Apple iMac G4 (15-inch, Flat Panel) vs Apple iMac G4 (17-inch, Flat Panel)

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

iMac G4 (15-inch, Flat Panel) compared with iMac G4 (17-inch, Flat Panel)
AppleiMac G4 (15-inch, Flat Panel)AppleiMac G4 (17-inch, Flat Panel)
Overview
ReleasedJanuary 2002August 2002
Performance
ProcessorMotorola PowerPC G4 700 MHz (iMac Flat Panel) or Motorola PowerPC G4 800 MHz (iMac Flat Panel)Motorola PowerPC G4 800 MHz (iMac Flat Panel)
CPU cores11
GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce2 MX (32 MB)NVIDIA GeForce4 MX (32 MB)
Memory128 MB, 256 MB or 1 GB256 MB or 1 GB
Storage40 GB to 60 GB80 GB (better)
CPU700 or 800 MHz PowerPC G4 with 256 KB on-chip L2 cache and 100 MHz system bus. Generic maker-clock chip records retain the single-core identity cross-checked with exact EveryMac sources; an uncertain silicon revision is not inferred.800 MHz PowerPC G4 with 256 KB on-chip L2 cache and 100 MHz system bus. Generic maker-clock record retains the single-core identity cross-checked with the exact EveryMac source; a silicon revision is not inferred.
GPUNVIDIA GeForce2 MX with 32 MB dedicated DDR video memory and AGP 2x support.NVIDIA GeForce4 MX with 32 MB dedicated DDR video memory; the retained maker sheet lists AGP 2x support.
Memory typeSDRAM, expandable to 1 GB, with one 168-pin DIMM and one user-accessible SO-DIMM slot. Launch CD-RW base: 128 MB; Combo and SuperDrive bases: 256 MB. Configurations conservatively show those published bases and the maker's maximum.256 MB SDRAM standard, expandable to 1 GB; one 168-pin DIMM and one user-accessible SO-DIMM slot. Configurations conservatively list the published base and maximum.
Storage typeLaunch combinations: 700 MHz with CD-RW and 40 GB hard drive; 700 MHz with Combo drive and 40 GB; 800 MHz with SuperDrive and 60 GB. Optical options on the 700 MHz model account for its different base memory. Drives use Ultra ATA. Combo reads DVDs and writes CDs; SuperDrive writes DVDs and CDs.80 GB Ultra ATA hard drive and SuperDrive DVD-R/CD-RW. The retained sheet lists DVD-R writing at 2x, DVD reading at 6x, CD-R writing at 8x and CD-RW writing at 4x.
Display
Screen size15″17″
Resolution1024 × 7681440 × 900 (better)
Brightness200 nits200 nits
Display typeTFT active-matrix LCD with millions of colours and typical 300:1 contrast. Panel technology and refresh rate are not established by the exact maker sheet.Widescreen TFT active-matrix LCD with millions of colours and typical 300:1 contrast; panel technology and refresh rate are not established by the exact maker sheet.
Display featuresTypical viewing angles: 120° horizontal and 90° vertical. Articulated arm adjusts the display's height and angle.Typical viewing angles: 120° horizontal and 90° vertical. Articulated arm adjusts the display's height and angle.
Connections
Ports3 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack3 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack
Ethernet0.1 Gb/s0.1 Gb/s
Back portsThree 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.90 modem, headphone jack and Apple speaker minijack. Original AirPort 802.11b card is optional; wireless networking is not standard.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.90 modem, headphone jack and Apple speaker minijack. Original AirPort 802.11b card is optional, rather than standard.
External displaysMini-VGA provides video mirroring through an optional VGA adapter: 640 × 480 at 60 Hz, 800 × 600 at 75 Hz or 1024 × 768 at 75 Hz. The original model does not list S-video or composite output.Mini-VGA provides video mirroring through an optional VGA adapter: 640 × 480 at 60 Hz, 800 × 600 at 75 Hz or 1024 × 768 at 75 Hz. S-video and composite output are not listed for this original revision.
SpeakersBuilt-in speaker and microphone; selected configurations include Apple Pro Speakers rated at 9 W each with an internal 18 W amplifier.Built-in speaker and microphone, Apple Pro Speakers rated at 9 W each and internal 18 W amplifier.
Keyboard and mouseApple Pro Keyboard and Apple Pro Mouse; Apple Pro Speakers are included with the Combo and SuperDrive launch configurations.Apple Pro Keyboard, Apple Pro Mouse and Apple Pro Speakers; modem cable, Apple Hardware Test CD and documentation.
Design and power
TypeAll-in-oneAll-in-one
Weight9.7 kg–
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Size and weight detailAdjustable maker ranges: height 329–509 mm, width 384–415 mm and depth 270–415 mm; base diameter 270 mm. The reference weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process, so no single fixed-position dimension is selected.The retained combined maker sheet publishes metric size and weight only for the 15-inch model; those figures are not borrowed for the 17-inch model.
Power supply90–264 V AC, 47–63 Hz, single phase; maximum continuous power 130 W.90–264 V AC, 47–63 Hz, single phase; retained combined specification gives maximum continuous power 130 W.
In the boxLaunch software: Mac OS X 10.1.2 and Mac OS 9.2.2, with iTunes, iMovie and iPhoto; iDVD requires SuperDrive. The 800 MHz SuperDrive configuration was stated to ship in late January 2002, the 700 MHz Combo in February and CD-RW in March. The release month records the first configuration, not the 7 January announcement.Mac OS X and Mac OS 9 with Apple's creative and productivity software. The 17 July announcement expected shipping early the following month; Apple's 13 August release confirmed immediate availability, so the release month is August. Jaguar software availability and the launch configuration are not assumed to be identical.

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