Apple Power Mac G5 (Late 2005) vs Apple Power Macintosh 5400/200
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| ApplePower Mac G5 (Late 2005) | ApplePower Macintosh 5400/200 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | October 2005 | 1997 |
| Performance | ||
| Processor | PowerPC G5 dual-core 2000 MHz (Power Mac Late 2005), PowerPC G5 dual-core 2300 MHz (Power Mac Late 2005) or 2 × PowerPC G5 dual-core 2500 MHz (Power Mac Late 2005) | PowerPC 603e 200 MHz (Power Macintosh 5400) |
| CPU cores | 2 or 4 | 1 |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce 6600 LE (128 MB) or NVIDIA GeForce 6600 (256 MB) | – |
| Memory | 512 MB or 16 GB (better) | 24 MB or 32 MB |
| Storage | 160 GB to 250 GB (better) | 1.6 GB |
| CPU | Dual models have one physical dual-core PowerPC G5 at 2 or 2.3 GHz. Quad has two physical dual-core processors at 2.5 GHz, four cores in total. Each core has 1 MB L2 cache. Front-side bus per physical processor is 1, 1.15 or 1.25 GHz respectively. Macworld’s exact Quad review describes its liquid cooling. | 200 MHz PowerPC 603e with integrated floating-point unit, 32 KB L1 cache, 256 KB L2 cache and a 64-bit 40 MHz bus. Optional PC Compatibility Card is separate hardware, not part of the standard CPU. |
| GPU | Stock dual-core 2 GHz: NVIDIA GeForce 6600 LE with 128 MB GDDR SDRAM. Dual-core 2.3 GHz and Quad: NVIDIA GeForce 6600 with 256 MB GDDR SDRAM. Optional NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GT 256 MB and Quadro FX 4500 512 MB; the Quadro occupies the graphics slot and adjacent x4 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 PC2-4200 DDR2 at 533 MHz, installed in matched pairs. Up to 16 GB supported; ECC configurations available from 1 GB. Rows retain the stock drive and graphics at base and maximum supported memory. | Original 24 MB configuration includes 8 MB soldered RAM and a DIMM; later US education M6126LL/A supplies 32 MB. Two 168-pin sockets support up to 136 MB using two 64 MB DIMMs. The exact support table specifies 70 ns minimum, while the shared service table specifies 60 ns or faster 5 V buffered EDO memory for the 200 MHz model; both published conditions are retained. |
| Storage type | Stock 160 GB on dual-core 2 GHz and 250 GB on dual-core 2.3 GHz and Quad. 7200 rpm Serial ATA drives; two internal bays. Optional one or two 500 GB drives. One optical bay with 16x SuperDrive supporting dual-layer DVD+R recording. | Exact support database lists a 1.6 GB ATA/IDE hard drive, original 8× CD-ROM and 1.44 MB SuperDrive floppy. The June 1997 US education ordering brochure lists M6126LL/A with 32 MB RAM, the same 1.6 GB hard drive and a 12× CD-ROM; the shared service configuration narrative confirms these later 32 MB/12× education bundles. The 1.2 GB entry in the shared brochure belongs to the 5400/180 and is not assigned to this model. |
| Expansion slots | PCI Express: occupied x16 graphics slot, two open x4 slots and one open x8 slot. Older PCI and PCI-X expansion cards cannot be reused in these slots. | 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. Ethernet occupies the communications slot and can be replaced by an optional 28.8 Kbit/s modem. Optional Apple Video System supports NTSC, PAL and SECAM input; optional Apple TV/FM Radio System requires the Video System. Avid Cinema is optional. |
| 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 | 4 × USB-A, 2 × Ethernet, headphone jack | Headphone jack, Ethernet |
| Ethernet | 1 Gb/s (better) | 0.01 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 | Three USB 2.0, FireWire 800, FireWire 400, two Gigabit Ethernet ports, optical Toslink input/output and analogue audio line-in/out. Four chassis USB 2.0 ports in total, plus two keyboard USB 1.1 ports. AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR are optional, with integrated antennas; built-in support does not mean modules are included. | 10BASE-T Ethernet, ADB, external DB-25 SCSI, two LocalTalk/GeoPort-compatible serial ports, PlainTalk-compatible sound input and stereo speaker output. Communications Slot II is used by the Ethernet card; an optional modem replaces it. Shared brochure specifies six external SCSI devices, while the service table says up to seven devices without the same external qualification. The shared service configuration narrative lists Ethernet among some education bundle features; the exact 200 MHz support page and ordering brochure identify it as included. |
| External displays | Stock GeForce 6600 LE/6600 and optional 7800 GT have one single-link and one dual-link DVI port, supporting one 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display alongside a second display. Optional Quadro FX 4500 has two dual-link DVI outputs for two 30-inch displays and a stereo 3D connector. 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 and optical/analogue external 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, Mighty Mouse, USB keyboard extension and DVI-to-VGA adapter. | Keyboard, mouse and cables in the exact 200 MHz ordering brochure. Video input, TV/FM hardware, Avid Cinema and PC Compatibility Card are optional. Maker primary is the same photograph reprinted for the shared 180/200 family in August 1997 Apple Facts; gallery is the original shared 180/200 brochure angle. Neither external view establishes the fitted RAM or optical-drive speed. |
| Design and power | ||
| Type | Tower | All-in-one |
| Weight | – | 21 kg |
| Width × depth × height | – | 383 × 406 × 445 mm |
| Operating system | macOS | macOS |
| Size and weight detail | – | 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 | – | 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 confirmed the dual-core 2 and 2.3 GHz models available on 19 October 2005, with Quad expected in early November. Macs Only reports its Quad shipped on 10 November and arrived on 11 November; these later Quad dates do not change the generation’s first sale. The exact specification sheet does not publish weight or dimensions. | Exact support database lists original System 7.5.5; later 32 MB/12× education bundles use Mac OS 7.6.1. Apple records introduction on 17 February 1997; its June ordering brochure and August current catalogue establish sale in 1997. The actual first-sale month is unresolved and introduction is not used as a retail day. |
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