early 2005 Details

IntroducedJanuary 4, 2005 – 19 years ago
DiscontinuedAugust 7, 2006 – 17 years ago
Time on the Market19 months (1 year)
Model IdentifierRackMac3,1
Model NumberUnknown
EMCUnknown
Order NumberM9742LL/A
Original Price$2,999
ColorsAluminum
Weight33 Ibs.
14.968 KG
Dimensions1.73” H x 17.6” W x 28” D
4.39 cm H x 44.7 cm W x 71.12 cm D

Rack Support

  • Fits EIA-310-D-compliant, industry-standard 19-inch-wide racks, including four-post racks (24-inches, 26-inches, and from 29 to 36-inches deep) and two-post telco racks (center-mount brackets included)

Xserve G5 Cluster Node Tech Specs

Processor

ProcessorPowerPC 970fx G5
Processor SpeedDual 2.3 GHz
Architecture64-bit
Number of Cores2
System Bus1.15 GHz
Cache64 / 32 KB L1
512 KB L2

Storage & Media

Storage80 GB 7,200 rpm
MediaNone

Memory

Built-in Memory512 MB
Maximum Memory16 GB
Memory Slots8 – PC-3200 DDR400 ECC SDRAM
Interleaving SupportNo

Display

Built-in DisplayNone

Graphics

Graphics CardNone
Graphics MemoryN/A
Display ConnectionNone
Display ModesN/A

Expansion

Expansion Slots2 – PCI-X 133 MHz 64-bit
Bays1 – Apple Drive Module bays
Hard Drive Interface1 – 1.5 Gbps Serial ATA (SATA)
ADM Compatibility74 GB
80 GB
250 GB
400 GB
500 GB

Connections

Ethernet2 – 10/100/1000BASE-T (support for jumbo frames)
ModemNone
Wi-FiNone
BluetoothNone
Fibre ChannelOptional
USB2 – 480 Mbps
Serial1 – DB9 (RS-232)
SCSINone
FireWire1 – 400 Mbps
2 – 800 Mbps
Audio InNone
Audio OutNone
DisplayNone

Software

Original OSMac OS X Server 10.3 (10 Clients)
Maximum OSMac OS X 10.5.8
FirmwareMac OS ROM
Bundled SoftwareNone

Power

Backup BatteryUnknown
Maximum Continuous Power240 – 252 W
Line Voltage90V – 264V AC

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Further Reading and References

Disclaimer: The data presented in this article is under continuous development and has been manually collected from various sources based on their availability. The author of this article may revise this dataset as additional research is conducted and reviewed. Please note that the information is provided “as is” and “as available” without express or implied warranties. The author cannot be held responsible for any omissions, inaccuracies, or errors in the published information. Any warranties relating to this information are hereby disclaimed.