Product Description

Enter the Quad-Core Intel Xeon Nehalem" processor. Its single-die, 64-bit architecture makes 8MB of fully shared L3 cache readily available to each of the four processor cores. The result is fast access to cache data and greater application performance. Combine that with the other technological advances and you get a Mac Pro that's up to 1.9x faster than the previous generation. All-new high-performance graphics cards from NVIDIA make Mac Pro graphics technology faster than before. Perfect for motion graphics, 3D modeling, rendering, or animation, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 with 512MB of GDDR3 memory comes standard and provides up to 2.9x the performance of previous Mac Pro standard graphics cards. The Mac Pro also has four 3.5-inch internal hard drive bays that allows for an enormous amount of internal storage, up to 4TB. These bays are direct-attach and cable free, just attach the drive carrier to a Serial ATA hard drive and slide the drive into place. Install more memory in your Mac Pro in a snap. Literally. The redesigned interior lets you slide out the processor tray in one smooth motion, then simply snap new memory into place. You don't have to dig around inside the computer or wrestle with wires or cables. The quad-core Mac Pro offers four slots that support up to 16GB of 1066MHz DDR3 ECC SDRAM. If you're looking for a powerful and a sweet looking desktop this is the one for you. NVIDIA GeForce GT120 with 512MB GDDR3 Dedicated Video Memory 18x SuperDrive (DVD+-RW DL/CD-RW) Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR Two independent 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet Front ports - 2 x FireWire 800, 2 x USB 2.0, Headphone Minijack and Speaker Back ports - 2 x FireWire 800, 3 x USB 2.0, Optical Digital Audio In/Out TOSLINK ports, Stereo line-level input/output, 2 RJ-45, DVI, Mini DisplayPort Expansion slots - 2 x PCI Express 2.0 x4, PCI Express 2.0 x16 Monitor is not included

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #601 in Personal Computers
• Brand: Apple
• Model: MB871LL/A
• CPU: Intel Pentium II Xeon 2.66 GHz
• Memory: 3000MB DDR2 SDRAM
• Hard Disk: 640GB
• Processors: 4

Features

• Next-generation system architecture and 2.66 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon 3500 "Nehalem" processor
• 3 GB RAM (expandable up to 16 GB), 640 GB hard drive (expandable to 4 TB), 18x Double-Layer SuperDrive
• NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 with 512MB of GDDR3 memory with one Mini DisplayPort, and one dual-link DVI port
• Five USB 2.0, four FireWire 800, Gigabit Ethernet, optical digital audio input and output, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
• Pre-loaded with Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard and iLife '09; includes Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad and Mighty Mouse

Amazon.com Product Description
Powered by an Intel "Nehalem" Xeon processor and featuring a next-generation system architecture, the Apple Mac Pro desktop PC delivers up to twice the performance of its predecessor. It combines a single, hyper-threaded 2.66 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon 3500 series processor with a new Turbo Boost feature that automatically boosts the processor clock speed based on workload. An updated interior provides easy access to all components within the Mac Pro for hassle-free expansion and massive upgrade ability--up to 8 GB of 800 MHz RAM and four hard drive bays for up to 4 TB (that's right--terabytes) of storage under the hood. And while it comes standard with a 16x SuperDrive (compatible with burning DVD±R/RW and CD-R/RW discs), you can also add a second writing SuperDrive.

Continuing Apple's commitment to the environment, the new Mac Pro exceeds Energy Star 4.0 requirements and is leading the industry as an early adopter of the more stringent Energy Star 5.0 requirements which will become effective later this year. The Mac Pro enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and the interior is designed to be more material-efficient.

This model of the Mac Pro (MB871LL/A) features a 640 GB hard drive, 3 GB of RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 with 512MB GDDR3 memory, Mini DisplayPort and dual-link DVI video output, and a plethora of USB 2.0 and FireWire 800 ports on the back and front of the chassis. It comes pre-loaded with Apple's Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard operating system--an operating system custom-designed for the advanced technology inside--and it also comes with the iLife '09 suite of applications, including iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband, and iTunes.

The Nehalem Advantage
Many quad-core processors are composed of two separate dies, which means some cached data has to travel outside the processor to get from core to core. That's an inefficient way to access information. Enter the Quad-Core Intel Xeon Nehalem processor. Its single-die, 64-bit architecture makes 8 MB of fully shared L3 cache readily available to each of the four processor cores. The result is fast access to cache data and greater application performance.

The next-generation system architecture delivers up to twice the performance of the previous generation Mac Pro system.

Smart design makes installing massive amounts of memory, adding expansion cards, and increasing storage surprisingly simple.

See larger image.

System memory is often connected to a processor through a separate I/O controller. But each Intel Xeon Nehalem processor features an integrated memory controller--another leap forward for workstation system architecture. By connecting memory directly to the processor, the new Mac Pro processors have faster access to data stored in memory, and memory latency is reduced by up to 40 percent. The integrated memory controller, along with fast 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC SDRAM, also gives Mac Pro up to a 2.4x increase in memory bandwidth over previous generations. More bandwidth allows for more data to be fed to the processor faster, helping each core spend its time processing data, not waiting for information to arrive. And Error Correction Code (ECC) corrects single-bit errors and detects multiple-bit errors automatically. That's especially important in mission-critical and compute-intensive environments.

The new Mac Pro introduces Turbo Boost: a dynamic performance technology that automatically boosts the processor clock speed based on workload. If you're using an application that doesn't need every core, Turbo Boost shuts off the idle cores while simultaneously increasing the speed of the active ones. The new Intel Xeon Nehalem processor also supports Hyper-Threading, which allows two threads to run simultaneously on each core.

This model of Mac Pro is powered by a single 2.66 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor, which also features 8 MB of fully shared L3 cache, an integrated memory controller, 128-bit SSE4 SIMD engine, and 64-bit data paths and registers.

Storage and Memory
This model of Mac Pro includes a 640 GB Serial ATA (3Gb/s; 7200 rpm), but it comes with four 3.5-inch internal hard drive bays for an enormous amount of internal storage--up to 4 TB. Each bay provides its own independent 3Gb/s channel for fast access to data. For the ultimate in data protection and enhanced performance, add the new Mac Pro RAID Card with 512MB of RAID cache, a 72-hour cache-protecting battery, and hardware RAID levels 0, 1, 5, and 0+1. A new cableless connection and intuitive Apple software make it a snap to install this optional card.

It's also equipped right out of the box with 3 GB (three 1 GB DIMMs) of 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC SDRAM. It includes four memory slots supporting up to 8 GB of main memory using 1 GB or 2 GB DIMMs.

Graphics
If you're a pro who wants a desktop computer that keeps pace with your imagination, the Mac Pro delivers with faster graphics application performance across the board. Whether you're decoding H.264 content in Final Cut Pro, creating 3D graphics in Motion, processing massive RAW images in Aperture, or playing the latest games, the graphics hardware in the new Mac Pro makes graphics applications faster. This Mac Pro comes standard with the NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 graphics processor, which includes 512MB of discrete GDDR3 video memory--perfect for motion graphics, 3D modeling, rendering, or animation.

Expansion and Connectivity
The redesigned interior of the new Mac Pro feels like the well-organized workstation it is. No rat's nest of components here. You don't need to turn the system on its side or struggle to reach into awkward spaces to make changes. Just remove the side panel for instant, easy access to everything. Slide out the processor tray to add memory. Slide out hard drive bays to add storage. Slide a simple bar to change up to four expansion cards at once. And with plenty of I/O ports both front and back, you'll have room for all your external devices.

When it's time to upgrade, a quick slide of the retention bar frees up the four expansion card slots for easy access. Thanks to a thumbscrew PCI bracket, you can swap out cards without any tools. All four slots are now PCI Express 2.0 for up to twice the performance of the previous generation. And since the graphics slot in the Mac Pro is double-wide, your graphics card won't cover an adjacent slot.

The Mac Pro comes with four 3.5-inch internal hard drive bays for an enormous amount of internal storage--up to 4TB. The bays are direct-attach and cable free, so it's easy to add or remove drives. Just attach the drive carrier to a Serial ATA 3Gb/s drive and slide the drive into place. There are no connectors or cables to contend with. Lock the drives with the side door latch, and you're done. Install more memory in your Mac Pro in a snap. Literally. The redesigned interior lets you slide out the processor tray in one smooth motion, then simply snap new memory into place. You don't have to dig around inside the computer or wrestle with wires or cables.

There are plenty of places to connect external devices to your Mac Pro. You'll find two FireWire 800 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and a headphone minijack right up front--where it's more convenient to connect storage, multimedia devices, and high-speed peripherals. And there are even more ports on the back: three USB 2.0, two FireWire 800, optical audio in and out, analog audio in and out, and dual Gigabit Ethernet ports.

Other Features

• Four FireWire 800 ports (two on front panel, two on back panel)
• Five USB 2.0 ports (two on front panel, three on back panel)
• Two USB 2.0 ports on included keyboard
• Front-panel headphone minijack and internal speaker
• Optical digital audio input and output TOSLINK ports
• Analog stereo line-level input and output minijacks
• Three open full-length PCI Express expansion slots (one PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot; two PCI Express 2.0 x4 slots); all slots provide mechanical support for 16-lane cards
• Two independent 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet (RJ-45) interfaces with support for jumbo frames
• Bluetooth 2.1 + Enhanced Data Rate (EDR)
• 18x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW): 18x DVD±R, 8x DVD±R DL, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 32x CD-R/RW
• One open optical drive bay for optional second SuperDrive
• Dimensions: 8.1 x 20.1 x 18.7 inches (WxHxD)
• Weight: 40 pounds

The Greenest Mac Pro Yet
Even though the Mac Pro is the fastest Mac ever, nearly 2x faster than before, it is also more energy efficient. The energy-efficient hardware components in the Mac Pro work hand in hand with Mac OS X to create a system that can dynamically adjust power consumption to reduce the overall energy used. For instance, the CPU architecture allows individual cores to go into a low-power state to reduce energy consumption when they are not needed. The graphics card does the same, reducing power draw when not running graphics-intensive applications. The result is a smarter and more energy-efficient system that is not only as fast as possible when you need it, but also throttles down power use when it's not needed. Compared with the previous-generation Mac Pro, the power used when the system is idle has been reduced by 15 percent.

The Mac Pro meets the stringent power requirements set by the EPA, earning ENERGY STAR certification. In addition, it meets the latest efficiency requirements of ENERGY STAR Version 5.0 Specification for Computers before its July 2009 effective date. ENERGY STAR 5.0 sets significantly higher efficiency limits for power supplies as well as aggressive limits for the computer's typical annual power consumption. It has also earned the highest rating of EPEAT Gold. The Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool, or EPEAT, evaluates the environmental impact of a product based on how recyclable it is, how much energy it uses, and how it's designed and manufactured.

Pre-Loaded with Mac OS X Snow Leopard and iLife '09

Every Mac comes with Mac OS X Snow Leopard, the world's most advanced operating system, and iLife, Apple's innovative suite of applications for managing photos, making movies and creating and learning to play music. Snow Leopard builds on a decade of OS X innovation and success with hundreds of refinements, new core technologies and out of the box support for Microsoft Exchange. iLife features iPhoto, to easily organize and manage photos; iMovie with powerful easy-to-use new features such as Precision Editor, video stabilization and advanced drag and drop; and GarageBand which introduces a whole new way to help you learn to play piano and guitar.

Installed software

• Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard (includes Time Machine, Quick Look, Spaces, Spotlight, Dashboard, Mail, iChat, Safari, Address Book, QuickTime, iCal, DVD Player, Photo Booth, Front Row, Xcode Developer Tools)
• iLife '09 (includes iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, iWeb, iDVD)

What's in the Box
Mac Pro, power cord, Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad, Mighty Mouse, USB keyboard extension cable, install/restore DVDs, printed and electronic documentation

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Customer Reviews

A big step up
I bought this Mac Pro to replace a PowerMac that was over seven years old, and which had fallen inadequate to handle my increasingly demanding digital image processing, and which was all but worthless at running Microsoft Windows.

This Mac Pro is probably 8x faster than the PowerMac at most tasks, and its case design is lovely. The way PCI cards snap into and out of place without screws, the easy accessibility of the DIMM slots on a pull-out card, and the ability to add and remove drives without cables, all reflect Apple's obsession with details.

Despite having at least one massive fan in the case, it is much quieter than the PowerMac. In another advantage over the older machine, it has ports on both the front and back. As with previous Mac Pros and PowerMacs, RAM, disk, connectivity, and optical drives are all very expandable.

The Mac Pro runs Windows Vista faster than any dedicated Windows box I've ever used, and with VMware Fusion, I can even run Windows applications within the Mac environment. The Mac Pro comes with all sorts of Apple software, though I use mostly third party alternatives (my first three installations were Microsoft Office, Adobe CS4, and Mathematica). The latter two run much better on this than they, or their predecessors, had ever run on the PowerMac. I'm keeping the old box around only to run some much older software, which by virtue of needing Mac OS9 or some other quirk, won't run on the new box. In general, software compatibility is excellent. I had no trouble with drivers for my tablet or printer or any of my scanners (Nikon, Canon, and Fujitsu).

What's not to love? Some will complain about the price, but I'm not going to bother; if you want a cheaper machine, iMacs and Mac Minis are available. The absence of Firewire 400 was a disappointment for me, though adapter cables and PCI cards are readily available. I bought a Sonnet card that adds two firewire 400 ports for about $50. This box is PCI-Express only, so you won't be able to use standard PCI or PCI-x cards. Some may grouse about Apple's standard keyboard and/or mouse, but I use third party solutions there too.

I got 7+ years out of my last computer, and I would not be surprised to get the same out of this one.

Exceeded All Expectations
I bought this to replace a 4-year-old G5 (dual 2.7 Ghz).I push my Macs to the limit - the new one now has three video cards to support 5 monitors (way cheaper than even just 1 30 inch monitor), 16 Gb of memory, and 3 hard drives for a total of 2+ TB of space. I typically run 15 or more programs simultaneously (Word, Excel, Safari, Mail, Quicken, iTunes, a calendar program, a database, Crossover (to run a Windows based legal research engine), and more).

The new MacPro has been running for a week now, without a single freeze or unexpected quit, or even a spinning beachball. It is the quietest Mac I have owned since my original 128k Mac. It is so quiet I often am surprised to see it is still running. It is much faster in every respect.

I was hoping for improved stability and speed, but I never expected it to be this stable right out of the box - I thought it would take a few updates to the system software to get rid of new strangeness in a new architecture, but this is already as close to flawless as I ever expected to see in a Mac that is pushed beyond normal usage. Also, the migration assistant easily moved everything I needed from my old Mac to my new one.

Be alert - there is no wireless card in the standard configuration. To my knowledge, the only way to get one is at an Apple store for $49. But installation is free and wireless internet is a breeze once the card is installed.

Super Fast and Very Quiet
I owned a PowerMac G5 Dual 2.0 Ghz before the video card died. I use two cinema HD monitors and the AGP cards are hard to find for that older model. I am not a super power user so I seldom encode heavy duty video. I am a light user of Aperture and Photoshop. Trying to do light video and photo editing on my G5 was not painfully slow but the computer was showing its age. Typical tasks took a while; I would walk away and sometimes come back an hour later. The G5 was loud and hot. The ATI x800 XT was a noisy and a buggy video card. When I opened my new Mac Pro I was wondering if I should have bought last year's dual quad processor (2.8 Ghz) instead of the new Nehalem single processor (2.6 Ghz). The prices were pretty close. The 2009 model has more RAM and a bigger hard drive. Rest assured this new machine is no slouch. I am not sure how many professional Mac users use Mac Pros and how many get by with the Macbook Pro; but, I think that if high end professionals can use a laptop with a dual core processor then I certainly should be OK with a single Quad core processor. I ordered mine with a second NVIDIA GT 120 video card. This way I have two Dual Link DVI ports and two Mini DisplayPorts. Remember, the standard computer ships with a single video card that offers only one Dual Link DVI port. The other port is Apple's Mini DisplayPort which works only with Apple's new 24 inch glossy display. The adapter needed to plug in any other monitor (think 30 inch Cinema HD) into the Mini DisplayPort is a ridiculous $100. After buying this adapter, there is no guarantee it will work!!! Hence, I just bought an extra video card. The case is a breeze to work with. I slipped in the video card without any screwdriver or tools. My old hard drive went into the second slot tray (I did need a screwdriver to fasten the hard drive to the tray). The hard drive trays are side by side and pull out like a drawer. No wires, no broken fingernails, no bloody knuckles. RAM can be added and swapped out easily too. After connecting each monitor to a separate video card, I booted it up and imported all my old settings. The machine was done setting up and ready to roll in 25 minutes. The fan noise from the video cards is barely noticeable. My Macbook is three times louder. I don't know what people are talking about when they say that the video card fan is noisy? I suppose if you put it on top of your desk next to your monitor it might be noticeable, but it is not any louder than any laptop. I have yet to see the dreaded beach ball spinning. This is the quietest and fastest machine I have ever used. I tried a 17 inch (2.6 Ghz) Macbook Pro at the Apple store and it was much noisier and much slower. It is possible that the laptop was running SMC fan control so I won't complain about the laptop fan. If you are one of those people that puts their laptop on top of those cooling devices/fans then you can appreciate just how noisy things can get. For me, the reliability and easy access to Mac Pro case make this a long term investment. I think it should easily last 5 years. There are only 4 RAM slots and I can upgrade from the standard 3GB to 8GB for $150. If you need more than 8GB RAM then opt for the dual quad core model and double the available slots. If you need that much RAM you probably are not going to be happy with this single processor machine anyway. I think that some of the hype about Ghz and number of processors has made people speed crazy. There are some who would disagree with me and argue that you can never have too many processors and too much RAM. I would look at the bottom line and budget accordingly. Remember that the next new model will be out next year! Be honest with yourself and remember to factor in the costs of upgrades like HDs, RAM, Applecare, Video cards, Ports etc. One final note; I do miss the Firewire 400 ports. OWC sells Firewire 400 to Firewire 800 adapters that fit over the plugs. It is a $5 fix. I think that you will be happy with this machine if you don't need multiple processors and aren't going to add over 16 GB of RAM. It is plenty fast and very quiet. If you are a home user and don't need to open the case to upgrade parts, consider the iMac as an alternative. It comes with a bright 24 inch screen and is almost as fast.