Apple Power Mac G5 (Early 2005) vs Apple Power Macintosh 6300/120
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| ApplePower Mac G5 (Early 2005) | ApplePower Macintosh 6300/120 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | April 2005 | June 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 120 MHz (Power Macintosh 6300/120) |
| 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 |
| 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. | 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 | 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. 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 | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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 | None built in | None built in |
| Connections | ||
| Ports | 3 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack | 2 × headphone jack |
| Ethernet | 1 Gb/s | – |
| External displays | Up to 2 | – |
| Front ports | USB 2.0, FireWire 400 and headphone minijack. | Front headphone output and push-button volume controls; infrared receiver for compatible optional remote control. |
| 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. | 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 | 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. | 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 | Built-in speaker; analogue and optical audio connections. | 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 | – | Supports an external microphone or line input; Apple PlainTalk microphone is a separate accessory. |
| Keyboard and mouse | Apple Keyboard, Apple Mouse, USB extension cable and DVI-to-VGA adapter. | 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 | Tower | Compact |
| Weight | 20.2 kg | 8.6 kg (better) |
| Width × depth × height | – | 320 × 419.5 × 109.5 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. | 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 | 450 W on dual 2/2.3 GHz; 600 W on dual 2.7 GHz, as stated by the maker. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
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