Apple PowerBook G3 300 (PDQ - Late 1998) Specs

Identifiers: Late 1998/PDQ - M7111LL/A* - N/A* - M4753 - None

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The PowerBook G3/300 (PDQ - Late 1998) -- formally a member of the second "PowerBook G3 Series" as dubbed by Apple, but more commonly referred to by its codename of "PDQ" (Pretty Damn Quick) -- features a 300 MHz PowerPC 750 (G3) processor with 1 MB of "backside" level 2 cache, 64 MB of RAM, 4 MB of SGRAM for video, an 8.0 GB hard drive, and a tray-loading 1X DVD-ROM (M7111LL/A) or 20X CD-ROM (M7310LL/A) drive in a curvaceous black portable case with a 14.1" TFT active-matrix color display.

The "PDQ" PowerBook G3 models are quite similar to the "Wallstreet" PowerBook G3 models before them -- and share a case design, 2D/3D graphics acceleration, "zoomed video" support, dual "hot-swappable" bays which both can hold batteries or expansion modules (the left is a 3.5" bay and the right a 5.25" bay), dual Card Bus compatible PC card slots, and the "fn" key which creates a numerical keyboard for quicker data entry.

However, the "PDQ" PowerBook G3 series was vastly simplified -- cutting the number of display sizes from three (12.1-inch, 13.3-inch, and 14.1-inch) to one (14.1-inch) and standardizing the motherboard design to use a 66 MHz bus (compared to 66 MHz and 83 MHz before) -- in an effort to fix inventory and supply problems in a "Pretty Damn Quick" manner.

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.

• Tech Specs
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Tech Specs

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Introduction Date:

September 1, 1998

Discontinued Date:

May 10, 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. Also see: All Macs introduced in 1998.

Processors:

1

Geekbench 2:

N/A

Details:

N/A 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 N/A* 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:

300 MHz

Processor Type:

PowerPC 750 (G3)

Details:

N/A

Processor Upgrade:

PB G3 Daughtercard

FPU:

Integrated

Details:

A variety of third-party processor upgrades were available.

System Bus Speed:

66 MHz

Cache Bus Speed:

150 MHz

Details:

N/A

ROM/Firmware Type:

Macintosh ROM

ROM/Firmware Size:

4 MB

Details:

N/A

L1 Cache:

64k

L2/L3 Cache:

1 MB (backside)

Details:

Includes a 1 MB level 2 cache on a 150 MHz backside bus.

RAM Type:

PC100 SDRAM

Min. RAM Speed:

10 ns

Details:

Supports 144-pin PC100 SDRAM SO-DIMM memory modules.

Standard RAM:

64 MB

Maximum RAM:

512 MB*

Details:

*Apple officially supports 192 MB of RAM in this model. However, third-parties have been able to upgrade it to 512 MB using two 256 MB memory modules. Site sponsor Other World Computing sells memory -- as well as other upgrades -- for this PowerBook G3. In Germany, site sponsor CompuRAM sells memory and other upgrades for this PowerBook G3. Also see: Actual Max RAM of All G3 & Later Macs.

Motherboard RAM:

None

RAM Slots:

2

Details:

N/A

Video Card:

Rage Pro LT

VRAM Type:

SGRAM

Details:

Apple formally reports only that this model has 4 MB of SGRAM, but it uses onboard ATI Rage Pro LT graphics.

Standard VRAM:

4 MB

Maximum VRAM:

4 MB

Details:

The video cannot be upgraded.

Built-in Display:

14.1" TFT

Native Resolution:

1024x768

Details:

A 14.1" color TFT active-matrix display with a 1024x768 native resolution.

2nd Display Support:

Mirroring Only

2nd Max. Resolution:

1024x768

Details:

This model also has S-video out.

Standard Storage:

8.0 GB

Std. Storage Speed:

N/A

Details:

This model does not support hard drives larger than 128 GB. Site sponsor Other World Computing sells storage upgrades for this PowerBook G3. Also see: SSD Compatibility Guide for All G3 & Later Macs.

Storage Dimensions:

2.5" (17 mm)

Storage Interface:

Ultra ATA

Details:

This model supports an internal Ultra ATA 2.5" hard drive that is up to 17 mm thick. It must be smaller capacity than 128 GB.

Standard Optical:

1X DVD-ROM*

Standard Disk:

1.44 MB (Manual)

Details:

*This model has a "hot-swappable" 5.25" bay that holds a 1X DVD-ROM drive by default -- starting October 1, 1998 a 20X CD-ROM drive also was available (M7310LL/A). The floppy drive also is a swappable 3.5" module that can be inserted in either bay.

Standard Modem:

56.6k

Standard Ethernet:

10Base-T

Details:

N/A

Standard AirPort:

None

Standard Bluetooth:

None

Details:

This model does not support AirPort or Bluetooth.

USB Ports:

None

Firewire Ports:

None

Details:

N/A

Expansion Slots:

2 Type II PC Card*

Expansion Bays:

1 3.5", 1 5.25"

Details:

*2 Type II PC card slots also support one Type III card (CardBus compatible). This system has one "hot-swappable" 5.25" bay that shipped with either a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, and one 3.5" bay that shipped with a battery. Please note that these bays only are compatible with the Wallstreet/PDQ models.

Incl. Keyboard:

Full-size

Incl. Input:

Trackpad

Details:

Apple reports that the integrated keyboard has 77 (US) or 78 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys, 4 arrow keys, and an embedded numeric keypad. The trackpad supports tap, double tap, and drag capabilities.

Case Type:

Notebook

Form Factor:

PowerBook G3 Wallstreet

Details:

N/A

Apple Order No:

M7111LL/A*

Apple Subfamily:

Late 1998/PDQ

Details:

*M7111LL/A was assigned to the original configuration with a 1X DVD-ROM drive. On October 1, 1998, Apple also offered a model configured with a 20X CD-ROM drive (M7310LL/A).

Apple Model No:

M4753 (EMC None)

Model ID:

N/A*

Details:

*This model does not have a Model Identifier. Its Gestalt ID is 406, but this is shared by many other models. Also see: All Macs with the M4753 Model Number, the None EMC Number, and the N/A* 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:

49 W h LiIon

Battery Life:

3.5 Hours, 7 Hours*

Details:

*Apple estimated 3.5 hours with a single battery and 7 hours with dual batteries under "normal usage conditions".

Pre-Installed MacOS:

8.1

Maximum MacOS:

X 10.2.8

Details:

This system cannot run versions of MacOS X more recent than 10.2.8.

MacOS 9 Support:

Boot/Classic Mode

Windows Support:

Emulation Only

Details:

This model is capable of booting in Mac OS 9 and using Mac OS 9 applications within the Mac OS X "Classic" environment.

Dimensions:

2.0 x 10.4 x 12.7

Avg. Weight:

7.8 lbs (3.5 kg)

Details:

In inches while closed - height by width by depth, (5.1 cm, 32.3 cm, 26.4 cm).

Original Price (US):

US$4999*

Est. Current Retail:

N/A

Details:

*US$4999 as originally offered with a 1X DVD-ROM drive (M7111LL/A). On October 1, 1998, Apple began offering this model with a 20X CD-ROM drive for US$4499 (M7310LL/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.

Ports

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Video (Monitor):

1 (VGA)

Floppy (Ext.):

None

Details:

N/A

ADB:

1

SCSI:

1 (HDI-30)

Details:

Single ADB and SCSI ports.

Serial (Standard):

None

Serial (Geoport):

1

Details:

Single Geoport can be used with either a serial printer or modem.

USB:

None

Firewire:

None

Details:

N/A

Modem:

1* (RJ-11)

Ethernet:

1 (RJ-45)

Details:

*Internal 56.6k modem standard on most configurations. IrDA port also provided.

S-Video Input:

None

S-Video Output:

1

Details:

N/A

Microphone:

1 (Internal)

Sound In:

1

Details:

Internal microphone and 16-bit stereo sound audio in jack.

Sound Out:

1

Headphone:

None

Details:

Single 16-bit stereo sound output minijack also can be used with headphones.

Security (Lock):

1

Joystick (PC):

None

Details:

N/A

Power:

N/A

Power Adapter:

1

Details:

100V-240V AC power adapter, 45 Max watts.

Popular Q&As

Ten of the most popular Q&As about the PowerBook G3 models follow.

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