Apple Plans 2029 Server Comeback with Nvidia Chips — SkimNews
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- Apple is planning a return to the server market it abandoned when it retired the Xserve line in 2011, and may partner with Nvidia for the effort, according to The Information.
- The server product will likely run on two or four M8 Ultra chips depending on the model; Apple only just announced the M6 chip in August.
- Apple's servers could incorporate Nvidia's NVLink Fusion technology, which connects multiple chips so they can operate as a single system.
- A launch isn't expected until 2029, leaving the M8 chip line significant runway to develop.
- Shortages of the Mac Mini and Mac Studio — both popular with AI developers — have underscored demand Apple now wants to address with dedicated server hardware.
- Apple and Nvidia have historically had a frosty relationship, but Apple recently turned to Nvidia chips to power its revamped Siri servers.
Why it matters: Shortages of the Mac Mini and Mac Studio reveal that Apple can't keep up with AI developer demand through its existing product line, giving the company a concrete reason to re-enter enterprise hardware. A 2029 server launch with M8 Ultra chips and Nvidia's NVLink interconnect would target enterprise compute buyers, and Apple's willingness to deepen ties with a historically frosty Nvidia signals how seriously it's chasing the AI infrastructure market.
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