Apple · Power Mac
Power Mac G4 (AGP Graphics)
A PowerPC tower with AGP graphics, optional AirPort and an accessible expansion compartment.
- Type
- Tower
- Processor
- PowerPC G4 350 MHz (Power Mac AGP Graphics), PowerPC G4 400 MHz (Power Mac AGP Graphics), PowerPC G4 450 MHz (Power Mac AGP Graphics) or PowerPC G4 500 MHz (Power Mac AGP Graphics)
- Memory
- 64 MB – 1.5 GB
- Storage
- 10 GB – 27 GB
- Screen
- –
- Weight
- 13.6 kg
What reviewers say
Reviewers praise the improved architecture, performance and expansion access. Macworld criticises the entry model’s small RAM allocation; The Mac Observer finds the round mouse and compact keyboard uncomfortable and software DVD playback vulnerable to interruptions.
From macworld.com and macobserver.com
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specPerformance
- Processor
- PowerPC G4 350 MHz (Power Mac AGP Graphics), PowerPC G4 400 MHz (Power Mac AGP Graphics), PowerPC G4 450 MHz (Power Mac AGP Graphics) or PowerPC G4 500 MHz (Power Mac AGP Graphics)
- CPU cores
- 1
- Graphics
- ATI RAGE 128 Pro (16 MB) or ATI RAGE 128 (16 MB)
- Memory
- 64 MB, 128 MB, 256 MB or 1.5 GB
- Storage
- 10 GB to 27 GB
- CPU
- Single 350, 400, 450 or 500 MHz PowerPC G4 with 1 MB backside L2 cache at half processor speed and 100 MHz system bus. Unknown silicon supplier omitted. Original 500 MHz announcement never shipped; only the actual February 2000 option is represented.
- GPU
- 16 MB ATI RAGE 128 AGP 2x originally, changed to RAGE 128 Pro in December 1999 (EveryMac). Pro adds DVI and supports up to 1920 × 1200, versus original VGA up to 1600 × 1200.
- Memory type
- Four PC100 DIMM slots, maker-supported maximum 1.5 GB. Base memory varies with dated factory configuration; higher unofficial capacities are excluded.
- Storage type
- Dated stock changes (EveryMac): original 450 MHz 128 MB/20 GB/DVD-ROM; October 400 MHz 128 MB/20 GB/DVD-ROM and 450 MHz 256 MB/27 GB/DVD-RAM. December adds 350 MHz 64 MB/10 GB/DVD-ROM and replaces graphics with Pro. February 2000 maker confirms 400 MHz 64 MB/10 GB/DVD-ROM, 450 MHz 128 MB/20 GB/DVD-ROM and 500 MHz 256 MB/27 GB/DVD-RAM. Zip included on original 450, October 400/450, and February 450/500; identical optical-only variants are kept in details. No unproven SCSI/drive cross-combinations.
- Expansion slots
- Three open full-length 64-bit 33 MHz PCI slots and one AGP 2x slot used by graphics.
Display
- Screen
- None built in
Connections
- Ports
- 2 × USB-A, Ethernet
- Ethernet
- 0.1 Gb/s
- Back ports
- Two independent 12 Mbps USB ports; two external FireWire 400 ports and one internal connector; VGA, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, analog audio input/output and optional 11 Mbps AirPort card. 56K modem is standard except the top February 500 MHz configuration where it is optional. Keyboard USB excluded.
- Speakers
- Built-in speaker; analog audio input and output.
- Keyboard and mouse
- Apple USB Keyboard and Apple USB Mouse.
Design and power
- Type
- Tower
- Weight
- 13.6 kg
- Width × depth × height
- 226 × 467 × 432 mm
- Operating system
- macOS
- Size and weight detail
- Exact Japanese maker sheet publishes 43.2 cm height, 22.6 cm width, 46.7 cm depth and 13.6 kg weight; configuration-dependent.
- Power supply
- Maximum continuous power 200 W.
- In the box
- Mac OS 8.6 originally. September 1999 introduction and a few original 450 MHz channel shipments are documented by Apple-History, but the first shipping month is not established; release stays at year precision. February 2000 maker release confirms immediate availability of the revised range.
Configurations
| Processor | Memory | Storage | Storage type | Graphics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PowerPC G4 350 MHz (Power Mac AGP Graphics) | 64 MB | 10 GB | Hard drive | ATI RAGE 128 Pro (16 MB) |
| PowerPC G4 350 MHz (Power Mac AGP Graphics) | 1.5 GB | 10 GB | Hard drive | ATI RAGE 128 Pro (16 MB) |
| PowerPC G4 400 MHz (Power Mac AGP Graphics) | 128 MB | 20 GB | Hard drive | ATI RAGE 128 (16 MB) |
| PowerPC G4 400 MHz (Power Mac AGP Graphics) | 1.5 GB | 20 GB | Hard drive | ATI RAGE 128 (16 MB) |
| PowerPC G4 400 MHz (Power Mac AGP Graphics) | 128 MB | 20 GB | Hard drive | ATI RAGE 128 Pro (16 MB) |
| PowerPC G4 400 MHz (Power Mac AGP Graphics) | 1.5 GB | 20 GB | Hard drive | ATI RAGE 128 Pro (16 MB) |
| PowerPC G4 400 MHz (Power Mac AGP Graphics) | 64 MB | 10 GB | Hard drive | ATI RAGE 128 Pro (16 MB) |
| PowerPC G4 400 MHz (Power Mac AGP Graphics) | 1.5 GB | 10 GB | Hard drive | ATI RAGE 128 Pro (16 MB) |
| PowerPC G4 450 MHz (Power Mac AGP Graphics) | 128 MB | 20 GB | Hard drive | ATI RAGE 128 (16 MB) |
| PowerPC G4 450 MHz (Power Mac AGP Graphics) | 1.5 GB | 20 GB | Hard drive | ATI RAGE 128 (16 MB) |
| PowerPC G4 450 MHz (Power Mac AGP Graphics) | 256 MB | 27 GB | Hard drive | ATI RAGE 128 (16 MB) |
| PowerPC G4 450 MHz (Power Mac AGP Graphics) | 1.5 GB | 27 GB | Hard drive | ATI RAGE 128 (16 MB) |
| PowerPC G4 450 MHz (Power Mac AGP Graphics) | 256 MB | 27 GB | Hard drive | ATI RAGE 128 Pro (16 MB) |
| PowerPC G4 450 MHz (Power Mac AGP Graphics) | 1.5 GB | 27 GB | Hard drive | ATI RAGE 128 Pro (16 MB) |
| PowerPC G4 450 MHz (Power Mac AGP Graphics) | 128 MB | 20 GB | Hard drive | ATI RAGE 128 Pro (16 MB) |
| PowerPC G4 450 MHz (Power Mac AGP Graphics) | 1.5 GB | 20 GB | Hard drive | ATI RAGE 128 Pro (16 MB) |
| PowerPC G4 500 MHz (Power Mac AGP Graphics) | 256 MB | 27 GB | Hard drive | ATI RAGE 128 Pro (16 MB) |
| PowerPC G4 500 MHz (Power Mac AGP Graphics) | 1.5 GB | 27 GB | Hard drive | ATI RAGE 128 Pro (16 MB) |
Pros and cons
Pros
- Hinged side panel for expansion
- AGP graphics slot
- Optional AirPort networking
Cons
- Single-core processor
- Small standard memory allocation
- Software-dependent DVD playback
Closest rivals
Model | Type | Processor | Memory | Storage | Screen | Weight | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tower | PowerPC G4 400 MHz (Power Mac Gigabit Ethernet), PowerPC G4 450 MHz (Power Mac Gigabit Ethernet) or PowerPC G4 500 MHz (Power Mac Gigabit Ethernet) | 64 MB – 1.5 GB | 20 GB – 40 GB | – | 13.6 kg | Jul 2000 | |
| Tower | PowerPC G4 350 MHz (Power Mac PCI Graphics) or PowerPC G4 400 MHz (Power Mac PCI Graphics) | 64 MB – 1 GB | 10 GB | – | – | Aug 1999 | |
| Tower | PowerPC G4 466 MHz (Power Mac Digital Audio), PowerPC G4 533 MHz (Power Mac Digital Audio), PowerPC G4 667 MHz (Power Mac Digital Audio) or PowerPC G4 733 MHz (Power Mac Digital Audio) | 128 MB – 1.5 GB | 30 GB – 60 GB | – | 13.6 kg | Jan 2001 |
Newer model: Power Mac G4 (Gigabit Ethernet).
Sources
- support.apple.com/en-gb/112294
- support.apple.com/ja-jp/112294
- apple.com/newsroom/2000/02/16Apple-Ups-Performance-of-Power-Mac-G4-Line
- apple-history.com/g4agp
- everymac.com/systems/apple/powermac_g4/specs/powermac_g4_350_agp.html
- everymac.com/systems/apple/powermac_g4/specs/powermac_g4_400_agp.html
- everymac.com/systems/apple/powermac_g4/specs/powermac_g4_450.html
- everymac.com/systems/apple/powermac_g4/specs/powermac_g4_500.html
