Apple iMac G3 (Early 2001) vs Apple iMac G3 (Mid 1999)
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleiMac G3 (Early 2001) | AppleiMac G3 (Mid 1999) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | February 2001 | April 1999 |
| Performance | ||
| Processor | PowerPC G3 400 MHz (iMac), PowerPC G3 500 MHz (iMac) or PowerPC G3 600 MHz (iMac) | PowerPC G3 333 MHz (iMac) |
| CPU cores | 1 | 1 |
| Graphics | ATI RAGE 128 Pro (8 MB) or ATI RAGE 128 Ultra (16 MB) | ATI RAGE Pro Turbo (6 MB) |
| Memory | 64 MB, 128 MB or 1 GB (better) | 32 MB or 128 MB |
| Storage | 10 GB to 40 GB (better) | 6 GB |
| CPU | 400 MHz PowerPC G3 with 512 KB backside L2 cache at 160 MHz; 500 MHz and 600 MHz models have 256 KB on-chip L2 cache at processor speed. All use a 100 MHz system bus. Generic clock-only chip records do not infer silicon suppliers; cache differences remain in model details. | 333 MHz PowerPC G3 with 66 MHz system bus and 512 KB backside L2 cache. Generic clock-only record does not infer a silicon supplier. |
| GPU | 400 MHz configuration: ATI RAGE 128 Pro with 8 MB SDRAM. 500 MHz and 600 MHz configurations: ATI RAGE 128 Ultra with 16 MB SDRAM; AGP 2x. A contemporary Macworld report observed European 500 MHz store listings with 512 KB cache and 8 MB Pro graphics, but explicitly questioned their accuracy and had no Apple confirmation. The current maker matrix is retained; no inferred regional CPU supplier or alternate SKU is added. | ATI RAGE Pro Turbo with 6 MB video memory. The retained maker resolution table includes a conflicting 2 MB column; The exact Macworld review and EveryMac specification identify 6 MB for this revision. |
| Memory type | 64 MB PC100 SDRAM standard on 400/500 MHz configurations; 128 MB on 600 MHz Special Edition. Two DIMM slots support up to 1 GB in the current maker sheet. Configurations retain each base and maximum memory with its original processor and drive. | 32 MB SDRAM in two SO-DIMM slots. Current retained maker sheet gives a 128 MB maximum; older Apple developer history and contemporary Macworld review give 256 MB. The conservative configurations retain the current maker maximum. |
| Storage type | 400 MHz: 10 GB Ultra ATA and 24x CD-ROM, Indigo. 500 MHz: 20 GB and 8x/4x/24x CD-RW, Indigo, Blue Dalmatian or Flower Power. 600 MHz Special Edition: 40 GB and CD-RW, Graphite, Blue Dalmatian or Flower Power. Maker lists up to 40 GB build-to-order storage without precise processor ties, so extra cross-combinations are not created. | 6 GB ATA hard drive and tray-loading 24x CD-ROM. |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 15″ | 15″ |
| Resolution | 1024 × 768 | 1024 × 768 |
| Refresh rate | 75 Hz | 75 Hz |
| Display type | Nominal 15-inch shadow-mask CRT with 13.8-inch viewable diagonal and 0.28 mm dot pitch; no fixed LCD native resolution. | Nominal 15-inch CRT with 13.8-inch viewable diagonal; not a fixed-native-resolution LCD. |
| Display features | 1024 × 768 at 75 Hz; 800 × 600 at 95 Hz and 640 × 480 at 117 Hz. Scalar refresh describes the highest-resolution mode. | 1024 × 768 at 75 Hz, 800 × 600 at 95 Hz and 640 × 480 at 117 Hz (EveryMac exact-model specification). |
| Connections | ||
| Ports | 2 × USB-A, Ethernet, 2 × headphone jack | 2 × USB-A, Ethernet, 2 × headphone jack |
| Ethernet | 0.1 Gb/s | 0.1 Gb/s |
| Back ports | Two FireWire 400 ports and VGA video mirroring on every configuration; Two 12 Mbps USB ports on the computer, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, 56K V.90 modem, audio line-in/out and two front headphone jacks; keyboard USB ports are not counted as chassis ports. All configurations are AirPort ready with an optional 11 Mbps card. | Two USB ports on the computer, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, 56K V.90 modem, audio line-in/out and two front headphone jacks. No FireWire, external VGA output or AirPort option. The infrared port and mezzanine slot from earlier revisions are absent (EveryMac). |
| External displays | VGA output mirrors the built-in screen; no extended desktop. | – |
| Speakers | Integrated Odyssey stereo sound system designed with Harman Kardon, built-in microphone and fanless enclosure. | Built-in stereo speakers with SRS processing and microphone. |
| Keyboard and mouse | Apple Pro Keyboard and optical Apple Pro Mouse. | Apple USB Keyboard and round Apple USB Mouse; Blueberry, Grape, Tangerine, Lime and Strawberry case colours. |
| Design and power | ||
| Type | All-in-one | All-in-one |
| Weight | 15.8 kg | – |
| Width × depth × height | 381 × 435 × 381 mm | – |
| Operating system | macOS | macOS |
| Size and weight detail | Maker publishes height 38.1, width 38.1 and depth 43.5 cm, weight 15.8 kg. EveryMac instead gives depth 43.4 cm and 15.7 kg; current maker figures are preferred. | Maker does not publish a weight in the retained sheet; height 15.8, width 15.2 and depth 17.6 inches. No converted or sibling metric values are added. |
| Power supply | 100–260 V AC, 47–63 Hz, single phase; maximum continuous power 150 W. | – |
| In the box | Mac OS 9.1, iTunes, iMovie 2 and Disc Burner; CD-RW configurations write music and data CDs but cannot read DVDs. Maker confirms immediate availability on 22 February 2001. Copied PCI-slot/eMac entries in the retained sheet are excluded as unrelated template artifacts. | Mac OS 8.5.1. Conservative April 1999 sale month follows Golem’s contemporary report quoting immediate shipping; retained maker introduction date and database day disagree. |
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