Apple Mac mini (2005) vs Apple Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors 2003)
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleMac mini (2005) | ApplePower Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors 2003) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | January 2005 | June 2003 |
| Performance | ||
| Processor | PowerPC 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 cores | 1 | 1 or 2 |
| Graphics | ATI Radeon 9200 | ATI Radeon 9000 Pro (64 MB) |
| Memory | 256 MB, 512 MB or 1 GB | 256 MB or 2 GB (better) |
| Storage | 40 GB to 80 GB | 80 GB |
| CPU | 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 | Stock 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. |
| GPU | ATI Radeon 9200 with 32 MB dedicated DDR SDRAM and AGP 4X support | Stock 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 type | 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. | 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 type | 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. | 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 | ||
| Screen | None built in | None built in |
| Connections | ||
| Ports | 2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack | 2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack |
| Ethernet | 0.1 Gb/s | 1 Gb/s (better) |
| Front ports | – | Headphone connection and built-in mono speaker. |
| External displays | Up to 1 | – |
| Wi-Fi | Optional 802.11g | – |
| Bluetooth | Optional internal Bluetooth | – |
| Back ports | 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. | 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 displays | 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. | 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. |
| Speakers | Built-in speaker | Built-in mono speaker and connection for Apple Pro Speakers; no built-in microphone. |
| Keyboard and mouse | Display, keyboard and mouse sold separately; DVI-to-VGA adapter included | Black Apple Pro input devices and DVI-to-VGA adapter. |
| Design and power | ||
| Type | Compact | Tower |
| Weight | 1.32 kg (better) | 19.1 kg |
| Width × depth × height | 165.1 × 165.1 × 50.8 mm | 226 × 467 × 432 mm |
| Operating system | macOS | macOS |
| Size and weight detail | Maker weight 1.32 kg; Apple notes variation by configuration and manufacturing process | Maker 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 supply | Maximum continuous power 85 W; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz single phase | – |
| In the box | 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. | 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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