Apple iMac G3 (1998) vs Apple iMac G3 (Revision B)

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iMac G3 (1998) compared with iMac G3 (Revision B)

	AppleiMac G3 (1998)	AppleiMac G3 (Revision B)
Overview
Released
Released	August 1998	October 1998
Performance
Processor
Processor	PowerPC G3 233 MHz (iMac)	PowerPC G3 233 MHz (iMac)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Graphics
Graphics	ATI RAGE IIc (2 MB)	ATI RAGE Pro (6 MB)
Memory
Memory	32 MB or 128 MB	32 MB or 256 MB (better)
Storage
Storage	4 GB	4 GB
CPU
CPU	233 MHz PowerPC G3 processor with 66 MHz system bus and 512 KB backside L2 cache at 117 MHz. The exact silicon supplier is not established by the maker sheet; generic clock-only chip record.	233 MHz PowerPC G3 with 66 MHz system bus and 512 KB backside L2 cache. The generic chip record names no supplier; MacGeneration identifies a Motorola PowerPC 750 in its reviewed Revision B unit.
GPU
GPU	ATI RAGE IIc with 2 MB SGRAM standard; maker options increase video memory to 4 MB or 6 MB. Configurations retain the standard graphics allocation.	ATI RAGE Pro graphics with 6 MB video memory; Apple’s developer history confirms the graphics change from the original RAGE IIc model.
Memory type
Memory type	32 MB SDRAM standard in two SO-DIMM slots; original July 1998 Apple datasheet supports up to 128 MB. Do not substitute the Revision B maximum.	32 MB SDRAM standard, two SO-DIMM slots. Current retained Apple Revision B sheet supports up to 256 MB; the older developer history gives 128 MB. Configurations use the current maximum, with the conflict recorded.
Storage type
Storage type	4 GB IDE hard drive and tray-loading 24x CD-ROM drive. No floppy drive.	4 GB IDE hard drive and tray-loading 24x CD-ROM.
Display
Screen size
Screen size	15″	15″
Resolution
Resolution	1024 × 768	1024 × 768
Refresh rate
Refresh rate	75 Hz	75 Hz
Display type
Display type	Nominal 15-inch shadow-mask CRT with 13.8-inch viewable diagonal and 0.28 mm dot pitch; it has no fixed LCD native resolution.	Nominal 15-inch CRT, 13.8-inch viewable diagonal; no fixed LCD native resolution.
Display features
Display features	Maximum supported mode 1024 × 768 at 75 Hz; 800 × 600 at 95 Hz and 640 × 480 at 117 Hz. The scalar refresh rate describes the highest-resolution mode.	1024 × 768 at 75 Hz, 800 × 600 at 95 Hz and 640 × 480 at 117 Hz (EveryMac exact A/B specification).
Connections
Ports
Ports	2 × USB-A, Ethernet, 2 × headphone jack	2 × USB-A, Ethernet, 2 × headphone jack
Ethernet
Ethernet	0.1 Gb/s	0.1 Gb/s
Back ports
Back ports	Two 12 Mbps USB ports on the computer, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, 56K V.90/K56flex modem, 4 Mbps IrDA, audio line-in and line-out, plus two front headphone jacks. No FireWire or external VGA output.	Two USB ports, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, 56K modem and audio line-in/out, plus two front headphone jacks. The retained combined maker sheet lists IrDA; Apple’s developer comparison lists it only for the original revision, while MacGeneration’s physical Revision B review shows the infrared window. No standard FireWire or VGA output.
Speakers
Speakers	Built-in stereo speakers with SRS surround processing and built-in microphone.	Built-in stereo speakers and microphone.
Keyboard and mouse
Keyboard and mouse	Apple USB Keyboard and round Apple USB Mouse.	Apple USB Keyboard and round Apple USB Mouse.
Design and power
Type
Type	All-in-one	All-in-one
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Size and weight detail
Size and weight detail	Current retained maker sheet: height 15.8, width 15.2 and depth 17.6 inches, weight 40 pounds. Original Apple July 1998 datasheet instead gives height 39.5, width 38 and depth 44 cm, weight 17.3 kg (38.1 pounds). Conflicting main metric values are omitted.	Maker retained sheet gives height 15.8, width 15.2 and depth 17.6 inches, weight 40 pounds. Metric figures from the original revision are not borrowed.
Power supply
Power supply	Retained maker sheet lists 80 W maximum continuous power; the original Apple datasheet lists 200 W. This conflict is retained rather than selecting a scalar rating.	–
In the box
In the box	Mac OS 8.1. First on sale 15 August 1998, corroborated by Apple’s contemporary retrospective release and retained introduction date.	Mac OS 8.5. Conservative October 1998 sale month follows MacGeneration’s exact Revision B retrospective; published introduction days differ and are not treated as a verified worldwide first-sale day.