Apple iMac G3 (Slot Loading, 1999) vs Apple Mac mini (2005)
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleiMac G3 (Slot Loading, 1999) | AppleMac mini (2005) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | October 1999 | January 2005 |
| Performance | ||
| Processor | PowerPC G3 350 MHz (iMac) or PowerPC G3 400 MHz (iMac) | PowerPC G4 7447A (1.25 GHz) or PowerPC G4 7447A (1.42 GHz) |
| CPU cores | 1 | 1 |
| Graphics | ATI RAGE 128 VR (8 MB) | ATI Radeon 9200 |
| Memory | 64 MB, 128 MB or 512 MB | 256 MB, 512 MB or 1 GB (better) |
| Storage | 6 GB to 13 GB | 40 GB to 80 GB (better) |
| CPU | 350 MHz or 400 MHz PowerPC G3 with 100 MHz system bus and 512 KB backside L2 cache. Apple developer history gives 140/160 MHz cache clocks while EveryMac gives 200 MHz for the DV Special Edition; optional cache-clock fields are omitted. Exact processor supplier is not established. | 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 | ATI RAGE 128 VR with 8 MB video memory and AGP support. Retained sheet says SGRAM while the developer note says SDRAM; memory technology is not silently selected. | ATI Radeon 9200 with 32 MB dedicated DDR SDRAM and AGP 4X support |
| Memory type | PC100 SDRAM in two DIMM slots, up to 512 MB in the retained maker sheet. Base 350 MHz and DV models have 64 MB; DV Special Edition has 128 MB. Configurations retain each base and published maximum 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 | 350 MHz: 6 GB ATA hard drive and slot-loading 24x CD-ROM, Blueberry. 400 MHz DV: 10 GB and 4x DVD-ROM, five fruit colours. 400 MHz DV Special Edition: 13 GB and 4x DVD-ROM, Graphite. These are configurations of one generation. | 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 CRT with 13.8-inch viewable diagonal; no fixed LCD native resolution. | – |
| Display features | Maximum mode 1024 × 768 at 75 Hz; 800 × 600 at 95 Hz and 640 × 480 at 117 Hz (EveryMac exact DV Special Edition specification). | – |
| 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 12 Mbps USB ports on the computer, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, 56K V.90 modem, audio line-in/out and two front headphone jacks. Two FireWire 400 ports and VGA video mirroring are present only on DV and DV Special Edition. AirPort card is optional across this generation. | 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 | DV and DV Special Edition mirror the internal display through VGA; the 350 MHz entry configuration has no external video connector. | 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 Harman Kardon Odyssey stereo sound system and built-in microphone. Convection cooling uses no fan. | Built-in speaker |
| Keyboard and mouse | Apple USB Keyboard and round Apple USB Mouse. | Display, keyboard and mouse sold separately; DVI-to-VGA adapter included |
| Design and power | ||
| Type | All-in-one | Compact |
| Weight | – | 1.32 kg |
| Width × depth × height | – | 165.1 × 165.1 × 50.8 mm |
| Operating system | macOS | macOS |
| Size and weight detail | Retained Apple sheet gives height 15.8, width 15.2 and depth 17.6 inches, weight 34.7 pounds. Exact developer note gives height 39.5, width 38 and depth 44 cm and weight 15.5 kg (34 pounds). Disagreeing main dimensions and weight are omitted. | Maker weight 1.32 kg; Apple notes variation by configuration and manufacturing process |
| Power supply | – | Maximum continuous power 85 W; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz single phase |
| In the box | Mac OS 8.6 at launch; TIME notes Mac OS 9 would begin shipping subsequently. Conservative October 1999 sale month follows the contemporary physical DV Special Edition reviews; the retained introduction day differs from the launch event date. | 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. |
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