Power Mac G4
Encyclopedia
The Power Mac G4 was a series of personal computer
s that was designed, manufactured, and sold by Apple between 1999 and 2004. They used the PowerPC G4
(PPC74xx) series of microprocessor
s. They were heralded by Apple
to be the first personal supercomputers, reaching speeds of 4 to 20 Gigaflops. It was both the last Macintosh to boot natively into Classic Mac OS and the first to boot exclusively into Mac OS X
.
The early (later ) PCI-based version used a motherboard
identical to the one used in Power Macintosh G3 (Blue & White)
computers (minus the ADB
port), in a "graphite" colored case and with the new Motorola
PowerPC
7400 (G4) CPU. The higher-speed models, code name "Sawtooth", used a greatly modified motherboard design with AGP
2x graphics (replacing the PCI slot). In December 1999, the entire Power Mac G4 line was updated to the AGP motherboard.
The machines featured DVD-ROM drives as standard. The and versions had Zip drive
s as standard equipment, and as an option on the Sawtooth. This series had a system bus
and four PC100
SDRAM
slots for up to of RAM
( under Mac OS 9
). The AGP Power Macs were the first to include an AirPort
slot and DVI
video port.
The version was reintroduced on February 16, 2000, accompanied by and models. DVD-RAM
and Zip drives featured on these later and versions and were an option on the 400 MHz.
Apple's marketing name for all these early AGP models is Power Mac AGP Graphics. The code name Sawtooth was used internally before release and became the popular designation among enthusiasts.
The design was updated at the Macworld Expo New York
on July 19, 2000; the new revision included dual-processor and versions, and a low-end single CPU model. It was also the first personal computer
to include gigabit Ethernet
as standard. Most people saw this revision as a stopgap release, because higher clocked G4s were not available; the G4’s Motorola XPC107 “Grackle” PCI/Memory controller prevented the G4 from hitting speeds higher than . The dual models featured DVD-RAM optical drive. Zip drives were optional on all models. These models also introduced Apple's proprietary Apple Display Connector
video port.
Apple's marketing name for this series is the Power Mac Gigabit Ethernet. The code name was Mystic.
had added a seventh pipeline stage in the new PowerPC G4
design to achieve faster clock frequencies. New features included a fourth PCI slot, a 133 MHz system bus, an improved 4X AGP slot, and a new "digital audio" sound system, giving the series its name "Power Mac Digital Audio". The models were offered in 466 MHz, 533 MHz, dual 533 MHz, 667 MHz and 733 MHz configurations, the latter two using a newer PowerPC 7450 processor. The number of RAM slots were reduced to three, accommodating up to 1.5 GiB
of PC133
SDRAM
.
The 733 MHz model was the first personal computer
to include a built-in DVD-R
or Apple-branded SuperDrive
, the rest of the line became the first Macs to ship with CD-RW
drives. This was also the first series of Macs to include an nVidia
graphics card, the venerable GeForce
2MX.
At Macworld Expo New York
on July 18, 2001, a new line debuted featuring a cosmetically redesigned case known as "Quicksilver", but only minor technical changes. It was available in 733 MHz, 867 MHz and dual 800 MHz configurations. The 733 MHz model was notable for not having a level three cache
.
The design was updated on January 28, 2002 with 800 MHz, 933 MHz and dual 1 GHz configurations, becoming the first Mac to reach 1 GHz. Again, the low end 800 MHz model did not include any level three cache
. The graphics in this series were provided by an nVidia GeForce4
MX card. Some of these models have ATA controllers with 48 bit LBA
for hard drives larger than 128 GB. This later series is commonly known as Quicksilver 2002.
-derived DDR motherboard architecture and a new case design, known as "Mirrored Drive Doors" (MDD). All models were available in dual processor configurations running at 867 MHz, 1 GHz or 1.25 GHz. As with the Xserves, the PowerPC
7455 CPU used does not have a DDR frontside bus, meaning the CPU could only use at most 50% of the new system's theoretical memory bandwidth, providing no improvement over previous models. The rest was available to the graphics card and I/O
systems. A dual processor 1.25 GHz model would be the last Power Mac G4 the company offered to the public after the announcement of the new Power Mac G5, introduced in June 2003.
A limited range of serial numbers of this model was noted for a noisy fan, earning them the unofficial designation "Windtunnel
G4" in some circles. Noise complaints became such a problem that Apple later replaced the machine's power supply
(PSU) and primary cooling fan
with quieter versions, and initiated a voluntary do-it-yourself (DIY) replacement scheme for all previously sold machines. A very common issue in the MDD models was a failing PSU. At least some MDD models also have a design flaw resulting in noise in the audio-out, picking up interference from the mouse, graphics card, hard drive and other hardware. According to Apple, this is a ground loop
issue, and only occurs when used with professional balanced signal
audio equipment, however some audio experts have contended it is due to shielding defects on the motherboard and affects all equipment.
The last real update to the Power Mac G4 line was on January 28, 2003 offering dual 1.42 GHz PowerPC 7455 processors, with features not seen in previous DDR models: built-in FireWire 800 connector, optional integrated Bluetooth
, and optional integrated AirPort Extreme. These were also the first Power Macs that could not boot into Mac OS 9
.
With the launch of the Power Mac G5
on June 23, 2003, Apple quietly re-introduced the August 2002 Power Mac G4 because of perceived demand for Mac OS 9 machines. Between that, its low price-tag, and the delayed availability of Power Mac G5s, it proved a strong seller for a relatively short time. Production stopped on June 9, 2004 and the remaining inventory was liquidated.
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
s that was designed, manufactured, and sold by Apple between 1999 and 2004. They used the PowerPC G4
PowerPC G4
PowerPC G4 is a designation used by Apple Computer to describe a fourth generation of 32-bit PowerPC microprocessors. Apple has applied this name to various processor models from Freescale, a former part of Motorola....
(PPC74xx) series of microprocessor
Microprocessor
A microprocessor incorporates the functions of a computer's central processing unit on a single integrated circuit, or at most a few integrated circuits. It is a multipurpose, programmable device that accepts digital data as input, processes it according to instructions stored in its memory, and...
s. They were heralded by Apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
to be the first personal supercomputers, reaching speeds of 4 to 20 Gigaflops. It was both the last Macintosh to boot natively into Classic Mac OS and the first to boot exclusively into Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
.
Original models
The original Apple Power Mac G4, code name "Yikes!", was introduced at the Seybold conference in San Francisco on August 31, 1999, with , and configurations available. In October 1999, Apple was forced to postpone the because of poor yield of the chips. In response, Apple “speed dumped” the processor speed in each configuration by but caused some controversy by not decreasing the price of the machines.The early (later ) PCI-based version used a motherboard
Motherboard
In personal computers, a motherboard is the central printed circuit board in many modern computers and holds many of the crucial components of the system, providing connectors for other peripherals. The motherboard is sometimes alternatively known as the mainboard, system board, or, on Apple...
identical to the one used in Power Macintosh G3 (Blue & White)
Power Macintosh G3 (Blue & White)
The Power Macintosh G3 series was a series of personal computers designed, manufactured and sold by Apple Computer Inc. as part of their Power Macintosh line...
computers (minus the ADB
Apple Desktop Bus
Apple Desktop Bus is an obsolete bit-serial computer bus connecting low-speed devices to computers. Used primarily on the Macintosh platform, ADB equipment is still available but not supported by most Apple hardware manufactured since 1999....
port), in a "graphite" colored case and with the new Motorola
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...
PowerPC
PowerPC
PowerPC is a RISC architecture created by the 1991 Apple–IBM–Motorola alliance, known as AIM...
7400 (G4) CPU. The higher-speed models, code name "Sawtooth", used a greatly modified motherboard design with AGP
Accelerated Graphics Port
The Accelerated Graphics Port is a high-speed point-to-point channel for attaching a video card to a computer's motherboard, primarily to assist in the acceleration of 3D computer graphics. Since 2004 AGP has been progressively phased out in favor of PCI Express...
2x graphics (replacing the PCI slot). In December 1999, the entire Power Mac G4 line was updated to the AGP motherboard.
The machines featured DVD-ROM drives as standard. The and versions had Zip drive
Zip drive
The Zip drive is a medium-capacity removable disk storage system that was introduced by Iomega in late 1994. Originally, Zip disks launched with capacities of 100 MB, but later versions increased this to first 250 MB and then 750 MB....
s as standard equipment, and as an option on the Sawtooth. This series had a system bus
System bus
A system bus is a single computer bus that connects the major components of a computer system. The technique was developed to reduce costs and improve modularity....
and four PC100
PC100
PC100 is a standard for internal removable computer random access memory, defined by the JEDEC. PC100 refers to Synchronous DRAM operating at a clock frequency of 100 MHz, on a 64-bit-wide bus, at a voltage of 3.3 V. PC100 is available in 168-pin DIMM and 144-pin SO-DIMM form factors...
SDRAM
SDRAM
Synchronous dynamic random access memory is dynamic random access memory that is synchronized with the system bus. Classic DRAM has an asynchronous interface, which means that it responds as quickly as possible to changes in control inputs...
slots for up to of RAM
Ram
-Animals:*Ram, an uncastrated male sheep*Ram cichlid, a species of freshwater fish endemic to Colombia and Venezuela-Military:*Battering ram*Ramming, a military tactic in which one vehicle runs into another...
( under Mac OS 9
Mac OS 9
Mac OS 9 is the final major release of Apple's Mac OS before the launch of Mac OS X. Introduced on October 23, 1999, Apple positioned it as "The Best Internet Operating System Ever," highlighting Sherlock 2's Internet search capabilities, integration with Apple's free online services known as...
). The AGP Power Macs were the first to include an AirPort
AirPort
AirPort and AirPort Extreme are local area wireless networking products from Apple Inc. based on the IEEE 802.11 standard ....
slot and DVI
Digital Visual Interface
The Digital Visual Interface is a video interface standard covering the transmission of video between a source device and a display device. The DVI standard has achieved widespread acceptance in the PC industry, both in desktop PCs and monitors...
video port.
The version was reintroduced on February 16, 2000, accompanied by and models. DVD-RAM
DVD-RAM
DVD-RAM is a disc specification presented in 1996 by the DVD Forum, which specifies rewritable DVD-RAM media and the appropriate DVD writers. DVD-RAM media have been used in computers as well as camcorders and personal video recorders since 1998.-Design:DVD-RAM is one of three competing...
and Zip drives featured on these later and versions and were an option on the 400 MHz.
Apple's marketing name for all these early AGP models is Power Mac AGP Graphics. The code name Sawtooth was used internally before release and became the popular designation among enthusiasts.
The design was updated at the Macworld Expo New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on July 19, 2000; the new revision included dual-processor and versions, and a low-end single CPU model. It was also the first personal computer
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
to include gigabit Ethernet
Gigabit Ethernet
Gigabit Ethernet is a term describing various technologies for transmitting Ethernet frames at a rate of a gigabit per second , as defined by the IEEE 802.3-2008 standard. It came into use beginning in 1999, gradually supplanting Fast Ethernet in wired local networks where it performed...
as standard. Most people saw this revision as a stopgap release, because higher clocked G4s were not available; the G4’s Motorola XPC107 “Grackle” PCI/Memory controller prevented the G4 from hitting speeds higher than . The dual models featured DVD-RAM optical drive. Zip drives were optional on all models. These models also introduced Apple's proprietary Apple Display Connector
Apple Display Connector
The Apple Display Connector is a proprietary modification of the DVI connector that combines analog and digital video signals, USB, and power all in one cable...
video port.
Apple's marketing name for this series is the Power Mac Gigabit Ethernet. The code name was Mystic.
| Component | Power Mac G4 (PCI Graphics) | Power Mac G4 (AGP Graphics) | Power Mac G4 (Gigabit Ethernet) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Codename | "Yikes!" | "Sawtooth, P5, Project E" | "Mystic, Medusa2, SnakeBite" |
| Processor Central processing unit The central processing unit is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. The CPU plays a role somewhat analogous to the brain in the computer. The term has been in... |
350 or 400 MHz PowerPC G4 (7400) | 350, 400, 450, or 500 MHz PowerPC G4 (7400) | 400, Dual 450, or Dual 500 MHz PowerPC G4 (7400) |
| Cache Cache In computer engineering, a cache is a component that transparently stores data so that future requests for that data can be served faster. The data that is stored within a cache might be values that have been computed earlier or duplicates of original values that are stored elsewhere... |
64 KB L1, 512 KB or 1 MB backside L2 Cache per CPU (1:2) | ||
| Graphics Card Computer graphics Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware.... |
ATI Rage 128 with 16MB of VRAM 66 MHz PCI Slot |
ATI Rage 128 or ATI Rage 128 Pro with 16MB of VRAM AGP 2x |
ATI Rage 128 Pro with 16MB VRAM or ATI Radeon with 32MB of VRAM AGP 2x. ADC Monitor support |
| Front side bus Front side bus A front-side bus is a computer communication interface often used in computers during the 1990s and 2000s.It typically carries data between the central processing unit and a memory controller hub, known as the northbridge.... |
100 MHz | ||
| Memory | 64, 128, or 256 MB PC100 SDRAM SDRAM Synchronous dynamic random access memory is dynamic random access memory that is synchronized with the system bus. Classic DRAM has an asynchronous interface, which means that it responds as quickly as possible to changes in control inputs... Expandable to 1 GB |
64, 128, or 256 MB PC100 SDRAM SDRAM Synchronous dynamic random access memory is dynamic random access memory that is synchronized with the system bus. Classic DRAM has an asynchronous interface, which means that it responds as quickly as possible to changes in control inputs... Expandable to 2 GB under Mac OS X. Only 1.5 GB is seen under Mac OS 9 |
|
| Hard drive | 10 GB Up to 128 GB |
10 GB 5400-rpm, 10, 20, or 27 GB 7200-rpm Up to 128 GB (10.4.11 and newer support more 128 Gb with special software) |
20 GB 5400-rpm, 30, or 40 GB 7200-rpm Up to 128 GB (10.4.11 and newer support more 128 Gb with special software) |
| AirPort Card AirPort AirPort and AirPort Extreme are local area wireless networking products from Apple Inc. based on the IEEE 802.11 standard .... |
N/A | 802.11b | |
| Optical drive | CD-ROM | 32x CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or DVD-RAM | DVD-ROM or DVD-RAM |
| Expansion | 4 internal 3.5" ATA drive bays, 1 optical drive bay, 1 Zip 100 bay, 3 - 33 MHz and 1 - 66 MHz PCI Slots | 4 internal 3.5" ATA drive bays, 1 optical drive bay, 1 Zip 100/250 bay, 3 - 64-bit 33 MHz PCI Slots, 1 AGP 2x Slot | |
| Standard Features | 2 Built-in USB 1.1 and 2 Firewire 400 ports, Built-in mono speaker, audio input, audio output, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, Built-in modem | 2 Built-in USB 1.1 and 3 Firewire 400 ports (1 internal), Built-in mono speaker, Audio Input, Audio Output, Built-in modem, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, Optional Airport Card | 2 Built-in USB 1.1 and 2 Firewire 400 ports, Built-in mono speaker, audio input, audio output, Built-in modem, 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet, Optional Airport Card |
| Maximum Operating System | Mac OS X 10.4.11 Mac OS X v10.4 Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger is the fifth major release of Mac OS X, Apple's desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers. Tiger was released to the public on 29 April 2005 for US$129.95 as the successor to Mac OS X Panther , which had been released 18 months earlier... "Tiger" and Mac OS 9.2.2 |
Mac OS X 10.4.11 Mac OS X v10.4 Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger is the fifth major release of Mac OS X, Apple's desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers. Tiger was released to the public on 29 April 2005 for US$129.95 as the successor to Mac OS X Panther , which had been released 18 months earlier... "Tiger" and Mac OS 9.2.2 Unofficially can support Mac OS X v10.5 Mac OS X v10.5 Mac OS X Leopard is the sixth major release of Mac OS X, Apple's desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers. Leopard was released on 26 October 2007 as the successor of Tiger , and is available in two variants: a desktop version suitable for personal computers, and a... "Leopard" with LeopardAssist |
|
| Weight | 13 kgs (28.7 pounds Pound (mass) The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement... ) |
13.6 kgs (30 pounds Pound (mass) The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement... ) |
|
Four-slot models
A new line with a revamped motherboard but the familiar "Graphite" case debuted on January 9, 2001. It was essentially a future Quicksilver inside an older case. MotorolaMotorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...
had added a seventh pipeline stage in the new PowerPC G4
PowerPC G4
PowerPC G4 is a designation used by Apple Computer to describe a fourth generation of 32-bit PowerPC microprocessors. Apple has applied this name to various processor models from Freescale, a former part of Motorola....
design to achieve faster clock frequencies. New features included a fourth PCI slot, a 133 MHz system bus, an improved 4X AGP slot, and a new "digital audio" sound system, giving the series its name "Power Mac Digital Audio". The models were offered in 466 MHz, 533 MHz, dual 533 MHz, 667 MHz and 733 MHz configurations, the latter two using a newer PowerPC 7450 processor. The number of RAM slots were reduced to three, accommodating up to 1.5 GiB
Gib
Gib may refer to:* A castrated male cat or ferret* Gibibit , measurement unit of digitally stored computer information* Gibraltar, British overseas territory* Drywall, construction material...
of PC133
PC133
PC133 is a computer memory standard defined by the JEDEC. PC133 refers to Synchronous DRAM operating at a clock frequency of 133 MHz, on a 64-bit-wide bus, at a voltage of 3.3 V. PC133 is available in 168 pin DIMM and 144 pin SO-DIMM form factors...
SDRAM
SDRAM
Synchronous dynamic random access memory is dynamic random access memory that is synchronized with the system bus. Classic DRAM has an asynchronous interface, which means that it responds as quickly as possible to changes in control inputs...
.
The 733 MHz model was the first personal computer
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
to include a built-in DVD-R
DVD-R
DVD-R is a DVD recordable format. A DVD-R typically has a storage capacity of 4.71 GB. Pioneer has also developed an 8.5 GB dual layer version, DVD-R DL, which appeared on the market in 2005....
or Apple-branded SuperDrive
SuperDrive
SuperDrive is a trademark used by Apple Inc. for two different storage drives: from 1988–99 to refer to a high-density floppy disk drive capable of reading all major 3.5" disk formats; and from 2001 onwards to refer to a combined CD/DVD reader/writer....
, the rest of the line became the first Macs to ship with CD-RW
CD-RW
A CD-RW is a rewritable optical disc. It was introduced in 1997, and was known as "CD-Writable" during development. It was preceded by the CD-MO, which was never commercially released....
drives. This was also the first series of Macs to include an nVidia
NVIDIA
Nvidia is an American global technology company based in Santa Clara, California. Nvidia is best known for its graphics processors . Nvidia and chief rival AMD Graphics Techonologies have dominated the high performance GPU market, pushing other manufacturers to smaller, niche roles...
graphics card, the venerable GeForce
GeForce
GeForce is a brand of graphics processing units designed by Nvidia. , there have been eleven iterations of the design. The first GeForce products were discrete GPUs designed for use on add-on graphics boards, intended for the high-margin PC gaming market...
2MX.
At Macworld Expo New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on July 18, 2001, a new line debuted featuring a cosmetically redesigned case known as "Quicksilver", but only minor technical changes. It was available in 733 MHz, 867 MHz and dual 800 MHz configurations. The 733 MHz model was notable for not having a level three cache
Cache
In computer engineering, a cache is a component that transparently stores data so that future requests for that data can be served faster. The data that is stored within a cache might be values that have been computed earlier or duplicates of original values that are stored elsewhere...
.
The design was updated on January 28, 2002 with 800 MHz, 933 MHz and dual 1 GHz configurations, becoming the first Mac to reach 1 GHz. Again, the low end 800 MHz model did not include any level three cache
Cache
In computer engineering, a cache is a component that transparently stores data so that future requests for that data can be served faster. The data that is stored within a cache might be values that have been computed earlier or duplicates of original values that are stored elsewhere...
. The graphics in this series were provided by an nVidia GeForce4
GeForce4
The GeForce4 refers to the fourth-generation of GeForce-branded graphics processing units manufactured by Nvidia. There are two different GeForce4 families, the high-performance Ti family, and the budget MX family. The MX family spawned a mostly identical GeForce4 Go family for the laptop market...
MX card. Some of these models have ATA controllers with 48 bit LBA
Logical block addressing
Logical block addressing is a common scheme used for specifying the location of blocks of data stored on computer storage devices, generally secondary storage systems such as hard disks....
for hard drives larger than 128 GB. This later series is commonly known as Quicksilver 2002.
| Component | Power Mac G4 (Digital Audio) | Power Mac G4 (QuickSilver) | Power Mac G4 (QuickSilver 2002) | Power Mac G4 (QuickSilver 2002ED) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Codename | "Tangent, Clockwork" | "Titan, Nichrome" | N/A | N/A |
| Processor Central processing unit The central processing unit is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. The CPU plays a role somewhat analogous to the brain in the computer. The term has been in... |
466, 533, Dual 533, 667, or 733 MHz PowerPC G4 (7400/7410/7450) | 733, 867, or Dual 800 MHz PowerPC G4 (7450) | 733 (education only), 800, 933 MHz, or Dual 1.0 GHz PowerPC G4 (7450/7455) | 867 MHz PowerPC G4 (7455) |
| Cache Cache In computer engineering, a cache is a component that transparently stores data so that future requests for that data can be served faster. The data that is stored within a cache might be values that have been computed earlier or duplicates of original values that are stored elsewhere... |
64 KB L1, 256 KB (1:1) or 1 MB (1:2) L2, 1 MB L3 (733 MHz) | 64 KB L1, 256 KB (1:1) L2, 2 MB L3 (867/Dual 800 MHz) | 64 KB L1, 256 Kb (1:1) L2, 2 MB DDR L3 (933/Dual 1.0 GHz) | 64 KB L1, 256 Kb (1:1) L2 |
| Graphics Computer graphics Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware.... |
ATI Rage 128 Pro with 16 MB VRAM, ATI Radeon or nVidia GeForce2 MX with 32 MB VRAM, GeForce3 with 64 MB VRAM | nVidia GeForce2 MX with 32 MB VRAM, Geforce2 MX with TwinView or Geforce3 with 64 MB VRAM | ATI Radeon 7500 with 32 Mb VRAM, nVidia GeForce4 MX with 64 MB VRAM or GeForce4 Ti with 128 MB VRAM | nVidia GeForce4 MX with 32 MB VRAM |
| Front side bus Front side bus A front-side bus is a computer communication interface often used in computers during the 1990s and 2000s.It typically carries data between the central processing unit and a memory controller hub, known as the northbridge.... |
133 MHz | |||
| Memory | 128, 256, or 512 MB of PC133 SDRAM SDRAM Synchronous dynamic random access memory is dynamic random access memory that is synchronized with the system bus. Classic DRAM has an asynchronous interface, which means that it responds as quickly as possible to changes in control inputs... Expandable to 1.5 GB |
|||
| Hard drive | 30GB 5400-rpm, 40GB or 60GB 7200-rpm Up to 128 GB |
40GB 5400-rpm, 60GB or 80GB 7200-rpm Up to 128 GB |
40GB, 60GB or 80GB 7200-rpm Supports Hard Drives larger than 128GB |
40GB 7200-rpm Supports Hard Drives larger than 128GB |
| AirPort AirPort AirPort and AirPort Extreme are local area wireless networking products from Apple Inc. based on the IEEE 802.11 standard .... |
802.11b Card | |||
| Optical drive | DVD-ROM, 8x4x32x CD-RW, or 2x/6x/8x/4x/24x DVD-R/CD-RW SuperDrive. Optional Zip 250 drive | 12x10x32x CD-RW, or 8x/8x/8x/32x DVD/CD-RW, or 2x/4x/8x/4x/24x SuperDrive | 24x10x32x CD-RW, or 8x/12x/8x/32x DVD/CD-RW, or 2x/6x/8x/4x/24x DVD/CD-RW (2x SuperDrive) | 24x10x32x CD-RW |
| Expansion | 4 - internal 3.5" ATA drive bays, 1 - optical drive bay, 1 - Zip 250 bay, 4 - 64-bit 33 MHz PCI Slots, 1 - 4x AGP Slot | |||
| Standard Features | 2 Built-in USB 1.1 and 2 Firewire 400 ports, Built-in mono speaker, audio in, audio out, Apple Pro Speaker minijack, 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet, Built-in modem | |||
| Maximum Operating System | Mac OS X 10.4.11 “Tiger” and Mac OS 9.2.2 Unofficially, these models can run Mac OS X 10.5 “Leopard” |
Mac OS X 10.4.11 “Tiger” and Mac OS 9.2.2 on 733 and Dual 800 MHz. Mac OS X 10.5 “Leopard” on 867 MHz Unofficially, 733 and Dual 800 MHz models can run Mac OS X 10.5 “Leopard” |
Mac OS X 10.4 “Tiger” and Mac OS 9.2.2 on 733 and 800 MHz. Mac OS X 10.5 “Leopard” on 933 MHz and Dual 1.0 GHz Unofficially, 733 and 800 MHz models can run Mac OS X 10.5 “Leopard” |
Mac OS X 10.5 “Leopard” |
| Weight | 13.6 kgs (30 Pounds) | |||
DDR models
Another generation of Apple Power Mac G4s were introduced on August 13, 2002, featuring both a new XserveXserve
Xserve was a line of rack unit computers designed by Apple Inc. for use as servers. When the Xserve was introduced in 2002, it was Apple's first designated server hardware design since the Apple Network Server in 1996...
-derived DDR motherboard architecture and a new case design, known as "Mirrored Drive Doors" (MDD). All models were available in dual processor configurations running at 867 MHz, 1 GHz or 1.25 GHz. As with the Xserves, the PowerPC
PowerPC
PowerPC is a RISC architecture created by the 1991 Apple–IBM–Motorola alliance, known as AIM...
7455 CPU used does not have a DDR frontside bus, meaning the CPU could only use at most 50% of the new system's theoretical memory bandwidth, providing no improvement over previous models. The rest was available to the graphics card and I/O
Input/output
In computing, input/output, or I/O, refers to the communication between an information processing system , and the outside world, possibly a human, or another information processing system. Inputs are the signals or data received by the system, and outputs are the signals or data sent from it...
systems. A dual processor 1.25 GHz model would be the last Power Mac G4 the company offered to the public after the announcement of the new Power Mac G5, introduced in June 2003.
A limited range of serial numbers of this model was noted for a noisy fan, earning them the unofficial designation "Windtunnel
Wind tunnel
A wind tunnel is a research tool used in aerodynamic research to study the effects of air moving past solid objects.-Theory of operation:Wind tunnels were first proposed as a means of studying vehicles in free flight...
G4" in some circles. Noise complaints became such a problem that Apple later replaced the machine's power supply
Power supply
A power supply is a device that supplies electrical energy to one or more electric loads. The term is most commonly applied to devices that convert one form of electrical energy to another, though it may also refer to devices that convert another form of energy to electrical energy...
(PSU) and primary cooling fan
Fan (implement)
A hand-held fan is an implement used to induce an airflow for the purpose of cooling or refreshing oneself. Any broad, flat surface waved back-and-forth will create a small airflow and therefore can be considered a rudimentary fan...
with quieter versions, and initiated a voluntary do-it-yourself (DIY) replacement scheme for all previously sold machines. A very common issue in the MDD models was a failing PSU. At least some MDD models also have a design flaw resulting in noise in the audio-out, picking up interference from the mouse, graphics card, hard drive and other hardware. According to Apple, this is a ground loop
Ground loop (electricity)
In an electrical system, a ground loop usually refers to a current, almost always unwanted, in a conductor connecting two points that are supposed to be at the same potential, often ground, but are actually at different potentials. Ground loops created by improperly designed or improperly installed...
issue, and only occurs when used with professional balanced signal
Balanced audio
Balanced audio is a method of interconnecting audio equipment using impedance-balanced lines. This type of connection is very important in sound recording and production because it allows for the use of long cables while reducing susceptibility to external noise.Balanced connections use...
audio equipment, however some audio experts have contended it is due to shielding defects on the motherboard and affects all equipment.
The last real update to the Power Mac G4 line was on January 28, 2003 offering dual 1.42 GHz PowerPC 7455 processors, with features not seen in previous DDR models: built-in FireWire 800 connector, optional integrated Bluetooth
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks with high levels of security...
, and optional integrated AirPort Extreme. These were also the first Power Macs that could not boot into Mac OS 9
Mac OS 9
Mac OS 9 is the final major release of Apple's Mac OS before the launch of Mac OS X. Introduced on October 23, 1999, Apple positioned it as "The Best Internet Operating System Ever," highlighting Sherlock 2's Internet search capabilities, integration with Apple's free online services known as...
.
With the launch of the Power Mac G5
Power Mac G5
The Power Mac G5 is Apple's marketing name for models of the Power Macintosh that contains the IBM PowerPC G5 CPU. The professional-grade computer was the most powerful in Apple's lineup when it was introduced, widely hailed as the first 64-bit PC, and was touted by Apple as the fastest personal...
on June 23, 2003, Apple quietly re-introduced the August 2002 Power Mac G4 because of perceived demand for Mac OS 9 machines. Between that, its low price-tag, and the delayed availability of Power Mac G5s, it proved a strong seller for a relatively short time. Production stopped on June 9, 2004 and the remaining inventory was liquidated.
| Component | Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors) | Power Mac G4 (FW 800) | Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors 2003) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Codename | "P57" | "P58" | N/A |
| Model Number | M8570 | M8570 | M9145, M9309 |
| Processor Central processing unit The central processing unit is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. The CPU plays a role somewhat analogous to the brain in the computer. The term has been in... |
Dual 867 MHz, Dual 1.0, or Dual 1.25 GHz PowerPC G4 (7455) | 1.0, Dual 1.25, or Dual 1.42 GHz PowerPC G4 (7455) | 1.25 GHz PowerPC G4 (7455/7455B) |
| Cache Cache In computer engineering, a cache is a component that transparently stores data so that future requests for that data can be served faster. The data that is stored within a cache might be values that have been computed earlier or duplicates of original values that are stored elsewhere... |
64 KB L1, 256 KB L2, 1 MB or 2 MB DDR L3 | ||
| Graphics Card Computer graphics Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware.... |
nVidia GeForce4 MX with 32 MB VRAM, ATI Radeon 9000 Pro with 64 MB VRAM, or GeForce4 Ti with 128 MB VRAM | nVidia GeForce4 MX or ATI Radeon 9000 Pro with 64 Mb VRAM, GeForce4 Ti or Radeon 9700 Pro with 128 MB VRAM | ATI Radeon 9000 Pro with 64 MB VRAM or nVidia GeForce4 Ti 128 MB |
| Front side bus Front side bus A front-side bus is a computer communication interface often used in computers during the 1990s and 2000s.It typically carries data between the central processing unit and a memory controller hub, known as the northbridge.... |
133 MHz (Dual 867 MHz) or 167 MHz (Dual 1.0 GHz+) | 133 MHz (1.0 GHz) or 167 MHz (Dual 1.25 GHz+) | 167 MHz |
| Memory | 256, 512 MB PC-2100 (dual 867), or PC-2700 (dual 1+) DDR SDRAM Expandable to 2 GB |
256, 512 MB PC-2100 (1.0 GHz), or PC-2700 (dual 1.25+) DDR SDRAM Expandable to 2 GB |
256, 512 MB PC-2700 DDR SDRAM Expandable to 2 GB |
| Hard drive | 60, 80, or 120 GB 7200-rpm Supports Hard Drives larger than 128 GB |
80 or 160 GB 7200-rpm | |
| AirPort Card AirPort AirPort and AirPort Extreme are local area wireless networking products from Apple Inc. based on the IEEE 802.11 standard .... |
802.11b | AirPort Extreme 802.11b/g | 802.11b |
| Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth is a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks with high levels of security... |
N/A | Bluetooth 1.1 | N/A |
| Optical drive | 8x/16x/10x/32x DVD/CD-RW or 2x/6x/8x/4x/24x DVD-R/CD-RW (2x SuperDrive) | 12x/32x/10x/32x DVD/CD-RW or 4x/8x/16x/8x/32x DVD-R/CD-RW (4x SuperDrive) | 12x/32x/10x/32x DVD/CD-RW |
| Expansion | 4 - internal 3.5" ATA drive bays (2 - ATA/100, 2 - ATA/66), 2 - optical drive bays, 4 - 64-bit 33 MHz PCI Slots, 1 - 4x AGP Slot | ||
| Standard Features | 2 Built-in USB 1.1 and 2 Firewire 400 ports, Built-in mono speaker, Audio input, Audio output, Apple Pro Speakers minijack, 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet, Built-in modem, Optional Airport Card | 2 Built-in USB 1.1, 2 Firewire 400 ports, 1 Firewire 800 port, Built-in mono speaker, Audio Input, Audio Output, Apple Pro Speakers minijack, 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet, Built-modem, Optional Airport Extreme Card, Optional Bluetooth | 2 Built-in USB 1.1 and 2 Firewire 400 ports, Built-in mono speaker, Audio input, Audio output, Apple Pro Speakers minijack, 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet, Built-in modem, Optional Airport Card |
| Maximum Operating System | Mac OS X 10.4.11 Mac OS X v10.4 Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger is the fifth major release of Mac OS X, Apple's desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers. Tiger was released to the public on 29 April 2005 for US$129.95 as the successor to Mac OS X Panther , which had been released 18 months earlier... "Tiger" and Mac OS 9.2.2 Mac OS X v10.5 Mac OS X v10.5 Mac OS X Leopard is the sixth major release of Mac OS X, Apple's desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers. Leopard was released on 26 October 2007 as the successor of Tiger , and is available in two variants: a desktop version suitable for personal computers, and a... "Leopard" |
Mac OS X v10.5 Mac OS X v10.5 Mac OS X Leopard is the sixth major release of Mac OS X, Apple's desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers. Leopard was released on 26 October 2007 as the successor of Tiger , and is available in two variants: a desktop version suitable for personal computers, and a... "Leopard" No Mac OS 9 support |
Mac OS X 10.4.11 Mac OS X v10.4 Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger is the fifth major release of Mac OS X, Apple's desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers. Tiger was released to the public on 29 April 2005 for US$129.95 as the successor to Mac OS X Panther , which had been released 18 months earlier... "Tiger" and Mac OS 9.2.2 Mac OS X v10.5 Mac OS X v10.5 Mac OS X Leopard is the sixth major release of Mac OS X, Apple's desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers. Leopard was released on 26 October 2007 as the successor of Tiger , and is available in two variants: a desktop version suitable for personal computers, and a... "Leopard" |
| Weight | 19.1 kgs (42 Pounds Pound (mass) The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement... ) |
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