Apple Revives Xserve Line with M8 Ultra Chips and Nvidia Tech
Apple is reportedly considering a return to the server market it left when it abandoned Xserve, but this time incorporating the future M8 Ultra chip, fully integrated with NVLink Fusion technology.
The rumored product line would include two main configurations: one featuring two M8 Ultra chips and another using four of the still-unreleased processors. Apple is said to be considering using NVLink Fusion, a high-bandwidth, low-latency connective technology that allows companies to plug chips and AI accelerators directly into Nvidia's advanced data center infrastructure.
According to The Information, plans are to sell to 'AI developers, other businesses and governments,' with the latter two being the main target of the original XServe hardware. New CEO John Ternus is said to have been a backer of the project, which would require sourcing expensive components in epic quantities.
The report also touches on Apple's relationship with Nvidia, which has been strained in the past due to defective solders, poor performance, and allegations of trade secret theft. However, it appears that there may be a thawing now, as Dion Harris, Nvidia's senior director of high-performance computing and AI infrastructure, stated: 'Apple has always been a great customer and partner of ours.'