Apple iMac G4 (17-inch, USB 2.0) vs Apple Mac mini (2005)

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iMac G4 (17-inch, USB 2.0) compared with Mac mini (2005)
AppleiMac G4 (17-inch, USB 2.0)AppleMac mini (2005)
Overview
ReleasedSeptember 2003January 2005
Performance
ProcessorMotorola PowerPC G4 1.25 GHz (iMac USB 2.0)PowerPC G4 7447A (1.25 GHz) or PowerPC G4 7447A (1.42 GHz)
CPU cores11
GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra (64 MB)ATI Radeon 9200
Memory256 MB, 512 MB or 1 GB256 MB, 512 MB or 1 GB
Storage80 GB to 160 GB (better)40 GB to 80 GB
CPU1.25 GHz PowerPC G4 with 167 MHz system bus and 256 KB on-chip L2 cache. Single-core generic maker-clock record avoids inferring a silicon revision.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
GPUNVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra with 64 MB dedicated DDR video memory and AGP 4x support.ATI Radeon 9200 with 32 MB dedicated DDR SDRAM and AGP 4X support
Memory type256 MB PC2700 (333 MHz) DDR SDRAM standard; factory options 512 MB or 1 GB. One 184-pin DIMM and one user-accessible SO-DIMM slot. Configurations retain Apple's supported 1 GB maximum, not unofficial upgrade limits.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 type80 GB 7200 rpm Ultra ATA/100 hard drive, configurable to 160 GB; 4x SuperDrive DVD-R/CD-RW. The published memory and storage factory options are retained for the 1.25 GHz processor.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 size17″None built in
Resolution1440 × 900–
Brightness200 nits–
Display typeWidescreen TFT active-matrix LCD with millions of colours and typical 300:1 contrast. Panel technology and refresh rate are not published in the exact maker sheet.–
Display featuresTypical viewing angles: 120° horizontal and 90° vertical; articulated display arm adjusts height and angle.–
Connections
Ports3 × USB-A, Ethernet, 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 portsThree USB 2.0 ports on the computer, up to 480 Mbps, plus two USB 1.1 ports on the keyboard; two FireWire 400 ports with 8 W shared power, Mini-VGA, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, 56K V.92 modem, headphone jack, Apple speaker minijack and audio line-in. AirPort Extreme 802.11g card and internal Bluetooth are optional, rather than standard.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 displaysMini-VGA provides video mirroring on a VGA display or S-video/composite television through optional adapters. Output resolutions: 640 × 480 at 60 Hz, 800 × 600 at 75 Hz or 1024 × 768 at 75 Hz.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.
SpeakersBuilt-in speaker and microphone, Apple Pro Speakers rated at 7 W each and internal 14 W amplifier; the earlier revision's 9 W speakers are not substituted.Built-in speaker
Keyboard and mouseApple Keyboard, Apple Mouse, Apple Pro Speakers and modem cable.Display, keyboard and mouse sold separately; DVI-to-VGA adapter included
Design and power
TypeAll-in-oneCompact
Weight10.4 kg1.32 kg (better)
Width × depth × height–165.1 × 165.1 × 50.8 mm
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Size and weight detailAdjustable maker ranges: height 331–509 mm, width 423–449 mm and depth 270–423 mm; base diameter 270 mm. Reference weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process.Maker weight 1.32 kg; Apple notes variation by configuration and manufacturing process
Power supply90–264 V AC, 47–63 Hz, single phase; maximum continuous power 160 W.Maximum continuous power 85 W; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz single phase
In the boxLaunch Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar and iLife, with Apple's productivity software and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4. The retained specification lists the later Mac OS X 10.3 Panther bundle. Maker launch confirms immediate availability on 8 September 2003.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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