Apple Power Macintosh G3 400 (Blue & White) Specs
Identifiers: Blue & White - M6665LL/A* - PowerMac1,1 - M5183 - None
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The Apple Power Macintosh G3/400 (Blue & White), based on the Yosemite architecture, features a 400 MHz PowerPC 750 (G3) processor with 1 MB of backside cache, 64 MB or 128 MB of RAM, a 9 GB Ultra2 SCSI, 6 GB Ultra ATA/33, or 12 GB Ultra ATA/33 hard drive, a 32X CD-ROM drive or a 5X DVD-ROM drive, and an ATI Rage 128 GL graphics card with 16 MB of SDRAM.
There are three modestly different configurations of this model. The first version (M6665LL/A) -- shipped on January 5, 1999 with 128 MB of RAM, a 9.0 GB Ultra2 SCSI hard drive, and a 32X CD-ROM drive for US$2999.
On June 1, 1999, the original version was discontinued and replaced by M7555LL/A -- configured with 64 MB of RAM, a 6.0 GB Ultra ATA/33 hard drive, and a 5X DVD-ROM drive for US$1999 -- and M7554LL/A -- configured with 128 MB of RAM, a 12.0 GB Ultra ATA/33 hard drive, a 32X CD-ROM drive and an internal Zip 100 drive for US$2499.
The Power Macintosh G3 (Blue & White) series unveils a dramatically different translucent "blue and white" enclosure with a "fold down door" on the side that makes the system extremely easy to upgrade. It also introduced Firewire -- a then new high speed peripheral connection standard -- and was the first "pro" system to include USB (along with an ADB port for "legacy" use). It dropped traditional Mac serial ports and onboard SCSI.
Compared to earlier Power Macintosh G3 models, the Power Macintosh G3 (Blue & White) line -- in addition to the even easier-to-upgrade case -- uses generally faster processors, a faster motherboard design with a faster system bus (100 MHz compared to 66 MHz), faster RAM (PC100 compared to PC66), and a faster hard drive standard (Ultra ATA/33 compared to IDE/ATA-2).
Despite the age of this system, site sponsor Other World Computing has RAM, hard drives, SSDs, and other upgrades available for this specific Mac while supplies last.
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| Introduction Date: |
January 5, 1999* |
Discontinued Date: |
August 31, 1999* |
| Details: |
The "Introduction Date" refers to the date a model was introduced via press release. The "Discontinued Date" refers to the date a model either was replaced by a subsequent system or production otherwise ended.
*On June 1, 1999, this system was modestly reconfigured.
Also see: All Macs introduced in 1999. |
| Processors: |
1 |
Geekbench 2: |
223 |
| Details: |
This model only is compatible with the 32-bit Geekbench 2 benchmark. These numbers reflect an average of user provided 32-bit and 64-bit results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better.
You also might be interested in reviewing all 32-bit Geekbench 2 user submissions for Macs with the PowerMac1,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models.
To dynamically compare Geekbench results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison. |
| Processor Speed: |
400 MHz |
Processor Type: |
PowerPC 750 (G3) |
| Processor Upgrade: |
ZIF Socket |
FPU: |
Integrated |
| Details: |
The Power Macintosh G3 models have the processor mounted on a ZIF socket. |
| System Bus Speed: |
100 MHz |
Cache Bus Speed: |
200 MHz |
| Details: |
This system has a 200 MHz backside bus and 1 MB of level 2 cache. |
| ROM/Firmware Type: |
Open Firmware |
ROM/Firmware Size: |
1 MB |
| Details: |
Boot ROM and around 1 MB, other instructions are loaded into RAM (NewWorld). |
| L1 Cache: |
64k |
L2/L3 Cache: |
1 MB (backside) |
| Details: |
The 1 MB of backside cache has a 200 MHz bus. |
| RAM Type: |
PC100 SDRAM |
Min. RAM Speed: |
100 MHz |
| Details: |
Formally supports 100 MHz PC100 SDRAM (3.3v, unbuffered, 64-bit-wide, 168-pin). However, PC133 SDRAM is backwards compatible and may be used as well. |
| Standard RAM: |
64 MB, 128 MB* |
Maximum RAM: |
1 GB |
| Motherboard RAM: |
None |
RAM Slots: |
4 |
| Details: |
There is no performance advantage to installing memory modules in pairs. |
| Video Card: |
Rage 128 GL |
VRAM Type: |
SDRAM |
| Details: |
The ATI Rage 128 GL graphics card with 16 MB of SDRAM occupies a 66 MHz PCI slot. |
| Standard VRAM: |
16 MB |
Maximum VRAM: |
16 MB |
| Display Support: |
Single Display |
Resolution Support: |
1600x1200 |
| Details: |
Apple advertised that this system can support "up to 1600 by 1200 pixel resolution at 32 bits per pixel (millions of colors) and up to 85-Hz refresh rate." |
| 2nd Display Support: |
None |
2nd Max. Resolution: |
N/A |
| Standard Storage: |
6.0, 9.0, 12.0 GB* |
Std. Storage Speed: |
N/A |
| Details: |
*9.0 GB Ultra2 SCSI drive standard in the original M6665LL/A configuration, a 6.0 GB Ultra ATA/33 drive standard in the M7555LL/A configuration and a 12.0 GB Ultra ATA/33 drive standard in the M7554LL/A configuration.
An Ultra2 SCSI drive was standard in the M6668LL/A configuration, and available at the time of purchase as a build-to-order option.
In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells storage upgrades for this Power Mac G3.
Also see: SSD Compatibility Guide for All G3 & Later Macs. |
| Storage Dimensions: |
3.5" (25.4 mm) |
Storage Interface: |
Ultra ATA/33 (ATA-4) |
| Details: |
Onboard support for two Ultra ATA/33 hard drives or SSDs -- drives larger than 128 GB are not supported natively.. |
| Standard Optical: |
32X CD-ROM, 5X DVD* |
Standard Disk: |
None** |
| Details: |
32X CD-ROM drive standard in M6665LL/A and M7554LL/A , 5X-DVD-ROM standard in M7555LL/A. The optical drive uses a EIDE (ATA-3) bus.
**The M7554LL/A configuration shipped with an internal Zip 100 drive standard and one was available as a build-to-order option on the other configurations. |
| Standard Modem: |
56k (optional) |
Standard Ethernet: |
10/100Base-T |
| Details: |
10/100Base-T Ethernet standard, internal modem optional. |
| Standard AirPort: |
None |
Standard Bluetooth: |
None |
| USB Ports: |
2 (1.1) |
Firewire Ports: |
2 (400) |
| Details: |
USB 1.1 ports share a single channel. |
| Expansion Slots: |
3 PCI* |
Expansion Bays: |
4 3.5" |
| Details: |
*In the default configuration, this model has three open 33 MHz PCI slots and a 66 MHz PCI slot occupied by the graphics card.
It has four 3.5" drive bays (three are internal and intended for hard drives, and one is external and intended for a Zip 100 drive). With a single drive installed -- and no internal Zip drive -- two internal 3.5" bays are free as is the external 3.5" bay. The system also has an external 5.25" drive bay occupied by the optical drive. |
| Incl. Keyboard: |
Apple USB Keyboard |
Incl. Input: |
Apple USB Mouse* |
| Details: |
*This model shipped with an oft maligned "hockey puck" mouse. |
| Case Type: |
Tower |
Form Factor: |
Power Mac G3 (Blue) |
| Apple Order No: |
M6665LL/A* |
Apple Subfamily: |
Blue & White |
| Details: |
*M6665LL/A refers to the original model with 128 MB of RAM, a 9.0 GB Ultra2 SCSI hard drive, and a 32X CD-ROM drive. M7555LL/A was assigned to the second model configured with 64 MB of RAM, a 6.0 GB Ultra ATA/33 hard drive, and a 5X DVD-ROM drive. M7554LL/A was assigned to the second model configured with 128 MB of RAM, a 12.0 GB Ultra ATA/33 hard drive, a 32X CD-ROM drive and an internal Zip 100 drive. |
| Apple Model No: |
M5183 (EMC None) |
Model ID: |
PowerMac1,1 |
| Details: |
Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model.
Also see: All Macs with the M5183 Model Number, the None EMC Number, and the PowerMac1,1 Model Identifier.
For more about these identifiers and how to locate them on each Mac, please refer to EveryMac.com's Mac Identification section. |
| Battery Type: |
3.6V Lithium |
Battery Life: |
N/A |
| Pre-Installed MacOS: |
8.5.1, 8.6* |
Maximum MacOS: |
X 10.4.11 |
| Details: |
*The M7555LL/A and M7554LL/A configurations shipped with MacOS 8.6 pre-installed.
This system cannot run versions of MacOS X more recent than 10.4.11. |
| MacOS 9 Support: |
Boot/Classic Mode |
Windows Support: |
Emulation Only |
| Details: |
All Power Macintosh G3 models are capable of booting Mac OS 9 and using Mac OS 9 applications within the Mac OS X "Classic" environment. |
| Dimensions: |
17.0 x 8.9 x 18.4 |
Avg. Weight: |
30.0 lbs. (13.6 kg) |
| Details: |
In inches - height by width by depth, (43.2 cm, 22.6 cm, 46.7 cm). |
| Original Price (US): |
US$1999-US$2999* |
Est. Current Retail: |
N/A |
| Details: |
*The original configuration sold for US$2999 (M6665LL/A). The second revisions -- introduced June 1, 1999 -- sold for US$1999 (M7555LL/A) and US$2499 (M7554LL/A).
Please note that on average the estimated current retail pricing of used systems is updated twice a year (please refer to the date on the bottom of the page for the date last updated).
Photo Credit: Apple Computer. |
Ten of the most popular Q&As about the Power Macintosh G3 models follow.
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1 (VGA) 
None 
1* 
None 
None
None
2 (1.1)
2 (400)
1 (RJ-45)
None
None
None*
1
1
None
1
N/A
1
N/A