Apple today introduced the new Xserve, a 1U rack-optimized server that is up to twice as fast as its predecessor. Starting at just US$2,999, the new Xserve has up to two Quad-Core 3.0 GHz Intel Xeon processors for 8-core performance, a new server architecture, faster front side buses, faster memory, up to 3TB of internal storage and two PCI Express 2.0 expansion slots for greater performance and flexibility.

Xserve is configurable with up to two Quad-Core Intel Xeon 5400 series processors running up to 3.0 GHz with 12MB of L2 cache per processor and features a new high-bandwidth hardware architecture, dual-independent 1600 MHz front side buses and up to 32GB of 800 MHz DDR2 ECC FB-DIMM memory for a 64 percent increase in memory throughput. Two PCI Express 2.0 expansion slots provide up to four times the I/O bandwidth of the previous Xserve to support the latest high-bandwidth expansion cards including multi-channel 4Gb Fibre channel and 10Gb Ethernet cards.

The Xserve standard configuration, with a suggested retail price of US$2,999 includes:

* a single 64-bit 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Xeon processor with 12MB of L2 cache and a 1600 Mhz front side bus;
* 2GB of 800 MHz DDR2 ECC FB-DIMM RAM, expandable up to 32GB;
* a single 80GB SATA Apple Drive Module;
* dual Gigabit Ethernet on-board;
* internal graphics;
* two FireWire 800 and three USB 2.0 ports; and
* an unlimited client license for Mac OS X Server version 10.5 Leopard.

Contributed by: vicorly