Power Macintosh G4 733 (Digital Audio) Specs (Digital Audio, M7681LL/A*, PowerMac3,4, M5183, 1862): EveryMac.com

Apple Power Macintosh G4 733 (Digital Audio) Specs

Identifiers: Digital Audio - M7681LL/A* - PowerMac3,4 - M5183 - 1862

All Power Macintosh G4 Models | All 2001 Models | Dynamically Compare This Mac to Others

Apple Power Mac G4 The Apple Power Macintosh G4/733 (Digital Audio) features a 733 MHz PowerPC 7450 (G4) processor with the AltiVec "Velocity Engine" vector processing unit, 256k "on chip" level 2 cache, and 1 MB of level 3 backside cache. It shipped configured with 256 MB of RAM, a 60 GB Ultra ATA/66 hard drive, and a 4X AGP NVIDIA GeForce 2 MX graphics card with 32 MB of SDRAM. AirPort (802.11b) was available by custom configuration.

There are two modestly different configurations of this model -- the original configuration (M7681LL/A), which unveiled an all new 2X DVD-R/CD-RW "SuperDrive" for US$3499, and a lower-end configuration (M8451LL/A) that swapped the "SuperDrive" for a 8X CD-RW drive and sold for US$2999.

In addition to the digital audio sound system with a highly-efficient Tripath "Class T" amplifier that powers USB speakers, for which the series is named, the Power Macintosh G4 (Digital Audio) also introduced a faster system bus (133 MHz supporting "over 1-GBps data throughput"), faster PC133 RAM (but lower capacity than the "Gigabit Ethernet" series that it replaced), and four full-length 64-bit, 33 MHz PCI slots.

All Power Macintosh G4 (Digital Audio) models use a case design effectively the same as that introduced with the Power Macintosh G3 (Blue & White) -- complete with a fold down door on the side that makes upgrading very easy -- but is clad in a more conservative "graphite" and white color scheme. Custom configurations also were available.

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.

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Introduction Date:

January 9, 2001

Discontinued Date:

July 18, 2001

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:

Geekbench 2:

429

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 PowerMac3,4 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 (Digital Audio) models have the processor mounted on a custom 300-pin daughtercard.

System Bus Speed:

133 MHz

Cache Bus Speed:

183 MHz*

Details:

This system has a 256k "on chip" level 2 cache running at processor speed and a 1 MB backside level 3 cache running on a bus one-fourth of the processor speed (183 MHz).

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), 1 MB

Details:

This system has a 256k "on chip" level 2 cache running at processor speed and a 1 MB backside level 3 cache running on a bus one-fourth of the processor speed (183 MHz).

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:

256 MB

Maximum RAM:

1.5 GB

Details:

Site sponsor Other World Computing sells memory -- as well as other upgrades -- for this Power Macintosh G4.

In Germany, site sponsor CompuRAM sells memory and other upgrades for this Power Mac G4.

Also see: Actual Max RAM of All G3 & Later Macs.

Motherboard RAM:

None

RAM Slots:

Details:

N/A

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 an ATI Radeon graphics card with 32 MB of DDR RAM or 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 an ATI Radeon graphics card with 32 MB of DDR RAM or 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

Details:

N/A

Standard Storage:

60 GB HDD

Std. Storage Speed:

7200 RPM

Details:

It also could be configured with up to three 10,000 RPM Ultra160 SCSI drives at the time of purchase, or one Ultra ATA/66 and two Ultra160 SCSI drives, as build-to-order options.

In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells storage upgrades for this Power Mac G4.

Also see: SSD Compatibility Guide for All G3 & Later Macs.

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) -- drives larger than 128 GB are not natively supported. Ultra ATA/100 hard drives are backwards compatible with the Ultra ATA/66 standard.

Standard Optical:

2X "SuperDrive"*

Standard Disk:

None**

Details:

Apple reported that the 2X DVD-R/CD-RW SuperDrive installed in the original configuration "writes DVD-R at 2X, reads DVD at 6X, writes CD-R at 8X, writes CD-RW at 4X, and reads CD at 24X". The 8X CD-RW drive installed in the lower-end configuration (M8451LL/A) "writes CD-R at 8X, writes CD-RW at 4X, 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

Details:

N/A

Case Type:

Tower

Form Factor:

Power Mac G4 (Graphite)

Details:

Apple Order No:

M7681LL/A*

Apple Subfamily:

Digital Audio

Details:

*M7681LL/A refers to the original configuration released with a DVD-R/CD-RW "SuperDrive". The configuration released on March 8, 2001 with a CD-RW drive was assigned M8451LL/A.

Apple Model No:

M5183 (EMC 1862)

Model ID:

PowerMac3,4

Details:

Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model.

Also see: All Macs with the M5183 Model Number, the 1862 EMC Number, and the PowerMac3,4 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

Details:

N/A

Pre-Installed MacOS:

9.1, X 10.0.3*

Maximum MacOS:

X 10.4.11

Details:

*The original configuration shipped with Mac OS 9.1 pre-installed, later configurations had Mac OS X 10.0.3 installed as well. 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:

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$3499*

Est. Current Retail:

N/A

Details:

*The original configuration with the DVD-R/CD-RW "SuperDrive" sold for US$3499 (M7681LL/A). The lower-end configuration with the CD-RW drive originally sold for US$2999 (M8451LL/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.

Click on a category for additional details. The most commonly needed info is "open" by default, but all info is important. The icons correspond with the icons for each port on the computer.

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Video (Monitor):

1 VGA, 1 ADC

Floppy (Ext.):

None

Details:

One VGA (15-pin mini D-Sub) and one ADC port.

ADB:

None

SCSI:

None

Details:

N/A

Serial (Standard):

None

Serial (Geoport):

None

Details:

N/A

USB:

2 (1.1)

Firewire:

2 (400)

Details:

USB 1.1 ports are dual channel.

Modem:

1 (RJ-11)

Ethernet:

1 (RJ-45)

Details:

10/100/1000Base-T (Gigabit) Ethernet standard.

S-Video Input:

None

S-Video Output:

None

Details:

N/A

Microphone:

None

Sound In:

None

Details:

N/A

Sound Out:

Headphone:

None

Details:

Includes a rear mounted analog 16-bit stereo sound out jack and an Apple Pro speaker minijack.

Security (Lock):

Joystick (PC):

N/A

Details:

N/A

Power:

Power Adapter:

N/A

Details:

115V AC (90V to 132V AC) or 230V AC (180V to 264V AC). 338W maximum.

Ten of the most popular Q&As about the Power Macintosh G4 models follow.

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