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Apple Power Mac G5 (2003) vs Apple Power Macintosh 6500/275

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

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ApplePower Mac G5 (2003)ApplePower Macintosh 6500/275
Overview
ReleasedAugust 20031997
Performance
ProcessorPowerPC G5 1600 MHz (Power Mac 2003), PowerPC G5 1800 MHz (Power Mac 2003), 2 × PowerPC G5 2000 MHz (Power Mac 2003) or 2 × PowerPC G5 1800 MHz (Power Mac 2003)PowerPC 603e 275 MHz (Power Macintosh 6500)
CPU cores1 or 21
GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra (64 MB) or ATI Radeon 9600 Pro (64 MB)–
Memory256 MB, 512 MB, 4 GB or 8 GB32 MB or 48 MB
Storage80 GB to 160 GB4 GB to 6 GB
CPUSingle 1.6 or 1.8 GHz, or dual 2 GHz PowerPC G5 processors; Apple identifies IBM fabrication. Each physical processor has 512 KB L2 cache. Front-side bus per processor is 800 MHz, 900 MHz or 1 GHz respectively. A dual 1.8 GHz configuration was added on 18 November 2003, available immediately; it remains part of this generation.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 1.6 and 1.8 GHz: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra with 64 MB DDR. Stock dual 2 GHz: ATI Radeon 9600 Pro with 64 MB DDR. November dual 1.8 GHz: GeForce FX 5200 Ultra 64 MB. Optional ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128 MB.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 typeSingle 1.6 GHz: 256 MB DDR333, four DIMM slots, maximum 4 GB. Single 1.8 GHz and dual 2 GHz: 512 MB DDR400, eight slots, maximum 8 GB. November dual 1.8 GHz also has 512 MB DDR400 and an 8 GB maximum. DIMMs are installed in matched pairs. Each configuration retains its stock drive and graphics at base and maximum memory.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 on the single 1.6 GHz; 160 GB on the single 1.8 GHz, dual 2 GHz and November dual 1.8 GHz. 7200 rpm Serial ATA drives; two internal bays with 150 MB/s interfaces. One optical bay with 4x DVD-R SuperDrive; optional Combo drive and 80, 160 or 250 GB drives.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 slotsAGP 8x Pro graphics slot. Single 1.6 GHz has three 64-bit 33 MHz PCI slots; faster original models and the November dual 1.8 GHz have PCI-X slots, two at 100 MHz and one at 133 MHz.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
Ports3 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jackHeadphone jack
Ethernet1 Gb/s–
External displaysUp to 2–
Front portsUSB 2.0, FireWire 400 and headphone minijack.3.5 mm headphone output and volume buttons; infrared receiver for the remote supplied with the Creative Studio TV/FM tuner.
Back portsTwo USB 2.0, FireWire 800, FireWire 400, Gigabit Ethernet, V.92 modem, optical Toslink audio input/output and analogue line-in/out. Optional 54 Mbps AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 1.1 with external antennas. Three chassis USB ports in total; keyboard ports are separate.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 DVI-to-VGA adapter; two displays in extended desktop or mirrored modes. A second ADC display needs an optional adapter.–
SpeakersBuilt-in speaker; external audio can use analogue or optical connections.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 mouseApple Keyboard, Apple Mouse, USB extension cable, DVI-to-VGA adapter and modem cable.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
Weight17.8 kg–
Width × depth × height206 × 475 × 511 mm198 × 428 × 406 mm
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Size and weight detailPublished height 51.1 cm, width 20.6 cm, depth 47.5 cm; 17.8 kg reference weight varies with configuration.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.
MaterialsAluminium enclosure with separate thermal zones.–
In the boxOriginal models shipped with Mac OS X Jaguar; the November dual 1.8 GHz announcement includes Panther. Apple’s 18 August 2003 shipping release confirms immediate availability of the single-processor models; the original dual 2 GHz was due later that month.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.

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