Apple iMac G3 (Slot Loading, 1999) vs Apple Power Mac G4 (PCI Graphics)

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iMac G3 (Slot Loading, 1999) compared with Power Mac G4 (PCI Graphics)

	AppleiMac G3 (Slot Loading, 1999)	ApplePower Mac G4 (PCI Graphics)
Overview
Released
Released	October 1999	August 1999
Performance
Processor
Processor	PowerPC G3 350 MHz (iMac) or PowerPC G3 400 MHz (iMac)	PowerPC G4 350 MHz (Power Mac PCI Graphics) or PowerPC G4 400 MHz (Power Mac PCI Graphics)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Graphics
Graphics	ATI RAGE 128 VR (8 MB)	ATI RAGE 128 (16 MB)
Memory
Memory	64 MB, 128 MB or 512 MB	64 MB or 1 GB (better)
Storage
Storage	6 GB to 13 GB (better)	10 GB
CPU
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.	Single 350 or 400 MHz PowerPC G4 with Velocity Engine; 100 MHz system bus. Exact EveryMac PCI sheets specify 1 MB backside L2 cache; the retained maker page lists 512 KB or 1 MB without exact ties. No silicon supplier is inferred from Apple/Motorola/IBM co-development.
GPU
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 RAGE 128 PCI graphics with 16 MB SDRAM. This is the PCI/Yikes board, distinct from the contemporary AGP model.
Memory type
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.	64 MB PC100 SDRAM standard. Four DIMM slots support up to 1 GB. Configurations preserve 10 GB factory storage at base and maximum RAM.
Storage type
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.	400 MHz launch configuration: 10 GB Ultra ATA/33 and 32x CD-ROM; October 1999 speed-reduced 350 MHz retains those factory specifications (EveryMac). Retained Apple sheet also lists 24x CD-ROM without precise configuration ties. Optional drives are not expanded into unsupported cross-combinations.
Expansion slots
Expansion slots	–	Three open 33 MHz PCI slots plus the 66 MHz PCI slot used by graphics.
Display
Screen size
Screen size	15″	None built in
Resolution
Resolution	1024 × 768	–
Refresh rate
Refresh rate	75 Hz	–
Display type
Display type	Nominal 15-inch CRT with 13.8-inch viewable diagonal; no fixed LCD native resolution.	–
Display features
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
Ports	2 × USB-A, Ethernet, 2 × headphone jack	2 × USB-A, Ethernet
Ethernet
Ethernet	0.1 Gb/s	0.1 Gb/s
Back ports
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 chassis USB ports at 12 Mbps, two external FireWire 400 ports, VGA, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, 56K modem and analog audio input/output. The retained maker FireWire count of three is not supported by the exact PCI port specification (EveryMac). No AirPort slot; keyboard ports are not included.
External displays
External displays	DV and DV Special Edition mirror the internal display through VGA; the 350 MHz entry configuration has no external video connector.	VGA output from the PCI graphics card.
Speakers
Speakers	Integrated Harman Kardon Odyssey stereo sound system and built-in microphone. Convection cooling uses no fan.	Built-in speaker. Audio line-out is not counted as a dedicated headphone jack.
Keyboard and mouse
Keyboard and mouse	Apple USB Keyboard and round Apple USB Mouse.	Apple USB Keyboard and Apple USB Mouse.
Design and power
Type
Type	All-in-one	Tower
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Size and weight detail
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 publishes 17-inch height, 8.9-inch width, 18.4-inch depth and 30-pound weight. Metric main fields omitted; no unit conversion or sibling measurements.
Power supply
Power supply	–	Maximum continuous power 200 W.
In the box
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 OS 8.6. Full contemporary AppleInsider report says Jobs confirmed the 400 MHz configuration shipping immediately on 31 August 1999; the Canadian maker release instead promises September. First-sale month uses the named US report without implying universal regional availability.