Apple Power Mac G5 (Early 2005) vs Apple Power Macintosh 5400/180
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| ApplePower Mac G5 (Early 2005) | ApplePower Macintosh 5400/180 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | April 2005 | 1996 |
| Performance | ||
| Processor | 2 × PowerPC G5 2000 MHz (Power Mac Early 2005), 2 × PowerPC G5 2300 MHz (Power Mac Early 2005) or 2 × PowerPC G5 2700 MHz (Power Mac Early 2005) | PowerPC 603e 180 MHz (Power Macintosh 5400) |
| CPU cores | 2 | 1 |
| Graphics | ATI Radeon 9600 (128 MB) or ATI Radeon 9650 (256 MB) | – |
| Memory | 512 MB, 4 GB or 8 GB (better) | 16 MB |
| Storage | 160 GB to 250 GB (better) | 1.2 GB to 1.6 GB |
| CPU | Two physical PowerPC G5 processors at 2, 2.3 or 2.7 GHz, each with 512 KB L2 cache and no L3 cache. Front-side bus per processor is 1, 1.15 or 1.35 GHz. The dual 2.7 GHz model uses liquid cooling. | 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. |
| GPU | Dual 2 and 2.3 GHz: ATI Radeon 9600 with 128 MB DDR and two single-link DVI outputs. Dual 2.7 GHz: ATI Radeon 9650 with 256 MB GDDR3, one single-link and one dual-link DVI output. Optional NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL with 256 MB has two dual-link DVI outputs and occupies the adjacent PCI slot. | 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 | Stock 512 MB PC3200 DDR400, installed in matched pairs. Dual 2 GHz has four DIMM slots and a 4 GB maximum. Dual 2.3 and 2.7 GHz have eight slots and an 8 GB maximum. Configuration rows keep the stock drives and graphics at base and maximum memory. | 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 type | Stock 160 GB on dual 2 GHz and 250 GB on dual 2.3/2.7 GHz, all 7200 rpm Serial ATA. Two internal drive bays; optional 250 or 400 GB drives, including two 400 GB drives. One optical bay with 16x SuperDrive supporting DVD±R and up to 4x dual-layer DVD+R recording. | 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 slots | AGP 8x Pro graphics slot. Dual 2 GHz has three 64-bit 33 MHz PCI slots. Dual 2.3 and 2.7 GHz have PCI-X: two 100 MHz slots and one 133 MHz 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 | ||
| 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 | 3 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack | Headphone jack |
| Ethernet | 1 Gb/s | – |
| External displays | Up to 2 | – |
| Front ports | USB 2.0, FireWire 400 and headphone minijack. | Headphone output, sound-volume and display controls; infrared receiver for the optional TV/FM remote. |
| Back ports | Two USB 2.0, FireWire 800, FireWire 400, Gigabit Ethernet, optical S/PDIF input/output and analogue audio line-in/out. Three chassis USB ports in total, plus keyboard USB 1.1 ports. AirPort Extreme, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR and a V.92 modem are optional. | 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 displays | Two displays in extended desktop or mirrored modes. Radeon 9600 supports two displays up to 1920 × 1200; Radeon 9650 supports one 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display via dual-link DVI. Optional 6800 Ultra DDL supports two 30-inch displays. DVI-to-VGA adapter included. | 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; analogue and optical audio connections. | 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 Keyboard, Apple Mouse, USB extension cable 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 | ||
| Type | Tower | All-in-one |
| Weight | 20.2 kg (better) | 21 kg |
| Width × depth × height | – | 383 × 406 × 445 mm |
| Operating system | macOS | macOS |
| Size and weight detail | The exact maker sheet labels height as 47.5 cm, width 20.6 cm and depth 51.1 cm. Earlier G5 sheets label height/depth in the opposite order; main dimensions are omitted because those published axes conflict. Maker reference weight is 20.2 kg and varies with configuration. | 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 | 450 W on dual 2/2.3 GHz; 600 W on dual 2.7 GHz, as stated by the maker. | 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. |
| Materials | Aluminium enclosure. | – |
| In the box | Mac OS X Tiger and iLife ’05. Apple’s 27 April 2005 launch says these models are available “this week”; first sale is kept at April precision rather than treating the announcement as a confirmed delivery day. The older single 1.8 GHz model retained in the launch range is represented separately as Late 2004. | 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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