Apple · iMac

iMac G3 (Slot Loading, 1999)

Released October 1999

A fanless PowerPC all-in-one with a slot-loading optical drive and optional DV configurations.

Model history · 5 models, 1998–1999

Type: All-in-one
Processor: PowerPC G3 350 MHz (iMac) or PowerPC G3 400 MHz (iMac)
Memory: 64 MB – 512 MB
Storage: 6 GB – 13 GB
Screen: 15″
Weight: –

All-in-one

What reviewers say

Reviews of the DV Special Edition praise its design, straightforward setup and multimedia features. Both criticise the round mouse; Macworld also found DVD playback and USB compatibility problems, while TIME was concerned by the warm fanless case.

From macworld.com and time.com

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Performance

Processor: PowerPC G3 350 MHz (iMac) or PowerPC G3 400 MHz (iMac)
CPU cores: 1
Graphics: ATI RAGE 128 VR (8 MB)
Memory: 64 MB, 128 MB or 512 MB
Storage: 6 GB to 13 GB
CPU: 350 MHz or 400 MHz PowerPC G3 with 100 MHz system bus and 512 KB backside L2 cache. Apple developer history gives 140/160 MHz cache clocks while EveryMac gives 200 MHz for the DV Special Edition; optional cache-clock fields are omitted. Exact processor supplier is not established.
GPU: ATI RAGE 128 VR with 8 MB video memory and AGP support. Retained sheet says SGRAM while the developer note says SDRAM; memory technology is not silently selected.
Memory type: PC100 SDRAM in two DIMM slots, up to 512 MB in the retained maker sheet. Base 350 MHz and DV models have 64 MB; DV Special Edition has 128 MB. Configurations retain each base and published maximum with its original processor and drive.
Storage type: 350 MHz: 6 GB ATA hard drive and slot-loading 24x CD-ROM, Blueberry. 400 MHz DV: 10 GB and 4x DVD-ROM, five fruit colours. 400 MHz DV Special Edition: 13 GB and 4x DVD-ROM, Graphite. These are configurations of one generation.

Display

Screen size: 15″
Resolution: 1024 × 768
Refresh rate: 75 Hz
Display type: Nominal 15-inch CRT with 13.8-inch viewable diagonal; no fixed LCD native resolution.
Display features: Maximum mode 1024 × 768 at 75 Hz; 800 × 600 at 95 Hz and 640 × 480 at 117 Hz (EveryMac exact DV Special Edition specification).

Connections

Ports: 2 × USB-A, Ethernet, 2 × headphone jack
Ethernet: 0.1 Gb/s
Back ports: Two 12 Mbps USB ports on the computer, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, 56K V.90 modem, audio line-in/out and two front headphone jacks. Two FireWire 400 ports and VGA video mirroring are present only on DV and DV Special Edition. AirPort card is optional across this generation.
External displays: DV and DV Special Edition mirror the internal display through VGA; the 350 MHz entry configuration has no external video connector.
Speakers: Integrated Harman Kardon Odyssey stereo sound system and built-in microphone. Convection cooling uses no fan.
Keyboard and mouse: Apple USB Keyboard and round Apple USB Mouse.

Design and power

Type: All-in-one
Operating system: macOS
Size and weight detail: Retained Apple sheet gives height 15.8, width 15.2 and depth 17.6 inches, weight 34.7 pounds. Exact developer note gives height 39.5, width 38 and depth 44 cm and weight 15.5 kg (34 pounds). Disagreeing main dimensions and weight are omitted.
In the box: Mac OS 8.6 at launch; TIME notes Mac OS 9 would begin shipping subsequently. Conservative October 1999 sale month follows the contemporary physical DV Special Edition reviews; the retained introduction day differs from the launch event date.

Configurations

Processor	Memory	Storage	Storage type	Graphics
PowerPC G3 350 MHz (iMac)	64 MB	6 GB	Hard drive	ATI RAGE 128 VR (8 MB)
PowerPC G3 350 MHz (iMac)	512 MB	6 GB	Hard drive	ATI RAGE 128 VR (8 MB)
PowerPC G3 400 MHz (iMac)	64 MB	10 GB	Hard drive	ATI RAGE 128 VR (8 MB)
PowerPC G3 400 MHz (iMac)	512 MB	10 GB	Hard drive	ATI RAGE 128 VR (8 MB)
PowerPC G3 400 MHz (iMac)	128 MB	13 GB	Hard drive	ATI RAGE 128 VR (8 MB)
PowerPC G3 400 MHz (iMac)	512 MB	13 GB	Hard drive	ATI RAGE 128 VR (8 MB)

Pros and cons

Pros

Built-in display and stereo speakers
Fanless cooling
DV configurations add FireWire and DVD playback

Cons

Single-core processor
CRT has 13.8-inch viewable area
Entry model lacks FireWire and VGA output

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Processor	Memory	Storage	Screen	Weight	Released
AppleiMac G3 (Revision B)	All-in-one	PowerPC G3 233 MHz (iMac)	32 MB – 256 MB	4 GB	15″	–	Oct 1998
AppleiMac G3 (Summer 2000)	All-in-one	PowerPC G3 350 MHz (iMac), PowerPC G3 400 MHz (iMac), PowerPC G3 450 MHz (iMac) or PowerPC G3 500 MHz (iMac)	64 MB – 1 GB	7 GB – 30 GB	15″	–	Jul 2000
AppleiMac G3 (Early 1999)	All-in-one	PowerPC G3 266 MHz (iMac)	32 MB – 128 MB	6 GB	15″	–	Jan 1999

Previous model: iMac G3 (Mid 1999). Newer model: iMac G3 (Summer 2000).

Sources

Photo: Low-resolution 240 px maker family side image in Tangerine; no peripherals or overlays.

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