when 6,1 came out there was much made about how losing PCIE slots was only choice Apple had since TB required video running internally and Xeons don't offer this.
I recently aquired an X-Serve 3,1 (with newer TB compat chipset)to work on iMac cards and had an epiphany.
Apple already had a 2009 Nehalem machine that could have easily had TB. There it is, an MXM slot with video output run through the internal circuitry to an external MDP port. Would have been trivial to add to an updated 3,1 X-Serve and same design would have worked for MP.
I have even been able to put a full fat GTX980m in the X-Serve via that slot. A $100 X-Serve with better internal GPU upgrade options than 6,1.
It's what could have been. They could have offered a 6,1 box-o-slots with an MXM card handling basic video out via TB port, and still allowed upgrades via PCIE slot. People who wanted faster GPUs could have chosen PCIE cards while people who just wanted other cards and didn't need faster GPUs could get what they need.
Would have been an awesome machine, and kept everyone happy. And I imagine it even exists in prototype form somewhere behind locked doors.
Anyhow, all the "Apple had no choice due to Intel requiring internal video" was claptrap, and the evidence was released as an X-Serve.
I recently aquired an X-Serve 3,1 (with newer TB compat chipset)to work on iMac cards and had an epiphany.
Apple already had a 2009 Nehalem machine that could have easily had TB. There it is, an MXM slot with video output run through the internal circuitry to an external MDP port. Would have been trivial to add to an updated 3,1 X-Serve and same design would have worked for MP.
I have even been able to put a full fat GTX980m in the X-Serve via that slot. A $100 X-Serve with better internal GPU upgrade options than 6,1.
It's what could have been. They could have offered a 6,1 box-o-slots with an MXM card handling basic video out via TB port, and still allowed upgrades via PCIE slot. People who wanted faster GPUs could have chosen PCIE cards while people who just wanted other cards and didn't need faster GPUs could get what they need.
Would have been an awesome machine, and kept everyone happy. And I imagine it even exists in prototype form somewhere behind locked doors.
Anyhow, all the "Apple had no choice due to Intel requiring internal video" was claptrap, and the evidence was released as an X-Serve.
