Apple Power Macintosh G4 733 (Quicksilver) Specs
Identifiers: Quicksilver - M8359LL/A - PowerMac3,5 - M8493 - 1896
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The Apple Power Macintosh G4/733 (Quicksilver) features a 733 MHz PowerPC 7450 (G4) processor with the AltiVec "Velocity Engine" vector processing unit and 256k "on chip" level 2 cache. It shipped configured with 128 MB of RAM, a 40 GB Ultra ATA/66 hard drive, a 12X CD-RW drive, and a 4X AGP NVIDIA GeForce 2 MX graphics card with 32 MB of SDRAM. AirPort (802.11b) was available by custom configuration.
The Power Macintosh G4 (Quicksilver) series is quite similar to the "Digital Audio" series that it replaced, but the higher-end models -- the Power Macintosh G4/867 (Quicksilver) and Power Macintosh G4/800 DP (Quicksilver) -- have faster processors with larger level 3 caches. All models have faster, and/or more capable, optical drives.
Like earlier Power Macintosh G4 models, the Power Macintosh G4 (Quicksilver) uses the case design introduced with the Power Macintosh G3 (Blue & White) -- complete with a fold down door on the side that makes upgrading very easy -- but it is silver, which gives the series its name.
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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Click on the category for related details. The most commonly needed info is "open" by default, but all info is important.
| Introduction Date: |
July 18, 2001 |
Discontinued Date: |
January 28, 2002 |
| 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.
Also see: All Macs introduced in 2001. |
| Processors: |
1 |
Geekbench 2: |
372 |
| 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 PowerMac3,5 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: |
733 MHz |
Processor Type: |
PowerPC 7450 (G4) |
| Details: |
The PowerPC G4 includes the AltiVec "Velocity Engine" vector processor. |
| Processor Upgrade: |
AGP G4 Daughtercard |
FPU: |
Integrated |
| Details: |
The Power Macintosh G4 (Quicksilver) models have the processor mounted on a custom 300-pin daughtercard. |
| System Bus Speed: |
133 MHz |
Cache Bus Speed: |
733 MHz (Built-in) |
| Details: |
This system has a 256k "on chip" level 2 cache running at processor speed. Unlike the other Power Macintosh G4 "Quicksilver" models, this model does not have a level 3 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: |
256k (on chip) |
| Details: |
This system has a 256k "on chip" level 2 cache running at processor speed. Unlike the other Power Macintosh G4 "Quicksilver" models, this model does not have a level 3 cache. |
| RAM Type: |
PC133 SDRAM |
Min. RAM Speed: |
133 MHz |
| Details: |
Supports 133 MHz PC133 SDRAM (3.3v, noninterleaved, 64-bit-wide, 168-pin). Apple also noted that this model has "full 128-bit internal memory data paths". |
| Standard RAM: |
128 MB |
Maximum RAM: |
1.5 GB |
| Motherboard RAM: |
None |
RAM Slots: |
3 |
| Video Card: |
GeForce2 MX* |
VRAM Type: |
SDRAM* |
| Details: |
*By default, this model has a NVIDIA GeForce2 MX graphics card with 32 MB of SDRAM. It also could be configured at the time of purchase with a NVIDIA GeForce3 graphics card with 64 MB of DDR RAM. The video card occupies a 4X AGP slot. |
| Standard VRAM: |
32 MB |
Maximum VRAM: |
32 MB* |
| Details: |
32 MB SDRAM provided by default NVIDIA GeForce2 MX graphics card. It also could be configured at the time of purchase with a NVIDIA GeForce3 graphics card with 64 MB of DDR RAM. |
| Display Support: |
Single Display |
Resolution Support: |
1920x1200 |
| Details: |
Apple advertised that this system can support "up to 1920 by 1200 pixel resolution at 32 bits per pixel (millions of colors)". |
| 2nd Display Support: |
None |
2nd Max. Resolution: |
N/A |
| Standard Storage: |
40 GB HDD |
Std. Storage Speed: |
5400 RPM |
| Storage Dimensions: |
3.5" (25.4 mm) |
Storage Interface: |
Ultra ATA/66 (ATA-5) |
| Details: |
Can officially support two 3.5" Ultra ATA/66 hard drives or SSDs on the original bus (more drives can be supported with a third-party controller PCI card). Officially, drives larger than 128 GB are not supported. However, third-parties have discovered that this system will natively support hard drives larger than 128 GB, when running MacOS X 10.2 or higher. Ultra ATA/100 hard drives are backwards compatible with the Ultra ATA/66 standard. |
| Standard Optical: |
12X CD-RW |
Standard Disk: |
None* |
| Details: |
Apple reported that the 12X CD-RW drive "writes CD-R at 12X, writes CD-RW at 10X, and reads CD at 32X". It uses a EIDE (ATA-3) bus.
*An internal Zip 250 drive was available build-to-order. |
| Standard Modem: |
56k v.90 |
Standard Ethernet: |
10/100/1000Base-T |
| Details: |
Internal modem and 10/100/1000Base-T (Gigabit) Ethernet standard. |
| Standard AirPort: |
802.11b (Optional) |
Standard Bluetooth: |
None |
| Details: |
AirPort (802.11b) was available as a build-to-order addition. |
| USB Ports: |
2 (1.1) |
Firewire Ports: |
2 (400) |
| Details: |
USB 1.1 ports are dual channel. |
| Expansion Slots: |
4 PCI*, AP |
Expansion Bays: |
5 3.5" |
| Details: |
*In the default configuration, this model has four open 33 MHz 64-bit PCI slots, and a 4X AGP slot occupied by the graphics card. It also has an open AirPort (802.11b) expansion slot.
It has five 3.5" drive bays (four are internal and intended for hard drives, and one is external and intended for a Zip 250 drive). With a single hard drive and no Zip drive installed, three internal 3.5" bays and the external 3.5" bay are free. The system also has an external 5.25" drive bay occupied by the optical drive. |
| Incl. Keyboard: |
Apple Pro Keyboard |
Incl. Input: |
Apple Pro Mouse |
| Case Type: |
Tower |
Form Factor: |
Power Mac G4 (Quicksilver) |
| Apple Order No: |
M8359LL/A |
Apple Subfamily: |
Quicksilver |
| Details: |
The Apple order number should be unique to this system. |
| Apple Model No: |
M8493 (EMC 1896) |
Model ID: |
PowerMac3,5 |
| Details: |
Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model.
Also see: All Macs with the M8493 Model Number, the 1896 EMC Number, and the PowerMac3,5 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: |
9.2, X 10.0.4 |
Maximum MacOS: |
X 10.4.11 |
| Details: |
This system is not supported running versions of Mac OS X more recent than 10.4.11.
Also see: Is there a "hack" to make Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard" run on unsupported Power Mac G4 models? |
| MacOS 9 Support: |
Boot/Classic Mode |
Windows Support: |
Emulation Only |
| Details: |
This Power Macintosh G4 model is 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: |
31.0 lbs. (14.1 kg) |
| Details: |
In inches - height by width by depth, (43.2 cm, 22.6 cm, 46.7 cm). |
| Original Price (US): |
US$1699 |
Est. Current Retail: |
N/A |
| Details: |
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 G4 models follow.
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