Apple Power Mac G5 (June 2004) vs Apple Power Macintosh 5400/120

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Power Mac G5 (June 2004) compared with Power Macintosh 5400/120
ApplePower Mac G5 (June 2004)ApplePower Macintosh 5400/120
Overview
ReleasedJune 20041996
Performance
Processor2 × PowerPC G5 1800 MHz (Power Mac June 2004), 2 × PowerPC G5 2000 MHz (Power Mac June 2004) or 2 × PowerPC G5 2500 MHz (Power Mac June 2004)PowerPC 603e 120 MHz (Power Macintosh 5400)
CPU cores21
GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra (64 MB) or ATI Radeon 9600 XT (128 MB)–
Memory256 MB, 512 MB, 4 GB or 8 GB (better)16 MB
Storage80 GB to 160 GB (better)1.6 GB
CPUTwo physical PowerPC G5 processors at 1.8, 2 or 2.5 GHz, each with 512 KB L2 cache. Per-processor front-side bus is 900 MHz, 1 GHz or 1.25 GHz respectively. Only the dual 2.5 GHz uses the maker’s liquid-cooling system.120 MHz PowerPC 603e with integrated floating-point unit, 32 KB L1 cache and 64-bit 40 MHz bus; optional 256 KB L2 High Performance Module M4505LL/A. Optional PC Compatibility Card with a 100 MHz 586 processor is separate hardware.
GPUDual 1.8 and 2 GHz: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra with 64 MB DDR. Dual 2.5 GHz: ATI Radeon 9600 XT with 128 MB DDR. Optional ATI Radeon 9800 XT with 256 MB occupies the adjacent PCI slot as well as AGP.1 MB built-in DRAM framebuffer separate from system RAM, not expandable. Apple's shared Service Source supports 640 × 480 at 60 or 67 Hz and 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. Exact support lists only 8-bit colour at 800 × 600; this conflicts with the shared service table and contemporary MacUser test, so both claims remain qualified.
Memory typeDDR400 PC3200 in matched pairs. Dual 1.8 GHz starts with 256 MB and has four DIMM slots with a 4 GB maximum. Dual 2 and 2.5 GHz start with 512 MB and have eight slots with an 8 GB maximum. Base and maximum memory rows retain each model’s stock storage and graphics.16 MB standard, consisting of 8 MB soldered on the logic board and one 8 MB DIMM; two 168-pin sockets accept independently installed 70 ns or faster DIMMs, expandable to 136 MB. Optional L2 cache is separate from this memory.
Storage typeStock 80 GB on dual 1.8 GHz and 160 GB on dual 2/2.5 GHz; 7200 rpm Serial ATA. Two bays with 150 MB/s interfaces; optional 80, 160 or 250 GB drives, up to two 250 GB drives. One optical bay with 8x DVD-R SuperDrive; Combo drive is optional.1.6 GB IDE hard drive and 1.44 MB Apple SuperDrive floppy. The original May 1996 Apple Facts configuration includes a quadruple-speed CD-ROM; original Apple TIL 19886 identifies B2765LL/A with AppleCD 600i Plus and a later higher-education-only M5184LL/B bundle with an 8× CD-ROM. The shared Service Source confirms the education 8× configuration otherwise has the same hardware. These optical-drive bundles share the same RAM/storage configuration.
Expansion slotsAGP 8x Pro graphics slot. Dual 1.8 GHz has three 64-bit 33 MHz PCI slots. Dual 2 and 2.5 GHz have PCI-X: two 100 MHz and one 133 MHz slots.One 32-bit PCI 2.0 slot for a card up to 7 inches long, PCI-based Communications Slot II, optional video-input card and TV/FM tuner bay. Apple Video System supports NTSC, PAL and SECAM; original Apple TIL says video capture is included in some configurations and optional in others. Earlier Ethernet cards for non-PCI communications slots do not establish compatibility.
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
Ports3 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jackHeadphone jack
Ethernet1 Gb/s–
External displaysUp to 2–
Front portsUSB 2.0, FireWire 400 and headphone minijack.Headphone output, sound-volume and display controls; infrared receiver for the optional TV/FM remote.
Back portsTwo USB 2.0, FireWire 800, FireWire 400, Gigabit Ethernet, V.92 modem, optical Toslink input/output and analogue audio line-in/out. Three chassis USB ports in total, plus keyboard USB 1.1 ports. Optional 54 Mbps AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 1.1.ADB, external DB-25 SCSI, two LocalTalk/GeoPort-compatible serial ports, PlainTalk-compatible sound input and stereo speaker output. Exact Apple support and original TIL describe 10Base-T through a Communications Slot II card; May 1996 Apple Facts calls Ethernet optional. No universally supplied Ethernet headline is assumed. TIL lists optional thin-coax and AAUI Ethernet cards. Apple Facts specifies six external SCSI devices; the shared service says seven without the same external qualification.
External displaysADC and DVI with included DVI-to-VGA adapter; two displays in extended or mirrored modes. A second ADC display requires a separate adapter.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 speaker; analogue and optical connections for external audio.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 mouseApple Keyboard, Apple Mouse, USB extension cable, DVI-to-VGA adapter, modem cable and AirPort antenna.AppleDesign Keyboard, ADB mouse and preinstalled software in the exact original ordering information. Ethernet, video input, video output, TV/FM tuner and PC Compatibility Card vary by bundle or are optional. Maker gallery shows the beige shared 5400 housing with keyboard and mouse; it is not the graphite Performa 5420.
Design and power
TypeTowerAll-in-one
Weight20.2 kg (better)21.2 kg
Width × depth × height206 × 475 × 511 mm383 × 406 × 445 mm
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Size and weight detailMaker height 51.1 cm, width 20.6 cm, depth 47.5 cm; reference weight 20.2 kg varies with configuration.Exact May 1996 Apple Facts gives 44.5 × 38.3 × 40.6 cm (height × width × depth) and 21.2 kg / 47 lb, varying with installed devices. Exact support agrees on inch dimensions and pounds. The shared service physical table swaps width/depth and prints inconsistent pound/kilogram weights; the exact model catalogue measurements are used.
Power supply–Exact support specifies 220 W maximum, 110–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz. Shared Service Source gives 100–240 V at 47–63 Hz, a separate 125 W entry and 220 W maximum for all line/load conditions. These are electrical ratings rather than measured operating consumption.
MaterialsAluminium enclosure with separate cooling zones.–
In the boxMac OS X Panther and iLife. The 1.8 and 2 GHz models were available on 9 June 2004. Apple initially stated July availability for the 2.5 GHz model, later than the generation’s first sale.Original System 7.5.3 with System Enabler 410 and 4 MB ROM. Apple records introduction on 15 April 1996; its May 1996 current education catalogue and October 1996 ordering description establish sale in 1996. The actual first-sale month remains unresolved, so release is year precision. North American Power Macintosh 5400/120 was education-channel hardware; international Performa names and faster CPU variants are separate models.

More comparisons