How can Xserve be used as a NON-server

Posted:
in Current Mac Hardware edited January 2014
The Xserve could be a very good NON-server



just for running every day things. It has a good enough media drive, a FireWIRE port ON THE FRONT. Expandability for HD space is through the roof. The only thing is that it has one less GigProcessor has the same priced PowerMac G4 model.



Any thoughts&gt; <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 29
    [quote]Originally posted by Nebagakid:

    <strong>The Xserve could be a very good NON-server



    just for running every day things. It has a good enough media drive, a FireWIRE port ON THE FRONT. Expandability for HD space is through the roof. The only thing is that it has one less GigProcessor has the same priced PowerMac G4 model.



    Any thoughts&gt; <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>



    It lists OS X 10.1 as an option in place of X Server on the datasheet and the site but I haven't found a way to substitute it at the Apple Store. I would think that will take a fair bit off the price once you can select the option. Seems like it could be a pretty kicking machine properly optioned. DDR would by and large be wasted in a desktop application given Apple's implementation of it.
  • Reply 2 of 29
    nothingnothing Posts: 23member
    Please, Please, Please don't try to buy this to use as a non-server.



    You won't like it. Trust me. This kind of unit has very loud fans that make it completely unsuitable for desktop use.



    Just a warning...
  • Reply 3 of 29
    nebagakidnebagakid Posts: 2,692member
    Couldn't I just stick it another room?



    How LOUD are the fans?
  • Reply 4 of 29
    emaneman Posts: 7,204member
    [quote]Originally posted by nothing:

    <strong>Please, Please, Please don't try to buy this to use as a non-server.



    You won't like it. Trust me. This kind of unit has very loud fans that make it completely unsuitable for desktop use.



    Just a warning...</strong><hr></blockquote>



    They're really that loud?
  • Reply 5 of 29
    ghost_user_nameghost_user_name Posts: 22,667member
    [quote]Originally posted by EmAn:

    They're really that loud?<hr></blockquote>Server fans are typically much more powerful and louder than your run-of-the-mill PC or Mac fan.



    Besides, where would you put a suka' like that if you don't have a rack? Do you really need instant-access to frequently swap out your drives? Plus, if we're seeing DDR in a server now, don't you think that means we might see it in the towers in the near future?



    I just don't understand why someone would want one of these for personal use unless it's just for the "cool factor."
  • Reply 6 of 29
    applenutapplenut Posts: 5,768member
    [quote]Originally posted by starfleetX:

    <strong>Server fans are typically much more powerful and louder than your run-of-the-mill PC or Mac fan.



    Besides, where would you put a suka' like that if you don't have a rack? Do you really need instant-access to frequently swap out your drives? Plus, if we're seeing DDR in a server now, don't you think that means we might see it in the towers in the near future?



    I just don't understand why someone would want one of these for personal use unless it's just for the "cool factor."</strong><hr></blockquote>





    for a video pro it would make a lot of sense to buy. that's why Apple is going to offer an option of OS X Client as BTO.



    They even mention selling to video professionals as desktop systems.



    all that storage right in front of them, hot swappable, high bandwidth motherboard with 2PCI slots open and firewire on the front of the machine?



    it's perfect. and they can buy a bunch of em and put the others as a cluster in a rack for rendering.
  • Reply 7 of 29
    crusadercrusader Posts: 1,129member
    I would (If I happened to be a multi-millionaire) cluster 4 of those dual gig suckas, and use my iMac as a dumb terminal. They would fly through Folding and SETI @ home!



    Oh how I can dream...
  • Reply 8 of 29
    crusadercrusader Posts: 1,129member
    Hmm... I just got inspired to go make my own 1U server. I could put it in the closet and set my Classic II up as a dumb terminal for it
  • Reply 9 of 29
    nebagakidnebagakid Posts: 2,692member
    FireWire on the front would be soooo nice, damn iPod and firewire Cd-RW have to share a cable becuase the other is for my DV camera
  • Reply 10 of 29
    [quote]Originally posted by Nebagakid:

    <strong>FireWire on the front would be soooo nice, damn iPod and firewire Cd-RW have to share a cable becuase the other is for my DV camera</strong><hr></blockquote>



    That's one thing that would be nice for the next Power Mac
  • Reply 11 of 29
    noahjnoahj Posts: 4,503member
    [quote]Originally posted by EmAn:

    <strong>



    They're really that loud?</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Take a G4 tower and put your ear up to the fan in the back. right up to it. Pretty loud with your ear right there eh?



    Its very likely louder than that. Seriously.



    This machine is the Anti-imac/Anti-Cube. Take a laptop and put 2 1GHz procs in it running full bore and then find out how to cool it down. Powerful Fans, and lots of em. Sounds like a jet engine sometimes.
  • Reply 12 of 29
    emaneman Posts: 7,204member
    [quote]Originally posted by NoahJ:

    <strong>



    Take a G4 tower and put your ear up to the fan in the back. right up to it. Pretty loud with your ear right there eh?



    Its very likely louder than that. Seriously.



    This machine is the Anti-imac/Anti-Cube. Take a laptop and put 2 1GHz procs in it running full bore and then find out how to cool it down. Powerful Fans, and lots of em. Sounds like a jet engine sometimes.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Wow, I never realized how loud they were.
  • Reply 13 of 29
    nebagakidnebagakid Posts: 2,692member
    Well, there are ways to keep it in another room.

    On apple's site they talk about a DVI cable extender and also you could get a longer USB extension cord. Also, if need be, a FireWire.



    yet, hopefuly you could also get some aparatus that would be able to slide a CD down into the bay perfectly through a wall



    but really.That loud?! I'll believe it when I hear it <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
  • Reply 14 of 29
    noahjnoahj Posts: 4,503member
    [quote]Originally posted by Nebagakid:

    <strong>Well, there are ways to keep it in another room.

    On apple's site they talk about a DVI cable extender and also you could get a longer USB extension cord. Also, if need be, a FireWire.



    yet, hopefuly you could also get some aparatus that would be able to slide a CD down into the bay perfectly through a wall



    but really.That loud?! I'll believe it when I hear it <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>



    I cannot stay in our datacenter for very long because the fans from the servers drown out all sanity and normal thought. And Some are louder than others.
  • Reply 15 of 29
    How much cooling power do you think you would need for 4 "very active" 7200 rpm drives, and 2 G4's in an enclosure that's not even twice as thick as powerbook? Hell, have you ever felt how hot an iPod gets when your using it as a hard drive? These things have serious ventalation weither your using them to capacity or not. If you wanted to use it as a desktop, you'd have to get a sound proof enclosured rack. We bought one for work for $1600 CAD which brings our 80 decibal raid array down to a comfortable muffle. It also adds to the cool factor. <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
  • Reply 16 of 29
    wolfeye155wolfeye155 Posts: 425member
    This baffles me...



    If you were to buy one of these for home use, don't you think it would look stupid just sitting there on your desk? Not to mention the noise. There's a reason they are are put in such an inclosure...







    So you have about $80,000 laying around somewhere do ya?



    [ 05-15-2002: Message edited by: wolfeye155 ]</p>
  • Reply 17 of 29
    serranoserrano Posts: 1,806member
    i really don't encourage doing this but if i was going to i would buy one of these...







    from *cough* <a href="http://www.marathoncomputer.com"; target="_blank">http://www.marathoncomputer.com</a>;



    if you are going for cool factor one of these open racks on wheels would do it...



    [ 05-15-2002: Message edited by: janitor ]</p>
  • Reply 18 of 29
    [quote]Originally posted by NoahJ:

    <strong>



    Take a G4 tower and put your ear up to the fan in the back. right up to it. Pretty loud with your ear right there eh?



    Its very likely louder than that. Seriously.



    This machine is the Anti-imac/Anti-Cube. Take a laptop and put 2 1GHz procs in it running full bore and then find out how to cool it down. Powerful Fans, and lots of em. Sounds like a jet engine sometimes.</strong><hr></blockquote>





    Am i going crazy or is there no audio support (sound) capibility built in to the Xserve?
  • Reply 19 of 29
    eugeneeugene Posts: 8,254member
    Um, I doubt the blowers will be much louder than the fans in my dual 1 GHz. I'd like to know which blowers they're using though.
  • Reply 20 of 29
    resres Posts: 711member
    Remember, a lot of musicians already have lots of rack mounted equipment. I'm sure many of them (myself included) would love to have a 1U rack mounted computer. It would sure save a lot of valuable space, and with two PCI cards for inputs, and removable drives for all that direct to disk recording it would be perfect.



    The question is can it run classic programs? Some of the good audio programs still need os9.
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