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iMac G4 Q&A - Updated January 20, 2009
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What are the differences between the final "USB 2.0" iMac G4 "Flat Panel" models?
Please note that the final "USB 2.0" iMac G4 "Flat Panel" models were introduced on September 8, 2003 and discontinued on July 1, 2004.
The final "USB 2.0" iMac G4 models -- the iMac G4/1.0 15-Inch "FP" (USB 2.0), G4/1.25 17-Inch "FP" (USB 2.0), and G4/1.25 20-Inch "FP" (USB 2.0) -- have G4 processors, a 167 MHz system bus, PC2700 DDR SDRAM, an Ultra ATA/100 hard drive, and NVIDIA GeForce4 MX or GeForce FX 5200 Ultra graphics packaged in an attractive 10.6" half-sphere, ice white case with a chromed stainless steel neck that supports a 15 inch, 17 inch, or 20 inch TFT Active Matrix LCD display.
These models support Bluetooth 1.1 -- like the previous iMac G4/1.0 17-Inch (Flat Panel) -- but also add support for AirPort Extreme (802.11b/g) and USB 2.0 to the iMac line for the first time.
When shipped, these models were configured with MacOS X 10.2.3 pre-installed and they cannot boot into earlier versions of the MacOS. Each can run MacOS 9 applications within the "Classic Environment" provided by MacOS X 10.4.11 and earlier, however.
The major differences between the "USB 2.0" models are summarized below for your convenience:
iMac G4 "FP" | |||
Processor: | 1.0 GHz | 1.25 GHz | 1.25 GHz |
System Bus: | 167 MHz | 167 MHz | 167 MHz |
On-chip L2: | 256k | 256k | 256k |
Memory Type: | PC2700 DDR | PC2700 DDR | PC2700 DDR |
Std. RAM: | 256 MB | 256 MB | 256 MB |
Max. RAM: | 1 GB* | 1 GB* | 1 GB* |
Display: | 15.0" TFT | 17.0" TFT | 20.0" TFT |
Resolution: | 1024x768 | 1440x900 | 1680x1050 |
Video Card: | GeForce4 MX | FX 5200 Ultra† | FX 5200 Ultra† |
Video RAM: | 32 MB | 64 MB | 64 MB |
Hard Drive: | 80 GB | 80 GB | 80 GB |
Optical Drive: | "Combo Drive" | "SuperDrive" | "SuperDrive" |
AP Extreme: | Optional | Optional | Optional |
Bluetooth 1.1: | Optional | Optional | Optional |
Expansion: | AP/BL | AP/BL | AP/BL |
Model No: | M9285LL/A | M9168LL/A | M9290LL/A |
Orig. Price: | US$1299 | US$1799 | US$2199 |
* Officially, these models support 1 GB of RAM, but unofficially they can be upgraded to 2 GB.
† These systems have a "NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra graphics processor with AGP 4X support".
Please refer to the Ultimate Mac Comparison feature to compare any iMac G4 model to any other G3 or later Mac.
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