Apple Xserve G5 manual Performance Overview, Processor Performance

Page 7

Technology Overview

7

Xserve G5

Performance Overview

Apple’s new Xserve G5 is designed to deliver phenomenal performance with industry- leading ease of use. Thanks to 64-bit processing power, server-optimized I/O, and a high-throughput storage architecture, Xserve G5 is optimized for demanding server and cluster operations.

Apple compared preproduction Xserve G5 units with currently available, top-selling

1U servers. The following results are based on benchmark testing performed in January 2004 by Apple in a laboratory setting using publicly available software. These server configurations were tested:

•Apple Xserve G5. Dual 2GHz PowerPC G5, 1GB PC3200 SDRAM, two 250GB Apple Drive Modules, dual Gigabit Ethernet, Mac OS X Server v10.3.2.

•Dell PowerEdge 1750. Dual 3.2GHz Xeon,1GB PC2100 SDRAM, three 36GB Ultra320 SCSI drives, dual Gigabit Ethernet, Red Hat Linux 9.0.

•IBM eServer x335. Dual 3.2GHz Xeon,1GB PC2100 SDRAM, two 36GB Ultra320 SCSI drives, dual Gigabit Ethernet, Red Hat Linux 9.0 (unless otherwise indicated).

•IBM eServer x325. Dual 2GHz Opteron,1GB PC2700 SDRAM, two 36GB Ultra320 SCSI drives, dual Gigabit Ethernet, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 (AMD 64-bit version).

For each system, Apple installed the operating system on one drive and used the other drive or drives to create a data volume. On the Xserve and Dell systems, the two remaining drives were configured as a single volume using RAID 0. The Xeon- and Opteron-based systems used 15,000-rpm drives.

Processor Performance

Featuring a dual-pipeline Velocity Engine and two double-precision floating-point units on each 64-bit PowerPC G5 processor, Xserve G5 can manage complex calcula- tions crucial to users in image processing, media encoding, and scientific computing environments. In fact, the Velocity Engine on dual processor Xserve G5 systems can execute over 30 billion single-precision floating-point operations per second, or 30 gigaflops per U, compared with 19 gigaflops on the G4-based Xserve.

To demonstrate this superior processor performance, Apple tested Xserve G5 using popular benchmarks in the scientific computing community.

LINPACK

Computers use double-precision floating-point mathematics to perform calculations requiring great numerical magnitude or extremely high decimal accuracy. Apple used the LINPACK benchmark to illustrate the benefits of the G5 processor’s two floating- point units. LINPACK measures double-precision floating-point performance by running a program that solves a dense system of linear equations.

Page 6 Page 8
Image 7
Page 6 Page 8
Contents Technology Overview January Xserve G5Contents What’s New? IntroductionXserve RAID Key FeaturesProduct Overview Xserve G5Rack-Optimized Server Design Xserve G5 Server ConfigurationBack view Most innovative HPC hardware High-Density Cluster Node ConfigurationXserve G5 Cluster Processor Performance Performance OverviewLinpack Double-Precision Calculations $333 per gigaflop Technology OverviewBlast DNA Sequence Matching HMMer Genome Sequence Matching Networking ThroughputHMMer NetBench SMBWebBench Apache Web Serving WebBenchBillion times bigger PowerPC G5 ProcessorBit Computing Power Apple and IBM PartnershipMultiple high-precision calculations Next-Generation PowerPC ArchitecturePowerPC G5 Architecture Vast amounts of addressable memoryServer-Optimized Architecture High-Bandwidth Server ArchitectureTotal throughput of up to 1GB/s Double Data Rate DDR memory Gigahertz Frontside BusPoint-to-Point System Controller Advanced ECC Memory TechnologyECC protection High-Performance PCI-X ExpansionDual Onboard Gigabit Ethernet Support for up to 8GB of RAMAdditional Connectivity Up to 750GB of storage Affordable, Scalable StorageSata Drive Technology Internal storage comparisonApple Drive Module Hot-plug Apple Drive ModulesMonitoring of drive health Xserve Storage ScalabilityOptional hardware RAID PCI card Xserve RAID storage solutionSoftware and Hardware RAID Options Software RAID in Mac OS X ServerRemote monitoring Integrated Hardware MonitoringAutomatic notifications Xserve Remote DiagnosticsNew in Mac OS X Server version Optimized for the PowerPC G5Built-In Network Services Mac OS X Server VersionInnovative Remote Management High-availability servicesAppleCare Service Parts Kit AppleCare Premium Service and Support PlanConvenient replacement modules Mac OS X Server Software Support Mac OS X Server Maintenance ProgramTraining and Certification Programs Purchasing Information Standard ConfigurationsBuild-to-Order Options Related Products Compute power with Macintosh ease of useApple Workgroup Cluster for Bioinformatics Memory Technical SpecificationsHardware ProcessorElectrical requirements Size and weightStorage Rack supportMac OS X Server Included servicesFor More Information Software

Xserve G5 specifications

The Apple Xserve G5 was a powerful rack-mounted server that was introduced by Apple in 2004. Built on the robust PowerPC architecture, it marked a significant entry into the enterprise server market for the company, reflecting its commitment to high-performance computing and advanced technology solutions.

One of the main features of the Xserve G5 was its dual dual-core PowerPC G5 processors, which allowed for exceptional computation performance. This configuration enabled up to 8 processing cores in a single server unit, significantly enhancing multitasking capabilities and making it suitable for high-demand applications. With support for up to 16GB of DDR SDRAM, the server ensured ample memory for intensive operations and large-scale data processing tasks.

In terms of storage, the Xserve G5 featured a versatile design that supported up to four hot-swappable Serial ATA (SATA) drive bays. This capability enabled users to easily replace or upgrade hard drives without downtime, which is crucial in enterprise environments. The server also supported RAID configurations, offering options for increased reliability and data redundancy.

Networking capabilities were another highlight of the Xserve G5. It came equipped with dual Gigabit Ethernet ports, providing robust network throughput and redundancy. This feature was particularly valuable for mission-critical applications where uptime and performance were essential. Additionally, the Xserve G5 was compatible with various networking protocols and featured built-in support for Active Directory, simplifying integration into existing IT infrastructures.

The operating system of choice for the Xserve G5 was Mac OS X Server, which offered a user-friendly interface along with powerful server management tools. The software provided a wide range of services, including file sharing, web hosting, and email services, tailored for small to medium enterprises and education institutions.

For those seeking expandability, the Xserve G5 boasted a PCI-X expansion slot, allowing users to add various hardware components such as additional network interfaces or specialized processing cards.

In terms of its physical design, the Xserve G5 had a sleek, 1U form factor, making it easy to integrate into existing server racks while maintaining a modern aesthetic. The efficient cooling system was designed to keep the unit running optimally, ensuring reliability during extended periods of use.

In conclusion, the Apple Xserve G5 represented a significant advance in server technology with its powerful dual G5 processors, ample memory and storage options, and robust networking capabilities. Its combination of performance and user-friendly Mac OS X Server made it a notable choice for organizations seeking reliable computing solutions in the mid-2000s.
Top Page Image Contents