Apple iMac G3 (Early 2001) vs Apple Mac mini (2005)
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleiMac G3 (Early 2001) | AppleMac mini (2005) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | February 2001 | January 2005 |
| Performance | ||
| Processor | PowerPC G3 400 MHz (iMac), PowerPC G3 500 MHz (iMac) or PowerPC G3 600 MHz (iMac) | PowerPC G4 7447A (1.25 GHz) or PowerPC G4 7447A (1.42 GHz) |
| CPU cores | 1 | 1 |
| Graphics | ATI RAGE 128 Pro (8 MB) or ATI RAGE 128 Ultra (16 MB) | ATI Radeon 9200 |
| Memory | 64 MB, 128 MB or 1 GB | 256 MB, 512 MB or 1 GB |
| Storage | 10 GB to 40 GB | 40 GB to 80 GB (better) |
| 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. | 1.25 or 1.42 GHz PowerPC G4 with Velocity Engine, 512 KB L2 cache and 167 MHz system bus; EveryMac identifies the single-core 7447A processor, cross-checked with the Freescale fact sheet hosted by NXP |
| 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 Radeon 9200 with 32 MB dedicated DDR SDRAM and AGP 4X support |
| 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. | One slot for 333 MHz PC2700 DDR SDRAM, up to 1 GB. Original January models had 256 MB standard; Apple raised standard memory to 512 MB on 26 July 2005. Configurations include original and later memory options. |
| 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. | 1.25 GHz model has a 40 GB Ultra ATA hard drive, configurable to 80 GB; 1.42 GHz models have 80 GB. Combo drive reads DVDs and burns CDs; optional 4x SuperDrive writes DVDs. July 2005 added a standard SuperDrive model at 1.42 GHz. |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 15″ | None built in |
| Resolution | 1024 × 768 | – |
| Refresh rate | 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. | – |
| 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. | – |
| Connections | ||
| Ports | 2 × USB-A, Ethernet, 2 × headphone jack | 2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack |
| Ethernet | 0.1 Gb/s | 0.1 Gb/s |
| External displays | – | Up to 1 |
| Wi-Fi | – | Optional 802.11g |
| Bluetooth | – | Optional internal Bluetooth |
| 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 2.0 ports, FireWire 400 (8 W), DVI, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet and headphone/audio line output. No audio input. Modem standard on original models; July 2005 lower model retains it, higher models make it optional. |
| External displays | VGA output mirrors the built-in screen; no extended desktop. | DVI digital output up to 1920 × 1200; included VGA adapter supports up to 1920 × 1080. Optional Apple DVI to Video Adapter provides S-video/composite output. |
| Speakers | Integrated Odyssey stereo sound system designed with Harman Kardon, built-in microphone and fanless enclosure. | Built-in speaker |
| Keyboard and mouse | Apple Pro Keyboard and optical Apple Pro Mouse. | Display, keyboard and mouse sold separately; DVI-to-VGA adapter included |
| Design and power | ||
| Type | All-in-one | Compact |
| Weight | 15.8 kg | 1.32 kg (better) |
| Width × depth × height | 381 × 435 × 381 mm | 165.1 × 165.1 × 50.8 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 weight 1.32 kg; Apple notes variation by configuration and manufacturing process |
| Power supply | 100–260 V AC, 47–63 Hz, single phase; maximum continuous power 150 W. | Maximum continuous power 85 W; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz single phase |
| 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 mini, power adapter, install DVDs and documentation. January models ship with Mac OS X Panther and iLife '05; July configurations use Tiger. AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth optional at launch, standard on the July 1.42 GHz models. |
More comparisons
- Apple Mac mini (2005) vs Apple Mac mini (M6 or M5 Pro)
- Apple Mac mini (2005) vs Apple Mac mini (M4 or M4 Pro)
- Apple iMac 24″ (M4) vs Apple iMac G3 (Early 2001)
- Apple iMac 24″ (M3) vs Apple iMac G3 (Early 2001)
- Apple Mac mini (2005) vs Apple Mac mini (M2 or M2 Pro)
- Apple iMac 24″ (M1) vs Apple iMac G3 (Early 2001)
- Apple Mac mini (2005) vs Apple Mac mini (M1)
- Apple iMac G3 (Early 2001) vs Apple iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020)
- Apple iMac G3 (Early 2001) vs Apple iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, 2019)
- Apple iMac G3 (Early 2001) vs Apple iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2019)
- Apple Mac mini (2005) vs Apple Mac mini (2018)
- Apple iMac G3 (Early 2001) vs Apple iMac Pro (2017)
- Apple iMac (21.5-inch, 2017) vs Apple iMac G3 (Early 2001)
- Apple Mac mini (2005) vs Apple Mac mini (Late 2014)
- Apple Mac mini (2005) vs Apple Mac mini (Late 2012)
- Apple Mac mini (2005) vs Apple Mac mini (Mid 2011)
