Here is a QA where he answers some of the main questions we all have in mind.
96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack
21–30 of 159 posts
Re: 96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack
#22Earlier quoted context omitted.
No idea what they do, but they had a mac mini setup in the past: https://simbimbo.wordpress.com/2012/12/07/in-production/
- These systems run 24/7 in our Build and Test environment constantly building and testing the software we produce. - Can you say who you work for? - Sorry, unfortunately no.
Build and test is cool. Doesn't need screens, though. Unless you're actually testing the graphics card, in which case you might as well use the Mac Pro.
Re: 96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack
#23Is it really simpler and more efficient to have 96 individual power bricks with custom mounting hardware rather than one (or a few) larger, high-efficiency AC to DC converters and just distributing DC within the rack?
Re: 96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack
#24How on earth do you test retina displays when inside a server a rack? What are they doing here that can't be done with Mac minis?
Re: 96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack
#25why creating something like this?
Test farm.
Re: 96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack
#26How on earth do you test retina displays when inside a server a rack? What are they doing here that can't be done with Mac minis?
"We require Mac OS X because the products we make run on OS X and we believe in testing on the same hardware our customers use, this helps produce a better product".
If the software they're testing is used mainly on Macbook Pro's, then they're wanting to test on Macbook Pro's. Things like GPU and CPU differences may make a difference to how their software performs.
Re: 96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack
#27That's an expense rack. If the average MBP cost $1500, that's a total of $144,000 in the one rack. They must have some serious reasons to create something like this.
$1500 is the entry price for 4-way xeons, and that's before you factor in the chassis, motherboard, RAM and PSUs. You can easily find 4U servers more expensive than that, the rack seems to have a 32U capacity and could fit 8 such servers.
Re: 96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack
#28Also, Mac Minis and Pros in a rack: http://photos.imgix.com/racking-mac-pros (still seems weird to me, but makes a bit more sense than racking laptops…)
Re: 96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack
#29That's an expense rack. If the average MBP cost $1500, that's a total of $144,000 in the one rack. They must have some serious reasons to create something like this.
It would make sense to try the refurbished ones. I doubt you'd get 96 of the same model, though. http://www.apple.com/shop/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/macbo... Refurbished 13.3-inch MacBook Pro 2.7GHz Dual-core Intel i5 with Retina Display $1,099.00 Save $200.00 15% off
Though in a business environment, if this is going to be used for any significant length of time, the (presumably) shorter warranty might be an issue.
Re: 96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack
#30How on earth do you test retina displays when inside a server a rack? What are they doing here that can't be done with Mac minis?
Potential reason is that they need see how their tests affect screen burn. They mention they specifically need Mac hardware so this could be why they specifically need retina screens.
Wouldn't the high temperatures void that test though? I'd have thought screen burn will differ depending on screen temperature.