Apple iMac G3 (Slot Loading, 1999) vs Apple Mac mini (2005)

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

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iMac G3 (Slot Loading, 1999) compared with Mac mini (2005)
AppleiMac G3 (Slot Loading, 1999)AppleMac mini (2005)
Overview
ReleasedOctober 1999January 2005
Performance
ProcessorPowerPC G3 350 MHz (iMac) or PowerPC G3 400 MHz (iMac)PowerPC G4 7447A (1.25 GHz) or PowerPC G4 7447A (1.42 GHz)
CPU cores11
GraphicsATI RAGE 128 VR (8 MB)ATI Radeon 9200
Memory64 MB, 128 MB or 512 MB256 MB, 512 MB or 1 GB (better)
Storage6 GB to 13 GB40 GB to 80 GB (better)
CPU350 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
GPUATI 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 typePC100 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 type350 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 size15″None built in
Resolution1024 × 768–
Refresh rate75 Hz–
Display typeNominal 15-inch CRT with 13.8-inch viewable diagonal; no fixed LCD native resolution.–
Display featuresMaximum mode 1024 × 768 at 75 Hz; 800 × 600 at 95 Hz and 640 × 480 at 117 Hz (EveryMac exact DV Special Edition specification).–
Connections
Ports2 × USB-A, Ethernet, 2 × headphone jack2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack
Ethernet0.1 Gb/s0.1 Gb/s
External displays–Up to 1
Wi-Fi–Optional 802.11g
Bluetooth–Optional internal Bluetooth
Back portsTwo 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 displaysDV 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.
SpeakersIntegrated Harman Kardon Odyssey stereo sound system and built-in microphone. Convection cooling uses no fan.Built-in speaker
Keyboard and mouseApple USB Keyboard and round Apple USB Mouse.Display, keyboard and mouse sold separately; DVI-to-VGA adapter included
Design and power
TypeAll-in-oneCompact
Weight–1.32 kg
Width × depth × height–165.1 × 165.1 × 50.8 mm
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Size and weight detailRetained 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 boxMac 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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