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Power Macintosh G4 Q&A - Updated May 4, 2009
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What are the differences between the original PCI and AGP-based Power Mac G4 lines? Why were there so many configurations of these models?
Please note that the first PCI and AGP Power Mac G4 configurations were introduced on August 31, 1999 and the last configurations were discontinued on February 16, 2000.
Although they were introduced together, there are significant differences between the PCI and AGP configurations -- the PCI models -- codenamed "Yikes!" -- essentially use the same architecture as the "Blue & White" Power Mac G3 models that came before it whereas the AGP models -- codenamed Sawtooth -- have a different logicboard design with a then new AGP slot for the graphics card.
When shipped, all of these models were configured with MacOS 8.6 but can officially support up to MacOS X 10.4.11.
There are so many configurations because when Apple first introduced the line it quickly became apparent that Motorola was unable to supply enough processors to meet demand for the high-end model and Apple responded by infamously "speed dumping" the line -- essentially shifting the processor speeds down "a notch" while otherwise keeping the configurations and prices the same -- and then "speed bumping" it back up later. Needless to say, this initial drop in speed for the same price upset many customers.
The first configurations -- introduced on on August 31, 1999 -- are:
Power Mac | |||
Processor: | 400 MHz | 450 MHz | 500 MHz |
System Bus: | 100 MHz | 100 MHz | 100 MHz |
Backside L2: | 1 MB | 1 MB | 1 MB |
Memory Type: | PC100 SDRAM | PC100 SDRAM | PC100 SDRAM |
Std. RAM: | 64 MB | 128 MB | 256 MB |
Max. RAM: | 1.0 GB | 1.0 GB | 1.0 GB |
Video Card: | Rage 128 | Rage 128 | Rage 128 |
Video RAM: | 16 MB | 16 MB | 16 MB |
Hard Drive: | 10 GB | 20 GB | 27 GB |
Optical Drive: | CD-ROM | DVD-ROM | DVD-RAM |
Zip Drive: | Optional | Standard | Standard |
AirPort: | None | Optional | Optional |
Bluetooth: | None | None | None |
Slots: | 3 PCI* | 3 PCI* | 3 PCI* |
Model No: | M7631LL/A | M7232LL/A | M6921LL/A† |
Orig. Price: | US$1599 | US$2499 | US$3499† |
On October 13, 1999 -- a mere two weeks after introduction -- Apple "speed dumped" the line to these configurations:
Power Mac | |||
Processor: | 350 MHz | 400 MHz | 450 MHz |
System Bus: | 100 MHz | 100 MHz | 100 MHz |
Backside L2: | 1 MB | 1 MB | 1 MB |
Memory Type: | PC100 SDRAM | PC100 SDRAM | PC100 SDRAM |
Std. RAM: | 64 MB | 128 MB | 256 MB |
Max. RAM: | 1.0 GB | 1.0 GB | 1.0 GB |
Video Card: | Rage 128 | Rage 128 | Rage 128 |
Video RAM: | 16 MB | 16 MB | 16 MB |
Hard Drive: | 10 GB | 20 GB | 27 GB |
Optical Drive: | CD-ROM | DVD-ROM | DVD-RAM |
Zip Drive: | Optional | Standard | Standard |
AirPort: | None | Optional | Optional |
Bluetooth: | None | None | None |
Slots: | 3 PCI* | 3 PCI* | 3 PCI* |
Model No: | M7826LL/A | M7824LL/A | M7232LL/A |
Orig. Price: | US$1599 | US$2499 | US$3499 |
On December 2, 1999, Apple switched to an all AGP-based line up and upgraded the graphics cards to ones equipped with DVI:
Power Mac | |||
Processor: | 350 MHz | 400 MHz | 450 MHz |
System Bus: | 100 MHz | 100 MHz | 100 MHz |
Backside L2: | 1 MB | 1 MB | 1 MB |
Memory Type: | PC100 SDRAM | PC100 SDRAM | PC100 SDRAM |
Std. RAM: | 64 MB | 128 MB | 256 MB |
Max. RAM: | 1.0 GB | 1.0 GB | 1.0 GB |
Video Card: | Rage 128 Pro | Rage 128 Pro | Rage 128 Pro |
Video RAM: | 16 MB | 16 MB | 16 MB |
Hard Drive: | 10 GB | 20 GB | 27 GB |
Optical Drive: | DVD-ROM | DVD-ROM | DVD-RAM |
Zip Drive: | Optional | Standard | Standard |
AirPort: | Optional | Optional | Optional |
Bluetooth: | None | None | None |
Slots: | 3 PCI* | 3 PCI* | 3 PCI* |
Model No: | M7827LL/A | M7824LL/B | M7232LL/B |
Orig. Price: | US$1599 | US$2499 | US$3499 |
Finally, on February 16, 2000, Apple boosted the line back up to 500 MHz with configurations close to the models as originally introduced but all using the AGP-based design:
Power Mac | |||
Processor: | 400 MHz | 450 MHz | 500 MHz |
System Bus: | 100 MHz | 100 MHz | 100 MHz |
Backside L2: | 1 MB | 1 MB | 1 MB |
Memory Type: | PC100 SDRAM | PC100 SDRAM | PC100 SDRAM |
Std. RAM: | 64 MB | 128 MB | 256 MB |
Max. RAM: | 1.0 GB | 1.0 GB | 1.0 GB |
Video Card: | Rage 128 Pro | Rage 128 Pro | Rage 128 Pro |
Video RAM: | 16 MB | 16 MB | 16 MB |
Hard Drive: | 10 GB | 20 GB | 27 GB |
Optical Drive: | DVD-ROM | DVD-ROM | DVD-RAM |
Zip Drive: | Optional | Standard | Standard |
AirPort: | Optional | Optional | Optional |
Bluetooth: | None | None | None |
Slots: | 3 PCI* | 3 PCI* | 3 PCI* |
Model No: | M7641LL/A | M7628LL/A | M7629LL/A |
Orig. Price: | US$1599 | US$2499 | US$3499 |
* PCI models shipped with three open 33 MHz PCI slots and one 66 MHz PCI slot occupied by the graphics card and AGP models shipped with three open 33 MHz 64-bit PCI slots and a 133 MHz 2X AGP slot occupied by the graphics card.
† This configuration never shipped.
Please refer to the Ultimate Mac Comparison feature to compare any Power Mac G4 model to any other G3 or later Mac.
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