News for Wednesday, 23 August 2006

The MacPro uses a new type of RAM modules, so called FB-DIMM (Fully Buffered Dual In-Line Memory Module). In summary, RAM modules are no longer working in "parallel" but in "serial".
It has many advantages, the first one being to simplify motherboard RAM circuitry: only 2 RAM slots to accommodate 2 riser cards on which 4 RAM modules can be installed for each. So the MacPro has 4 memory channels, but Apple could have used up to 32 instead of 8 slots (with the limited interest).
The main question is: How to properly install RAM modules to benefit from this new technology? We think that the analysis started with Anandtech's article, and completed by Barefeats.com and diglloyd.com are worth reading.
In summary, Apple does not provide the optimal setting for its MacPro regarding the RMA modules installation: instead of 2x512MB on a single riser card, one should have 2x256MB on each riser cards for a total of 1GB RAM in both cases. In other words, full memory speed can not be achieved until 4 modules are installed correctly over the 2 riser cards; so called "quad channel" setting.
Regarding performance gain of such optimal setting, it is very variable from 0% to 25% depending on benchmark settings (see Barefeats article.
So if you are using a RAM-dependent application, then you will want to ensure that you have the optimal quad channel set up; if you mostly use CPU-dependent application, then it won't matter that much.
JCJ

According to Think Secret, Apple has fired 5 employees who had openly admitted with collaborators to have downloaded Leopard from P2P networks.
One might consider it a bit extreme from Apple executive side, but one could also consider it a bit stupid to openly vaunt himself to have illegally acquired a NDA-protected software developed by the company we are working in.
One might consider that Apple has taken the opportunity to show its new policies in fighting against employees who might be the sources of information or rumors for Mac rumors dedicated website.
To avoid putting Apple's employees into trouble with their hierarchy, is one of the main reason why we have stopped publishing rumors (especially because most of our published rumors were true; leading to actions from AppleLegal). we thing there are other ways to bring top notch information too Mac users, the recent introduction of the MacPro is the proof: we were predicting the use of dual DualCore Xeon WoodCrest processor 6 months ago.

Last June, SanDisk was initiating a really aggressive campaign against iPod users to promote its own mobile digital music player. The expected goal was to rapidly become the second music player supplier behind Apple and its iPod.
Apparently, couple of months later, the success is far to be the one expected, and SanDisk has decided to increase storage capacity of its models, while decreasing their prices; is it the last maneuver before throwing in the towel?
Consumers have nicely proven to SanDisk and its advertising campaign that users are NOT sheep...
We think it could be positive for Apple to get a serious competitor, and order to push Cupertino to add new features/innovate or speed up the arrival of the new iPod revision. Not sure that Microsoft iPod-killer will have much success than SanDisk Sansa... at least it will have huge marketing money... but is it really possible to compete iPod success only with money??

Without much fanfare, Apple has added the new Xserve to the AppleStore: Introducing the new Xserve - Quad Xeon 64-bit server.

Specifications are, as one would expect, very similar to the MacPro ones, with 2.0, 2.66 and 3.0GHz models, and even a built-in Radeon X1300; but the default model is a powered by two 2GHz Dual Core Intel Xeon 5100 processors instead of 2.66GHz Xeon for the MacPro.
The new Xserve supports both SATA and Serial attached SCSI (SAS), and sports 2 x8 wide PCI Express slots.
Unlike the MacPro, the Xserve is reported to support Up to 32GB of ECC FB-DIMM memory using pairs of 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, or 4GB memory modules, while the MacPro can use only up to 2GB FB-DIMM modules. Same thing with a optional HDs ranging from 750GB 7200-rpm SATA drive to 73GB or 300GB 15,000-rpm SAS drives.
Another interesting option is the second hot-swappable power supply to connect each to a separate UPS or power circuit. In case of a outage in one circuit, the second supply takes over without a loss in service.
Xserve should ship in October, entry level price should be 3.299 Euro (All taxes included):

Two 64-bit 2.0GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon processors
1.33GHz frontside bus and 4MB shared L2 cache per processor
1GB memory (667MHz DDR2 ECC fully buffered DIMM)
80GB 7200-rpm Serial ATA hard drive1
Built-in ATI Radeon X1300 graphics with 64MB RAM
Mac OS X Server 10.4 Unlimited-Client Edition

Direct link to the Xserve webpage: http://www.apple.com/xserve/
JCJ

According to Digitimes, Apple has shipped 800,000 notebooks for Q2 2006; representing 60% increase over the year ago quarter.
As expected, the sales of Apple desktop models dropped by 20% compared to the year ago quarter, but this is nothing surprising due to the "old" Powermac G5 models and the expected MacPro. We are sure that the MacPro sales will correct those numbers for the next quarter.

Apple has published a TechNote related to a video performance issue that might affect some MacPro.
No stress. This “low video performance” problem is due to the OSX version pre-installed on those machines. To solve the issue, simply, reinstall OSX from the supplied Install DVD.
If the build number of the pre-installed OSX is 8K1054 or anything less than 8K1079, then you have to reinstall Tiger (shipped Install DVD Build 8K1079); it should fix the issue.
Direct link to the TechNote 304198

Apple keeps proposing opportunities on the RefurbStore, today one can find iPods, MacBook/MacBook Pro and Powermac.
The shortest way to the RefurbStore
PS: Having MB and MBP on the RefurbStore can be the sign of the forthcoming Core2Duo Merom-based revision for Apple notebooks; at least for the MBP.