Apple Power Mac G4 (FW800) vs Apple Power Macintosh 6300/120

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Power Mac G4 (FW800) compared with Power Macintosh 6300/120

	ApplePower Mac G4 (FW800)	ApplePower Macintosh 6300/120
Overview
Released
Released	January 2003	June 1996
Performance
Processor
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 120 MHz (Power Macintosh 6300/120)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1 or 2	1
Graphics
Graphics	NVIDIA GeForce4 MX (64 MB) or ATI Radeon 9000 Pro (64 MB)	–
Memory
Memory	256 MB, 512 MB or 2 GB (better)	16 MB
Storage
Storage	60 GB to 120 GB (better)	1.2 GB
CPU
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.	120 MHz PowerPC 603e with integrated floating-point unit, 32 KB L1 cache and standard 256 KB L2 cache. Exact English support lists a 64-bit processor data path at 40 MHz; this is not a claim that every memory or I/O bus is 64-bit.
GPU
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. DB-15 monitor output supports 640 × 480 with 16-bit colour or 800 × 600 and 832 × 624 with 8-bit colour. Exact English support states video input is not supported at 832 × 624.
Memory type
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.	16 MB standard, expandable to 64 MB using two 72-pin noncomposite SIMM slots with 80 ns or faster DRAM. No RAM soldered on the board in exact English support; SIMMs can be installed individually. Original Japanese accessory list also advertises an 8 MB 70 ns memory kit.
Storage type
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.	1.2 GB internal IDE hard drive, Apple SuperDrive 1.44 MB floppy and 4× AppleCD 600i CD-ROM drive in the exact Japanese factory configuration.
Expansion slots
Expansion slots	Four open full-length 64-bit 33 MHz PCI slots and AGP 4x graphics slot.	LC-compatible 68030 processor-direct expansion slot, communications slot for optional Ethernet or modem, optional video-input card and TV tuner connector. No PCI. Optional Apple TV/FM Radio System requires the Apple Video System; NTSC, PAL and SECAM capture are available with the relevant expansion card.
Display
Screen
Screen	None built in	None built in
Connections
Ports
Ports	2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack	2 × headphone jack
Ethernet
Ethernet	1 Gb/s	–
External displays
External displays	Up to 2	–
Front ports
Front ports	Headphone minijack and built-in speaker.	Front headphone output and push-button volume controls; infrared receiver for compatible optional remote control.
Back ports
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.	DB-15 display output, one ADB port, two RS-232/422 serial ports for printer/modem and AppleTalk, DB-25 SCSI, microphone/line input and stereo sound output. Ethernet requires an optional communications card; these serial ports are not GeoPort.
External displays
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.	No built-in display. Original Japanese page supports Apple monitors from 13 to 20 inches and compatible VGA/SVGA monitors using the appropriate video cable. Contemporary special bundle includes an Apple Multiple Scan 1705 17-inch monitor; the base computer does not include it.
Speakers
Speakers	Built-in speaker; optional Apple Pro Speakers.	Built-in speaker; muted when a sound-output port is used. 16-bit monophonic audio input and 16-bit stereo output. Front and rear headphone/output jacks cannot be used simultaneously, according to the exact Japanese specifications.
Microphones
Microphones	–	Supports an external microphone or line input; Apple PlainTalk microphone is a separate accessory.
Keyboard and mouse
Keyboard and mouse	Apple Pro Keyboard, Apple Pro Mouse, USB keyboard extension, DVI-to-VGA adapter and modem cable.	Japanese configuration includes Apple Desktop Bus Mouse II, power cable, manuals, warranty information and KanjiTalk 7.5.1, Apple Internet Starter Kit and ClarisWorks 2.0J CDs. Keyboard is sold separately. The contemporary photo also shows an external monitor and keyboard; these are not built into the desktop.
Design and power
Type
Type	Tower	Compact
Weight
Weight	19.1 kg	8.6 kg (better)
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	227 × 468 × 432 mm	320 × 419.5 × 109.5 mm
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Size and weight detail
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.	Exact Japanese maker page gives 109.5 × 320 × 419.5 mm (height × width × depth), 8.6 kg for the computer. English support gives 4.3 × 12.6 × 16.5 inches and 19 lb, rounded equivalents. External monitor, keyboard and mouse are excluded.
Power supply
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.	Exact Japanese maker page specifies 82 W maximum excluding the monitor, 100–240 V AC at 50–60 Hz. Exact English support and archived Apple Spec Database instead give 55 W maximum, 110–240 V at 50–60 Hz. Clock battery is described as lithium in the Japanese page and 4.5 V alkaline in the English table. Conflicts remain explicit; no universal operating-consumption headline or inferred battery type.
In the box
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.	KanjiTalk/System 7.5.1 and 4 MB ROM. Apple records introduction on 27 June 1996; PC Watch’s contemporary 2 July retailer survey explicitly reports sale from 27 June, corroborating that date. English maker table states this system was not sold in the US. The 120 MHz Power Macintosh is distinct from the existing 100 MHz Macintosh Performa 6300CD; no unverified official predecessor link is assigned.