Apple Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors 2003) vs Apple Power Macintosh 5400/180

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Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors 2003) compared with Power Macintosh 5400/180
ApplePower Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors 2003)ApplePower Macintosh 5400/180
Overview
ReleasedJune 20031996
Performance
ProcessorPowerPC G4 1250 MHz (Power Mac MDD 2003) or 2 × PowerPC G4 1250 MHz (Power Mac MDD 2003)PowerPC 603e 180 MHz (Power Macintosh 5400)
CPU cores1 or 21
GraphicsATI Radeon 9000 Pro (64 MB)–
Memory256 MB or 2 GB (better)16 MB
Storage80 GB (better)1.2 GB to 1.6 GB
CPUStock 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.180 MHz PowerPC 603e with integrated floating-point unit, 32 KB L1 cache and 64-bit 40 MHz bus; optional 256 KB L2 cache. The shared service narrative also uses the 603ev name. An optional PC Compatibility Card is separate hardware, not part of the standard CPU.
GPUStock 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.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 typeStock 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.Original 16 MB configuration has 8 MB soldered on the logic board and an 8 MB DIMM; two 168-pin DIMM sockets permit up to 136 MB using 70 ns or faster memory. The shared service table also documents 180 MHz boards with 16 MB soldered RAM; that is not the original 8 MB board configuration.
Storage typeStock 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.November 1996 Apple Facts and the exact support database list a 1.6 GB IDE hard drive, 8× CD-ROM and 1.44 MB SuperDrive floppy. Apple's June 1997 US education ordering brochure lists 5400/180 M5686LL/B with 16 MB, a 1.2 GB drive and 8× CD-ROM. The shared service manual documents some US education configurations with 12× CD-ROM and Mac OS 7.6.1. These are distinct bundles, not storage figures transferred from the 5400/200.
Expansion slotsFour PCI slots and an occupied 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. Optional Apple Video System supports NTSC, PAL and SECAM input; optional Apple TV/FM Radio System supplies television and FM reception. Original K–12 channel configurations described by Apple include the Video System and External Video Connector; neither is assumed standard in every bundle.
Display
ScreenNone built in12.8″
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
Ports2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jackHeadphone jack
Ethernet1 Gb/s–
Front portsHeadphone connection and built-in mono speaker.Headphone output, sound-volume and display controls; infrared receiver for the optional TV/FM remote.
Back portsTwo 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.ADB, external DB-25 SCSI, two LocalTalk/GeoPort-compatible serial ports, PlainTalk-compatible sound input and stereo speaker output. November 1996 education configuration includes Ethernet in the communications slot, replaceable by a 28.8 Kbit/s modem. The June 1997 brochure makes Ethernet optional on the 180 MHz version, while the exact support database lists none; no universal Ethernet headline is assigned. Apple Facts specifies six external SCSI devices, whereas the shared service table says up to seven devices without the same external qualification.
External displaysADC 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.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.
SpeakersBuilt-in mono speaker and connection for Apple Pro Speakers; no built-in microphone.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 mouseBlack Apple Pro input devices and DVI-to-VGA adapter.Keyboard, mouse, cables and preinstalled software in the education ordering brochure; video input, TV/FM hardware, Ethernet and PC Compatibility Card vary by bundle or are optional. Shared-family gallery photograph shows the beige 5400 with supplied keyboard and mouse; it is not the international graphite Performa 5420.
Design and power
TypeTowerAll-in-one
Weight19.1 kg (better)21 kg
Width × depth × height226 × 467 × 432 mm383 × 406 × 445 mm
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Size and weight detailMaker 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.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–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 boxMac 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.Exact support database lists System 7.5.3 with Enabler 410; later education brochure and some service configurations use Mac OS 7.6.1. Apple records introduction on 1 October 1996, and its November 1996 current education catalogue establishes sale in 1996. The actual first-sale month is unresolved, so the date remains year precision.

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