Apple Power Macintosh G4 500 (AGP) Specs
Identifiers: Power Mac G4 - AGP - M7629LL/A* - PowerMac3,1 - M5183 - 1843
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The Apple Power Macintosh G4/500 (AGP Graphics), based on the Sawtooth architecture, features a 500 MHz PowerPC 7400 (G4) processor with the AltiVec "Velocity Engine" vector processing unit and 1 MB of backside cache. It shipped configured with 256 MB of RAM, a 27 GB Ultra ATA/66 hard drive, a 5X DVD-RAM drive, and either a 2X AGP ATI Rage 128 or Rage 128 Pro graphics card with 16 MB of SDRAM. AirPort (802.11b) was available by custom configuration.
There are two different versions of this model, M6921LL/A, which was introduced on August 31, 1999 and discontinued October 13, 1999 without shipping -- due to production problems with the 500 MHz PowerPC 7400 (G4) processor -- and M7629LL/A, which was introduced February 16, 2000 and discontinued July 19, 2000.
On October 13, 1999, Apple infamously "speed dumped" this model -- introducing a "higher-end" version of the slower Power Macintosh G4/450 (AGP Graphics) with the model number M7825LL/A and the same configuration and price as the 500 MHz model (differing only in speed).
When this model was "re-introduced" on February 16, 2000, Apple upgraded the graphics card to an ATI Rage 128 Pro -- which added a DVI port and 1920x1200 support -- and changed the model number to M7629LL/A.
Also see:
- What are the differences between the original PCI and AGP-based Power Mac G4 lines? Why were there so many configurations of these models?
- How can you tell if a particular Power Mac G4 model is PCI or AGP-based?
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: |
August 31, 1999* |
Discontinued Date: |
July 19, 2000* |
| Details: |
The "Introduction Date" refers to the date a model was introduced via press release. The "Discontinued Date" refers to the date that the final configuration of this model was replaced by a subsequent system.
*There are two different versions of this model, M6921LL/A, which was introduced on August 31, 1999 and discontinued October 13, 1999 without shipping -- due to production problems with the 500 MHz PowerPC 7400 (G4) processor -- and M7629LL/A, which was introduced February 16, 2000 and discontinued July 19, 2000.
On October 13, 1999, Apple infamously "speed dumped" this model -- introducing a "higher-end" version of the slower Power Macintosh G4/450 (AGP Graphics) with the model number M7825LL/A and the same configuration and price as the 500 MHz model (differing only in speed).
When this model was "re-introduced" on February 16, 2000, Apple upgraded the graphics card to an ATI Rage 128 Pro -- which added a DVI port -- and changed the model number to M7629LL/A, but it is otherwise identical to the original configuration.
Also see: All Macs introduced in 1999. |
| Processors: |
1 |
Geekbench 2: |
337 |
| Details: |
This model only is compatible with the 32-bit Geekbench 2 benchmark. 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 PowerMac3,1 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: |
500 MHz |
Processor Type: |
PowerPC 7400 (G4) |
| Details: |
The PowerPC G4 includes the AltiVec "Velocity Engine" vector processor. |
| Processor Upgrade: |
AGP G4 Daughtercard |
FPU: |
Integrated |
| Details: |
The Power Macintosh G4 (AGP Graphics) models have the processor mounted on a custom 300-pin daughtercard. |
| System Bus Speed: |
100 MHz |
Cache Bus Speed: |
250 MHz |
| Details: |
This system has a 225 MHz backside bus and 1 MB of level 2 cache. |
| ROM/Firmware Type: |
Open Firmware |
ROM/Firmware Size: |
1 MB |
| Details: |
Boot ROM and around 1 MB, other instructions are loaded into RAM (NewWorld). |
| L1 Cache: |
64k |
L2/L3 Cache: |
1 MB (backside) |
| Details: |
The 1 MB of backside cache has a 250 MHz bus. |
| RAM Type: |
PC100 SDRAM |
Min. RAM Speed: |
100 MHz |
| Details: |
Officially supports 100 MHz PC100 SDRAM (3.3v, unbuffered, 64-bit-wide, 168-pin), but PC133 SDRAM is backwards compatible and may be used as well. |
| Standard RAM: |
256 MB |
Maximum RAM: |
2 GB* |
| Motherboard RAM: |
None |
RAM Slots: |
4 |
| Details: |
There is no performance advantage to installing memory modules in pairs. |
| Video Card: |
Rage 128 Pro* |
VRAM Type: |
SDRAM |
| Details: |
*This model was introduced with an ATI Rage 128 graphics card (M6921LL/A), but that model never shipped. The configuration that shipped (M7629LL/A), had a Rage 128 Pro graphics card. Both graphics cards have 16 MB of SDRAM and occupy a 2X AGP slot. |
| Standard VRAM: |
16 MB |
Maximum VRAM: |
16 MB |
| Display Support: |
Single Display |
Resolution Support: |
1920x1200* |
| Details: |
Apple advertised that the Rage 128 can support "up to 1600 by 1200 pixel resolution at 32 bits per pixel (millions of colors) and up to 85-Hz refresh rate." The Rage 128 Pro provided by the model that shipped can support up tp 1920 by 1200. |
| 2nd Display Support: |
None |
2nd Max. Resolution: |
N/A |
| Standard Storage: |
27 GB HDD |
Std. Storage Speed: |
7200 RPM |
| Storage Dimensions: |
3.5" (25.4 mm) |
Storage Interface: |
Ultra ATA/66 (ATA-5) |
| Details: |
Can officially support two 3.5" Ultra ATA/66 hard drives or SSDs on the original bus (more drives can be supported with a third-party controller PCI card) -- drives larger than 128 GB are not natively supported. Ultra ATA/100 hard drives are backwards compatible with the Ultra ATA/66 standard. |
| Standard Optical: |
5X DVD-RAM |
Standard Disk: |
Zip 100* |
| Details: |
The 5X DVD-RAM drive uses a EIDE (ATA-3) bus.
*All configurations shipped with an internal Zip 100 drive (not backwards compatible with 1.44 MB floppy disks). |
| Standard Modem: |
56k (Optional)* |
Standard Ethernet: |
10/100Base-T |
| Details: |
Internal modem and 10/100Base-T Ethernet were standard in the original configuration (M6921LL/A). The modem was optional in the shipping configuration (M7629LL/A). |
| Standard AirPort: |
802.11b (Optional) |
Standard Bluetooth: |
None |
| Details: |
AirPort (802.11b) was available as a build-to-order addition. |
| USB Ports: |
2 (1.1) |
Firewire Ports: |
3* (400) |
| Details: |
USB 1.1 ports are dual channel. This model has two external Firewire "400" ports and one internal one. |
| Expansion Slots: |
3 PCI*, AP |
Expansion Bays: |
5 3.5" |
| Details: |
*In the default configuration, this model has three open 33 MHz 64-bit PCI slots, and a 133 MHz 2X AGP slot occupied by the graphics card. It also has an open AirPort (802.11b) expansion slot.
It has five 3.5" drive bays (four are internal and intended for hard drives, and one is external and occuped by a Zip 100 drive). By default, with a single hard drive and the Zip drive installed, three internal 3.5" bays are free. The system also has an external 5.25" drive bay occupied by the optical drive. |
| Incl. Keyboard: |
Apple USB Keyboard |
Incl. Input: |
Apple USB Mouse |
| Case Type: |
Tower |
Form Factor: |
Power Mac G4 (Graphite) |
| Apple Order No: |
M7629LL/A* |
Apple Subfamily: |
Power Mac G4 - AGP |
| Details: |
*This model number (M7629LL/A) is for the Power Macintosh G4/500 (AGP/Sawtooth) model that shipped. It was originally assigned M6921LL/A upon introduction. |
| Apple Model No: |
M5183 (EMC 1843) |
Model ID: |
PowerMac3,1 |
| Details: |
Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model.
Also see: All Macs with the M5183 Model Number, the 1843 EMC Number, and the PowerMac3,1 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: |
8.6 |
Maximum MacOS: |
X 10.4.11 |
| Details: |
This system is not supported running versions of Mac OS X more recent than 10.4.11.
Also see: Is there a "hack" to make Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard" run on unsupported Power Mac G4 models? |
| MacOS 9 Support: |
Boot/Classic Mode |
Windows Support: |
Emulation Only |
| Details: |
This Power Macintosh G4 model is capable of booting Mac OS 9 and using Mac OS 9 applications within the Mac OS X "Classic" environment. |
| Dimensions: |
17.0 x 8.9 x 18.4 |
Avg. Weight: |
30.0 lbs. (13.6 kg) |
| Details: |
In inches - height by width by depth, (43.2 cm, 22.6 cm, 46.7 cm). |
| Original Price (US): |
US$3499 |
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. |
Ten of the most popular Q&As about the Power Macintosh G4 models follow.
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1 (VGA*) 
None 
None 
None 
None
None
2 (1.1)
3* (400)
1 (RJ-45)
None
None
None
1
1
None
1
N/A
1
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