Request a product

Apple iMac G3 (Early 2001) vs Apple iMac G4 (15-inch, Early 2003)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

AppleiMac G3 (Early 2001)AppleiMac G4 (15-inch, Early 2003)
Overview
ReleasedFebruary 2001February 2003
Performance
ProcessorPowerPC G3 400 MHz (iMac), PowerPC G3 500 MHz (iMac) or PowerPC G3 600 MHz (iMac)Motorola PowerPC G4 800 MHz (iMac Flat Panel)
CPU cores11
GraphicsATI RAGE 128 Pro (8 MB) or ATI RAGE 128 Ultra (16 MB)NVIDIA GeForce2 MX (32 MB)
Memory64 MB, 128 MB or 1 GB256 MB, 512 MB or 1 GB
Storage10 GB to 40 GB60 GB
CPU400 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.800 MHz PowerPC G4, 100 MHz system bus and 256 KB on-chip L2 cache. Single-core maker-clock record is reused only for the same published clock and G4 family; uncertain silicon identity is not inferred.
GPU400 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.NVIDIA GeForce2 MX with 32 MB dedicated DDR video memory and AGP 2x support.
Memory type64 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.256 MB SDRAM standard; factory options 512 MB or 1 GB. One 168-pin DIMM and one user-accessible SO-DIMM slot. Apple supports up to 1 GB.
Storage type400 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.60 GB 7200 rpm Ultra ATA/66 hard drive and 32x Combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW. Combo reads DVDs at 8x, writes CD-R at 32x and CD-RW at 10x. No unsupported storage option is paired with this processor.
Display
Screen size15″15″
Resolution1024 × 7681024 × 768
Brightness–200 nits
Refresh rate75 Hz–
Display typeNominal 15-inch shadow-mask CRT with 13.8-inch viewable diagonal and 0.28 mm dot pitch; no fixed LCD native resolution.TFT active-matrix LCD with millions of colours and typical 300:1 contrast; panel technology and refresh rate unpublished in the exact maker sheet.
Display features1024 × 768 at 75 Hz; 800 × 600 at 95 Hz and 640 × 480 at 117 Hz. Scalar refresh describes the highest-resolution mode.Typical viewing angles: 120° horizontal and 90° vertical. Articulated display arm adjusts height and angle.
Connections
Ports2 × USB-A, Ethernet, 2 × headphone jack3 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack
Ethernet0.1 Gb/s0.1 Gb/s
Back portsTwo 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.Three USB 1.1 ports on the computer, plus two on the keyboard; two FireWire 400 ports with 8 W shared power, Mini-VGA, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, 56K V.92 modem, headphone jack and Apple speaker minijack. The 15-inch model has no audio line-in. Optional AirPort 802.11b card; Bluetooth requires a separate USB adapter, unlike the 17-inch internal option.
External displaysVGA output mirrors the built-in screen; no extended desktop.Mini-VGA video mirroring through an optional adapter: 640 × 480 at 60 Hz, 800 × 600 at 75 Hz or 1024 × 768 at 75 Hz. S-video and composite output are absent on the 15-inch model.
SpeakersIntegrated Odyssey stereo sound system designed with Harman Kardon, built-in microphone and fanless enclosure.Built-in speaker and microphone; Apple Pro Speakers rated at 9 W each and internal 18 W amplifier.
Keyboard and mouseApple Pro Keyboard and optical Apple Pro Mouse.Apple Keyboard, Apple Mouse, Apple Pro Speakers and modem cable.
Design and power
TypeAll-in-oneAll-in-one
Weight15.8 kg9.7 kg
Width × depth × height381 × 435 × 381 mm–
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Size and weight detailMaker 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.Adjustable maker ranges: height 329–509 mm, width 384–415 mm and depth 270–415 mm; base diameter 270 mm. Reference weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process.
Power supply100–260 V AC, 47–63 Hz, single phase; maximum continuous power 150 W.90–264 V AC, 47–63 Hz, single phase; maximum continuous power 130 W.
In the boxMac 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 X 10.2 Jaguar and iLife, with AppleWorks and other bundled applications. Classic environment supports older applications; the exact EveryMac model source confirms it cannot boot Mac OS 9, unlike the original 2002 revision. Maker launch confirms immediate availability on 4 February 2003.

More comparisons