iMac G5

Essentials

Family: iMac/eMac

Codename: ?

Gestalt ID: 406

Minimum OS: 10.3.5

Maximum OS: 10.5.8

Introduced: August 2004

Terminated: May 2005

Processor

CPU: PowerPC 970 "G5"

CPU Speed: 1.6/1.8 GHz

FPU: integrated

Bus Speed: 533/600 MHz

Data Bus Width: 64-bit

Address Bus Width: 64-bit

Level 1 Cache: 32 kB data, 64 kB instruction

Level 2 Cache: 512 kB on-processor

ROM: 1 MB ROM + 3 MB toolbox ROM loaded into RAM

RAM Type: PC3200 DDR

Minimum RAM Speed: 400 MHz

Onboard RAM: 0 MB

RAM slots: 2

Maximum RAM: 2 GB

Video

Screen: 17/20" LCD

GPU: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra (8X AGP)

VRAM: 64 MB

Max Resolution: 1440x900/1680x1050

Video Out: mini-VGA (mirror only)

Storage

Hard Drive: 80/160 GB 7200 RPM

ATA Bus: Serial-ATA

Optical Drive: 24x/24x/16x/8x CD-RW/DVD-ROM or 24x/16x/8x/8x/4x CD-RW/DVD-RW

Input/Output

USB: 3 2.0

Firewire: 2

Audio Out: stereo 24 bit mini, Optical S/PDIF

Audio In: stereo 24 bit mini

Speaker: stereo

Microphone: mono

Networking

Modem: 56 kbps

Ethernet: 10/100Base-T

Wi-Fi: optional 802.11b/g card

Bluetooth: internal support

Miscellaneous

Power: 180 Watts

Dimensions: 16.9" H x 16.8" W x 7.4" D

Weight: 18.5 lbs.

Notes

The 20" model had the following dimensions and weight: 18.6" H x 19.4" W x 7.4" D, 25.2 lbs.

Introduced on the last day of August 2004, the iMac G5 brought G5 muscle to Apple's consumer desktop line. Housed in a completely new enclosure reminiscent of Apple's Cinema Display line, the iMac G5 was a marvel of miniaturization. The case was only two inches thick, yet housed a machine considerably faster and more advanced than its G4-based predecessor.

In addition to a 64-bit G5 processor, the iMac G5 also included a much faster memory bus, better graphics for the low-end model, twice the hard drive space for the high-end model, and a new audio port which doubled as an optical digital audio output. The iMac G5 was initially available in three configurations: 17" LCD/1.6 GHz/80 GB hard drive/256 MB of RAM/Combo drive/$1299, 17" LCD/1.8 GHz/80 GB hard drive/256 MB of RAM/SuperDrive/$1499, and 20" LCD/1.8 GHz/160 GB hard drive/256 MB of RAM/SuperDrive/$1899.

Picture Credits:
Apple, Inc.