Power Macintosh G3 233 Minitower Specs (Power Mac G3 MT, M6431LL/A, N/A*, M4405, None): EveryMac.com

Apple Power Macintosh G3 233 Minitower Specs

Identifiers: Power Mac G3 MT - M6431LL/A - N/A* - M4405 - None

All Power Macintosh G3 Models | All 1997 Models | Dynamically Compare This Mac to Others

Apple Power Mac G3 The Apple Power Macintosh G3/233 Minitower, based on the compact Gossamer architecture, features a 233 MHz PowerPC 750 (G3) processor with 512k of backside cache, 32 MB of RAM, a 4.0 GB hard drive, a 24X CD-ROM drive, a Zip 100 drive, ATI 3D Rage II+ or Rage Pro (starting May 1, 1998) graphics acceleration with 2 MB of VRAM (expandable to 6 MB), and the standard "Whisper personality card" with audio input/output -- all packed into an easily expandable minitower case.

The Power Macintosh G3 models were the first Apple Macs to use the "third-generation" (G3) PowerPC 750 processor which also unveiled a new "backside" level 2 cache for a substantial performance boost compared to earlier systems using a "lookaside" level 2 cache. Custom configuration options included an Ultra/Wide SCSI hard drive, internal DVD-ROM drive, 10/100Base-T Ethernet, superior graphics, and a Firewire card, among others.

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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Introduction Date:

November 10, 1997

Discontinued Date:

July 7, 1998

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 1997.

Processors:

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:

233 MHz

Processor Type:

PowerPC 750 (G3)

Details:

N/A

Processor Upgrade:

ZIF Socket

FPU:

Integrated

Details:

The Power Macintosh G3 models have the processor mounted on a ZIF socket.

System Bus Speed:

66 MHz

Cache Bus Speed:

117 MHz

Details:

This system has a 117 MHz backside bus and 512k of level 2 cache.

ROM/Firmware Type:

Macintosh ROM

ROM/Firmware Size:

4 MB

Details:

N/A

L1 Cache:

64k

L2/L3 Cache:

512k (backside)

Details:

The 512k of backside cache has a 117 MHz bus.

RAM Type:

PC66 SDRAM

Min. RAM Speed:

10 ns

Details:

Supports 10 ns PC66 168-pin SDRAM.

Standard RAM:

32 MB

Maximum RAM:

768 MB*

Details:

*Apple officially reports that the maximum memory capacity of this system is 384 MB with three 128 MB memory modules. However, third-parties have been able to upgrade the RAM to 768 MB with three 256 MB memory modules.

Site sponsor Other World Computing sells memory -- as well as other upgrades -- for this Power Macintosh G3.

In Germany, site sponsor CompuRAM sells memory and other upgrades for this Power Mac G3.

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

Motherboard RAM:

None

RAM Slots:

Details:

There is no performance advantage to installing memory modules in pairs.

Video Card:

3D Rage II+*

VRAM Type:

EDO SGRAM

Details:

*ATI 3D Rage II+ graphics onboard originally, upgraded to ATI Rage Pro starting May 1, 1998.

Standard VRAM:

2 MB*

Maximum VRAM:

6 MB*

Details:

*This model has 2 MB of VRAM onboard and a single expansion slot that supports an additional 4 MB of VRAM (3.3V 83 MHz 144-pin SO-DIMM).

Display Support:

Single Display

Resolution Support:

1024x768*

Details:

Apple advertised that this system can support "thousands of colors at up to 1024 by 768-pixel resolution (24-bit), [and] millions of colors at up to 832 by 624-pixel resolution (32-bit), refresh rate of up to 85 Hz." It can support resolutions up to 1600x1200 with the maximum 6 MB of VRAM installed.

2nd Display Support:

None

2nd Max. Resolution:

N/A

Details:

N/A

Standard Storage:

4.0 GB

Std. Storage Speed:

N/A

Details:

Shipped standard with an IDE/ATA-2 hard drive.

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:

IDE/ATA-2 & SCSI*

Details:

*Shipped standard with a 3.5" IDE/ATA-2 hard drive but also has an internal SCSI bus (up to 5 MB/second). It is designed to hold one internal 3.5" hard drive and it has three front-facing 5.25" drive bays that also can be used by a hard drive or removable storage drives. Capacity of each hard drive drive must be smaller than 128 GB.

Standard Optical:

24X CD-ROM

Standard Disk:

1.44 MB (Manual)

Details:

24X tray-loading CD-ROM drive standard. An optional DVD-ROM drive was available by custom configuration (did not support MPEG-2 video playback without a third-party solution). An internal Zip 100 drive also was standard.

Standard Modem:

56k (optional)

Standard Ethernet:

10Base-T*

Details:

*10/100Base-T Ethernet also was available as a build-to-order option.

Standard AirPort:

None

Standard Bluetooth:

None

Details:

N/A

USB Ports:

None

Firewire Ports:

None*

Details:

*Firewire "400" available via build-to-order.

Expansion Slots:

3 PCI, Personality*

Expansion Bays:

1 3.5", 3 5.25"

Details:

*In the default configuration, this model has three open 33 MHz PCI slots and the "personality card" slot that is occupied by a "Whisper personality card" providing audio input/output.

It has one "internal" 3.5" bay (for a hard drive) and three external 5.25" bays (which can be used by hard drives and removable media drives). By default, one external 5.25" bay is free.

Incl. Keyboard:

AppleDesign Keyboard

Incl. Input:

Apple ADB Mouse II

Details:

N/A

Case Type:

Tower

Form Factor:

Power Mac G3 MT (Beige)

Details:

N/A

Apple Order No:

M6431LL/A

Apple Subfamily:

Power Mac G3 MT

Details:

The Apple order number should be unique to this system.

Apple Model No:

M4405 (EMC None)

Model ID:

N/A*

Details:

*This model does not have a Model Identifier. Its Gestalt ID is 510.

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

Also see: All Macs with the M4405 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:

3.6V Lithium

Battery Life:

N/A

Details:

N/A

Pre-Installed MacOS:

8.0

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:

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:

15.2 x 9.6 x 17.8

Avg. Weight:

33.1 lbs. (15 kg)

Details:

In inches - height by width by depth, (38.6 cm, 24.4 cm, 45.2 cm).

Original Price (US):

US$2400

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.

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 (DB-15)

Floppy (Ext.):

None

Details:

N/A

ADB:

SCSI:

1 (DB-25)

Details:

Single ADB port and single SCSI port.

Serial (Standard):

Serial (Geoport):

Details:

*Two Geoport compatible serial ports standard (one printer, one modem).

USB:

None

Firewire:

None*

Details:

*Firewire "400" available via build-to-order.

Modem:

1* (RJ-11)

Ethernet:

1* (RJ-45)

Details:

*Internal 56k modem optional, 10Base-T Ethernet standard, 10/100Base-T available via build-to-order.

S-Video Input:

None*

S-Video Output:

None*

Details:

One configuration of the Power Macintosh G3/266 Minitower (M6142LL/A) as well as one configuration of the Power Macintosh G3/300 Minitower (M6459LL/A) have S-video and composite input/output ports.

Microphone:

None

Sound In:

Details:

Includes a single analog 16-bit stereo sound in jack.

Sound Out:

Headphone:

None

Details:

Includes a single analog 16-bit stereo sound out jack.

Security (Lock):

Joystick (PC):

N/A

Details:

N/A

Power:

Power Adapter:

N/A

Details:

100-240V AC. 240W maximum.

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

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