Apple Power Mac G4 (FW800) vs Apple Power Macintosh 5400/200
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| ApplePower Mac G4 (FW800) | ApplePower Macintosh 5400/200 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | January 2003 | 1997 |
| Performance | ||
| Processor | PowerPC G4 1000 MHz (Power Mac FW800), 2 × PowerPC G4 1250 MHz (Power Mac FW800) or 2 × PowerPC G4 1420 MHz (Power Mac FW800) | PowerPC 603e 200 MHz (Power Macintosh 5400) |
| CPU cores | 1 or 2 | 1 |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce4 MX (64 MB) or ATI Radeon 9000 Pro (64 MB) | – |
| Memory | 256 MB, 512 MB or 2 GB (better) | 24 MB or 32 MB |
| Storage | 60 GB to 120 GB (better) | 1.6 GB |
| CPU | Single 1 GHz, dual 1.25 GHz or dual 1.42 GHz PowerPC G4; each physical processor has 256 KB on-chip L2 cache. L3 cache is 1 MB on the single 1 GHz, 1 MB per processor on dual 1.25 GHz and 2 MB per processor on dual 1.42 GHz. Bus is 133 MHz on the single model, 167 MHz on dual models. | 200 MHz PowerPC 603e with integrated floating-point unit, 32 KB L1 cache, 256 KB L2 cache and a 64-bit 40 MHz bus. Optional PC Compatibility Card is separate hardware, not part of the standard CPU. |
| GPU | Single 1 GHz: NVIDIA GeForce4 MX with 64 MB DDR. Dual 1.25/1.42 GHz: ATI Radeon 9000 Pro with 64 MB DDR. Optional NVIDIA GeForce4 Titanium and ATI Radeon 9700 Pro, each 128 MB DDR; independent CTO options stay in details. | 1 MB built-in DRAM framebuffer independent of system RAM. Apple's Service Source supports 640 × 480 at 60 or 67 Hz with 16-bit colour, 800 × 600 at 60 or 72 Hz with 16-bit colour, and 832 × 624 at 75 Hz with 8-bit colour; video input is unavailable at 832 × 624. The exact support database also lists 1024 × 768, but the brochure and shared service manual restrict the built-in display to 832 × 624; 1024 × 768 is not used as its headline resolution. |
| Memory type | Single 1 GHz: 256 MB PC2100 DDR at 266 MHz; dual 1.25 GHz: 256 MB PC2700 DDR at 333 MHz; dual 1.42 GHz: 512 MB PC2700. Four DIMM slots support up to 2 GB. Configurations retain stock drives and GPUs at base and maximum supported memory. | Original 24 MB configuration includes 8 MB soldered RAM and a DIMM; later US education M6126LL/A supplies 32 MB. Two 168-pin sockets support up to 136 MB using two 64 MB DIMMs. The exact support table specifies 70 ns minimum, while the shared service table specifies 60 ns or faster 5 V buffered EDO memory for the 200 MHz model; both published conditions are retained. |
| Storage type | Stock 60/80/120 GB 7200 rpm Ultra ATA/100 drives on 1/1.25/1.42 GHz respectively. Lower models have Combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW; top model has SuperDrive (DVD-R 4x, CD-R 16x). Four bays support two ATA/100 and two ATA/66 drives; two optical bays, one occupied. Optional 180 GB drive, SuperDrive on lower models and second Combo drive are not assumed in every configuration. | Exact support database lists a 1.6 GB ATA/IDE hard drive, original 8× CD-ROM and 1.44 MB SuperDrive floppy. The June 1997 US education ordering brochure lists M6126LL/A with 32 MB RAM, the same 1.6 GB hard drive and a 12× CD-ROM; the shared service configuration narrative confirms these later 32 MB/12× education bundles. The 1.2 GB entry in the shared brochure belongs to the 5400/180 and is not assigned to this model. |
| Expansion slots | Four open full-length 64-bit 33 MHz PCI slots and AGP 4x graphics slot. | One PCI slot for a card up to 6.88 inches long and 15 W, Communications Slot II, video-input slot and TV/FM tuner position. Ethernet occupies the communications slot and can be replaced by an optional 28.8 Kbit/s modem. Optional Apple Video System supports NTSC, PAL and SECAM input; optional Apple TV/FM Radio System requires the Video System. Avid Cinema is optional. |
| Display | ||
| Screen | None built in | 12.8″ |
| Resolution | – | 832 × 624 |
| Panel | – | CRT |
| Refresh rate | – | 75 Hz |
| Display type | – | Multiple-scan flat-square shadow-mask CRT, 15-inch nominal tube with a 12.8-inch diagonal viewable image and 0.28 mm dot pitch. Tilt-and-swivel base tilts from −5° to +15° and swivels 360°. |
| Connections | ||
| Ports | 2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack | Headphone jack, Ethernet |
| Ethernet | 1 Gb/s (better) | 0.01 Gb/s |
| External displays | Up to 2 | – |
| Front ports | Headphone minijack and built-in speaker. | Headphone output, sound-volume and display controls; infrared receiver for the optional TV/FM remote. |
| Back ports | One FireWire 800 and two FireWire 400 (15 W total), two chassis USB 1.1, Gigabit Ethernet, V.92 modem, ADC/DVI, audio line-in/out and Apple Pro Speakers minijack. Maker four-port USB total includes two ports on the keyboard. Optional AirPort Extreme 54 Mbps 802.11g card and Bluetooth 1.1 module. | 10BASE-T Ethernet, ADB, external DB-25 SCSI, two LocalTalk/GeoPort-compatible serial ports, PlainTalk-compatible sound input and stereo speaker output. Communications Slot II is used by the Ethernet card; an optional modem replaces it. Shared brochure specifies six external SCSI devices, while the service table says up to seven devices without the same external qualification. The shared service configuration narrative lists Ethernet among some education bundle features; the exact 200 MHz support page and ordering brochure identify it as included. |
| External displays | Two displays in extended desktop or mirroring modes. ADC and DVI connectors with included DVI-to-VGA adapter; digital up to 1920 × 1200, analogue up to 1600 × 1200. A second ADC display needs a separately sold adapter. | Optional Apple External Video Connector enables video mirroring to a compatible display; the shared service lists 640 × 480, 800 × 600 and 832 × 624 external modes. Optional Apple Presentation System converts output to NTSC or PAL. A connector and compatible display are required. |
| Speakers | Built-in speaker; optional Apple Pro Speakers. | Built-in stereo speakers, 16-bit stereo sound input/output and SRS 3D surround processing, with rear stereo speaker output. |
| Microphones | – | Built-in microphone; PlainTalk-compatible external sound input. |
| Keyboard and mouse | Apple Pro Keyboard, Apple Pro Mouse, USB keyboard extension, DVI-to-VGA adapter and modem cable. | Keyboard, mouse and cables in the exact 200 MHz ordering brochure. Video input, TV/FM hardware, Avid Cinema and PC Compatibility Card are optional. Maker primary is the same photograph reprinted for the shared 180/200 family in August 1997 Apple Facts; gallery is the original shared 180/200 brochure angle. Neither external view establishes the fitted RAM or optical-drive speed. |
| Design and power | ||
| Type | Tower | All-in-one |
| Weight | 19.1 kg (better) | 21 kg |
| Width × depth × height | 227 × 468 × 432 mm | 383 × 406 × 445 mm |
| Operating system | macOS | macOS |
| Size and weight detail | Maker reference 19.1 kg varies with configuration and manufacturing. Height 43.2 cm, width 22.7 cm, depth 46.8 cm. | Apple Facts and the ordering brochure give 44.5 × 38.3 × 40.6 cm (height × width × depth), and 21 kg / 47 lb, varying with installed devices. The shared service physical table swaps width/depth and prints internally inconsistent pound/kilogram weights; the exact maker brochure dimensions and complete-unit mass are used. |
| Power supply | 100–125 V or 200–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz; maximum current 6.5 A at low voltage or 7.5 A at high voltage. No wattage is supplied by this sheet. | Brochure and exact support database specify 220 W maximum continuous, 110–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz. The shared service gives 100–240 V at 47–63 Hz, a separate 125 W entry and 220 W maximum for all line/load conditions; these are power ratings, not measured operating consumption. |
| In the box | Mac OS X with Classic environment rather than native Mac OS 9 boot; iLife and productivity software. Single 1 GHz and dual 1.25 GHz were available on 28 January 2003; dual 1.42 GHz was announced for the following month and subsequently reviewed. Its later availability does not change the generation’s first on-sale date. | Exact support database lists original System 7.5.5; later 32 MB/12× education bundles use Mac OS 7.6.1. Apple records introduction on 17 February 1997; its June ordering brochure and August current catalogue establish sale in 1997. The actual first-sale month is unresolved and introduction is not used as a retail day. |
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