Request a product

Apple Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors 2003) vs Apple Power Macintosh 6500/275

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

ApplePower Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors 2003)ApplePower Macintosh 6500/275
Overview
ReleasedJune 20031997
Performance
ProcessorPowerPC G4 1250 MHz (Power Mac MDD 2003) or 2 × PowerPC G4 1250 MHz (Power Mac MDD 2003)PowerPC 603e 275 MHz (Power Macintosh 6500)
CPU cores1 or 21
GraphicsATI Radeon 9000 Pro (64 MB)–
Memory256 MB or 2 GB32 MB or 48 MB
Storage80 GB4 GB to 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.275 MHz PowerPC 603e with integrated floating-point unit, 32 KB L1 cache, 512 KB L2 cache and a 64-bit 50 MHz bus. The shared service specifications use the name 603ev; the exact support page and original brochure use 603e.
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.ATI 3D RAGE II with 2 MB built-in SGRAM, supporting QuickDraw 2D/3D and QuickTime/MPEG-1 acceleration; Apple's exact support table gives 24-bit colour through 832 × 624, 16-bit through 1152 × 870 and 8-bit at 1280 × 1024. The brochure's 24-bit headline ends at 800 × 600.
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 Creative Studio supplies 32 MB in two 168-pin DIMM sockets, with no soldered system RAM; up to 128 MB using 5 V buffered EDO DIMMs. Later Americas Small Office configurations supply 48 MB. The original brochure and service specify 60 ns or faster EDO memory, while the exact support database lists 70 ns. The service narrative calls 48 MB generic 275 memory, whereas its regional tables and original brochure identify 32 MB configurations.
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.Original US Creative Studio M5854LL/A and Canadian launch configuration have a 4 GB IDE drive, 12× tray-loading CD-ROM and 1.44 MB floppy, without a Zip drive. Later Americas configurations documented by Apple have 6 GB, 24× CD-ROM, Zip and a 56.6 Kbit/s Apple/GV modem with Mac OS 8.0; a 32 MB Home bundle and 48 MB Small Office bundle are distinguished. An Americas education configuration has 32 MB, Zip, video input, NTSC output and Ethernet. Asia/Pacific configurations include 32 MB, 24× CD-ROM, video input and Avid Cinema. Gallery photographs show the Zip-equipped configuration.
Expansion slotsFour PCI slots and an occupied AGP 4x graphics slot.Two PCI 2.0 slots for approximately 7-inch cards with Mac drivers; the original Creative Studio Avid Cinema card occupies one, leaving one free. Communications Slot II, video-input slot and TV/FM tuner position are present. The modem occupies the communications slot; the original Creative Studio has a spare pre-cabled 5.25-inch SCSI bay, used by Zip in later configurations. Apple specifies five external SCSI devices with Zip fitted, six otherwise.
Display
ScreenNone built inNone built in
Connections
Ports2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jackHeadphone jack
Ethernet1 Gb/s–
Front portsHeadphone connection and built-in mono speaker.3.5 mm headphone output and volume buttons; infrared receiver for the remote supplied with the Creative Studio TV/FM tuner.
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.DB-15 monitor output, ADB, DB-25 external SCSI, two GeoPort-compatible serial connectors, PlainTalk-compatible sound input and line-level speaker output. The installed modem leaves one serial port available. Original Creative Studio has a 33.6 Kbit/s data/voice modem and 14.4 Kbit/s fax; the communications slot can instead take Ethernet. The exact support database lists 10BASE-T and the service documents an education Ethernet configuration, but the original Creative Studio supplies a modem. Its Apple Video System supports NTSC, PAL and SECAM input; Avid Cinema provides video editing and NTSC/PAL output.
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.–
SpeakersBuilt-in mono speaker and connection for Apple Pro Speakers; no built-in microphone.Built-in full-range monophonic speaker acts as a subwoofer when external speakers are connected; balance adjustment operates only with external speakers. 16-bit stereo input/output and SRS 3D surround processing.
Keyboard and mouseBlack Apple Pro input devices and DVI-to-VGA adapter.Original US Creative Studio includes keyboard, mouse, cables, Apple Video System, TV/FM Radio System, Avid Cinema hardware/software and creative applications; monitor is sold separately. Later regional Home and Small Office configurations have different software and Zip hardware. The maker primary and gallery show a Zip-equipped 6500 family configuration; the original Creative Studio 4 GB configuration does not include Zip.
Design and power
TypeTowerTower
Weight19.1 kg–
Width × depth × height226 × 467 × 432 mm198 × 428 × 406 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.Maker brochure gives 40.6 × 19.8 × 42.8 cm (height × width × depth) and 20.2 kg, varying with installed devices. The shared service manual gives 20.18 kg without the CD-ROM; standard complete-unit weight remains unresolved and the headline mass is omitted. Gallery monitor is optional.
Power supply–Exact support database and original brochure give 220 W maximum continuous, 100–125 or 200–240 V AC at 47–63 Hz. The shared Service Source instead gives 140 W for the 6500 and 90–130 or 180–264 V; the conflicting ratings are retained, and neither is treated as 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 page lists original software 7.6.1; later regional configurations use Mac OS 8.0. Apple lists 4 April 1997 as introduction, while its Canadian announcement promises limited 275/300 supply later that spring. The 1997 ordering brochure and contemporary shipping-system list establish retail sale in 1997, but the actual first-sale month remains unresolved.

More comparisons