Macworld | Mac Product Guide: Mac Pro/8-core 2.8GHz Xeon 5400

Mac Pro/8-core 2.8GHz Xeon 5400

This standard configuration replaces the two dual-core 2.66GHz Xeon chips on the preceeding Mac Pro offering with a pair of quad-core 2.8GHz processors. Other changes include a bigger hard drive, more installed RAM (not to mention double the RAM capacity), and a new graphics card. In addition to this standard configuration, Apple offers several build-to-order models, from a single quad-core 2.8GHz machine to dual quad-core Mac Pros with 3GHz and 3.2 GHz processors.

	Reviewed	Full Review

If you simply want the fastest Mac you��ve ever used, the base-model Mac Pro Eight-Core 2.8GHz won��t disappoint. If you��re a content-creating professional who needs your video, audio, and or imaging workstation to fulfill its true potential, you may also opt to spend the extra cash to upgrade your new Mac Pro��s processor speed, storage and RAM.

Pros: Dual enhanced quad-core processors; faster memory and frontside bus; doubled PCI Express specifications; faster video cards; strong storage options.

Cons: Limited storage and RAM on default model.

Basics

Reviewed Price: $2,799

Processor: 2 2.8GHz quad-core Intel Xeon 5400 processors

Information about this system on Apple's website

Price Comparison

Shop at:	Price
	$2748.49
	$2679.55
	$2699.00
	$2749.95
Apple.com	$2399.00

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Lab Tests

Speedmark 5 Score	314
Cinema 4D XL XL 10.5	0:16
iMovie HD 6	0:30
iTunes 7.5	0:47
Photoshop CS3	0:49
Compressor	0:46
Unreal Tournament 2004	100.8fps
Tested Configuration	Mac OS X 10.5.1 with 2GB of RAM

Tested Configuration	Mac OS X 10.5.1 with 2GB of RAM
Display	No built-in display
Processor	2 2.8GHz quad-core Intel Xeon 5400 processors
Cache	12MB of L2 cache per chip (6MB shared)
Frontside Bus Speed	1.6GHz per processor
Memory	2GB of DDR2 FB-DIMM ; 32GB maximum - 800MHz
Graphics Card	ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT with 256MB of GDDR3 RAM; Maximum resolution:2,560-by-1,600 pixels (digital); 2,048-by-1,536 pixels (analog); Port(s):2 dual-link DVI ports
Hard Drive	320GB Serial ATA, 7,200 rpm
Optical Drive	16X SuperDrive (DVD��R DL/DVD��RW/CD-RW)
Ethernet	10/100/1000BASE-T (x2)
Wireless	AirPort Extreme slot Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR built-in
Peripheral Ports	Firewire: 2 FW 800 and 2 FW 400 ports; USB: 5 USB 2.0 ports
Audio	Inputs: Optical (Toslink), analog;Outputs: Optical (Toslink), analog, headphone, speaker
Expansion Slots	1 PCI Express 2.0x16 and 2 PCI Express x4 slots; 4 direct-attach hard drive bays with built-in independent 3Gb/s Serial ATA channels
Dimensions	8.1 x 20.1 x 18.7 inches
Weight	42.4 pounds