Apple Mac mini (2005) vs Apple Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors 2003)

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Mac mini (2005) compared with Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors 2003)
AppleMac mini (2005)ApplePower Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors 2003)
Overview
ReleasedJanuary 2005June 2003
Performance
ProcessorPowerPC G4 7447A (1.25 GHz) or PowerPC G4 7447A (1.42 GHz)PowerPC G4 1250 MHz (Power Mac MDD 2003) or 2 × PowerPC G4 1250 MHz (Power Mac MDD 2003)
CPU cores11 or 2
GraphicsATI Radeon 9200ATI Radeon 9000 Pro (64 MB)
Memory256 MB, 512 MB or 1 GB256 MB or 2 GB (better)
Storage40 GB to 80 GB80 GB
CPU1.25 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 NXPStock single 1.25 GHz PowerPC G4 with 256 KB L2 cache and 1 MB L3 cache. Contemporary Macworld reporting of Apple Store configurations also documents dual 1.25 GHz processors, each with 2 MB L3; this custom build is labelled in configuration details rather than presented as a second stock base.
GPUATI Radeon 9200 with 32 MB dedicated DDR SDRAM and AGP 4X supportStock ATI Radeon 9000 Pro with 64 MB DDR in an AGP 4x slot. Macworld also documents a custom dual-processor build with NVIDIA GeForce4 Titanium; that build has other upgrades and is not treated as a freely interchangeable stock configuration.
Memory typeOne 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.Stock 256 MB PC2700 DDR333; four DIMM slots, maximum 2 GB. The single-processor configurations retain the stock drive and graphics at base and maximum memory. The documented dual-processor custom base has 256 MB.
Storage type1.25 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.Stock 80 GB 7200 rpm Ultra ATA/100 hard drive; up to four internal drives. Tray-loading Combo drive reads DVD at 8x and CD at 32x, writes CD-R at 16x and CD-RW at 10x. Macworld documents a dual 1.25 GHz custom base with 80 GB, Combo drive and Radeon 9000 Pro, and a separate upgraded build with 2 GB RAM, two 160 GB drives, SuperDrive and GeForce4 Titanium. The two-drive build is described here without flattening its drives into a single capacity.
Expansion slots–Four PCI slots and an occupied AGP 4x graphics slot.
Display
ScreenNone built inNone built in
Connections
Ports2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack
Ethernet0.1 Gb/s1 Gb/s (better)
Front ports–Headphone connection and built-in mono speaker.
External displaysUp to 1–
Wi-FiOptional 802.11g–
BluetoothOptional internal Bluetooth–
Back portsTwo 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.Two USB 1.1, two FireWire 400, Gigabit Ethernet with Auto-MDIX, ADC and DVI display connectors, audio line-in/out and Apple Pro Speakers connection. The maker lists a V.92 modem. Optional original AirPort; the contemporary Apple-spokesman report confirms no AirPort Extreme, internal Bluetooth or FireWire 800.
External displaysDVI 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.ADC and DVI connectors with included DVI-to-VGA adapter. Digital resolution up to 1920 × 1200; analogue up to 1600 × 1200. The exact sheet does not publish a simultaneous display count.
SpeakersBuilt-in speakerBuilt-in mono speaker and connection for Apple Pro Speakers; no built-in microphone.
Keyboard and mouseDisplay, keyboard and mouse sold separately; DVI-to-VGA adapter includedBlack Apple Pro input devices and DVI-to-VGA adapter.
Design and power
TypeCompactTower
Weight1.32 kg (better)19.1 kg
Width × depth × height165.1 × 165.1 × 50.8 mm226 × 467 × 432 mm
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Size and weight detailMaker weight 1.32 kg; Apple notes variation by configuration and manufacturing processMaker dimensions: height 43.2 cm, width 22.6 cm, depth 46.7 cm; weight 19.1 kg. These published metric values differ slightly from the FW800 sheet.
Power supplyMaximum continuous power 85 W; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz single phase–
In the boxMac 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.Mac OS X 10.2.4 and bootable Mac OS 9.2.2, install/restore DVD and Apple Hardware Test. First sale uses the 23 June 2003 Macworld report that these models were for sale at Apple’s online store; a 29 June report quotes an Apple spokesman confirming manufacture and sale. The first day is contemporary Apple Store reporting rather than a retained maker launch notice.

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