Apple Power Macintosh G3 266 Desktop Specs
Identifiers: Power Mac G3 DT - M6202LL/A* - N/A* - M3979 - None
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The Apple Power Macintosh G3/266 Desktop, based on the compact Gossamer architecture, features a 266 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, ATI 3D Rage II+, Rage Pro (starting May 1, 1998), or Rage Pro Turbo (starting August 12, 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 desktop 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.
There were at least two different "standard" configurations of the Power Macintosh G3/266 Desktop -- the original version (M6202LL/A) equipped with ATI 3D Rage II+ or ATI Rage Pro graphics and a Zip drive for US$2400 and a second revision (M6508LL/A) -- introduced August 12, 1998 -- configured with ATI Rage Pro Turbo graphics and no Zip drive for US$1599.
Custom configuration options included an Ultra/Wide SCSI hard drive, internal DVD-ROM drive, internal Zip 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.
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| Introduction Date: |
November 10, 1997* |
Discontinued Date: |
December 14, 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.
*Second configuration (M6508LL/A) with ATI Rage Pro Turbo graphics and no Zip drive introduced on August 12, 1998.
Also see: All Macs introduced in 1997. |
| 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: |
266 MHz |
Processor Type: |
PowerPC 750 (G3) |
| 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: |
133 MHz |
| Details: |
This system has a 133 MHz backside bus and 512k of level 2 cache. |
| ROM/Firmware Type: |
Macintosh ROM |
ROM/Firmware Size: |
4 MB |
| L1 Cache: |
64k |
L2/L3 Cache: |
512k (backside) |
| Details: |
The 512k of backside cache has a 133 MHz bus. |
| RAM Type: |
PC66 SDRAM |
Min. RAM Speed: |
10 ns |
| Details: |
Supports low profile 10 ns PC66 168-pin SDRAM. |
| Standard RAM: |
32 MB |
Maximum RAM: |
768 MB* |
| Motherboard RAM: |
None |
RAM Slots: |
3 |
| 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, and upgraded to ATI Rage Pro Turbo starting August 12, 1998 (M6508LL/A). |
| 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 |
| Standard Storage: |
4.0 GB |
Std. Storage Speed: |
N/A |
| 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 hard drive and one front-facing Zip 100. Drive capacity 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). Internal Zip 100 drive standard in original configuration (M6202LL/A), available build-to-order in second configuration (M6508LL/A). |
| 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 |
| USB Ports: |
None |
Firewire Ports: |
None* |
| Details: |
*Firewire "400" available via build-to-order. |
| Expansion Slots: |
3 PCI, Personality* |
Expansion Bays: |
2 3.5" |
| 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 two 3.5" drive bays (one is internal and intended for a hard drive, and one is external and intended for a Zip 100 drive). By default, the external 3.5" bay is occupied by a Zip 100 drive in the original configuration (M6202LL/A) and open in the second configuration (M6508LL/A). The system also has an external 5.25" drive bay occupied by the optical drive. |
| Incl. Keyboard: |
AppleDesign Keyboard |
Incl. Input: |
Apple ADB Mouse II |
| Case Type: |
Desktop |
Form Factor: |
Power Mac G3 DT (Beige) |
| Apple Order No: |
M6202LL/A* |
Apple Subfamily: |
Power Mac G3 DT |
| Details: |
*M6202LL/A was the model number assigned to the original configuration with ATI 3D Rage II+ or ATI Rage Pro graphics and a Zip drive. M6508LL/A refers to the configuration introduced August 12, 1998 with ATI Rage Pro Turbo graphics and no Zip drive. The configurations are otherwise identical. |
| Apple Model No: |
M3979 (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 M3979 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 |
| 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: |
6.3 x 14.4 x 16.9 |
Avg. Weight: |
22.0 lbs. (10 kg) |
| Details: |
In inches - height by width by depth, (16 cm, 36.6 cm, 42.9 cm). |
| Original Price (US): |
US$2400* |
Est. Current Retail: |
N/A |
| Details: |
*The first configuration originally sold for US$2400 (M6202LL/A). The second configuration sold for US$1599 (M6508LL/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. |
Ten of the most popular Q&As about the Power Macintosh G3 models follow.
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