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The Difference Is More Than Skin Deep - A Performance & Feature Comparison Between The G4/1.25 GHz Tower And The G5/1.6 GHz Tower

Specially prepared for Bob ... Request your own Custom Buyer's Guide

12/19/03

Introduction

This Buyer's Guide compares the Power Mac Single G4/1.25 GHz Tower which has the Combo optical drive, to the Power Mac G5/1.6 GHz single processor Tower. Below you will find specifications and features, performance and price comparisons. We also provide further links where you can do additional research, should you so wish.

How could this Buyer's Guide be improved? ... Give us your feedback. Tell your friends about our service!


Specifications & Features

Model/Mhz

Power Mac G4/1.25 GHz
Single Processor

256K L2 Cache @ 1.25 GHz
1 MB L3 Cache

M9145LL/A

Power Mac G5/1.6 GHz
Single Processor

512K L2 Cache @ 1.6 GHz
L3 Cache: None

M9020LL/A

Price Information

MSRP: $1,299
Closeout DealZone

MSRP: $1,999
DealZone

Bus Speed
(Mhz)

167 MHz
800 MHZ Frontside bus

RAM
(MAX)

256 MB PC2700
333MHz DDR SDRAM
( 2 GB max .. 4 slots)

256MB PC2700
333MHz DDR SDRAM
( 4 GB max .. 4 slots)

Graphics Support

ATI Radeon 9000 Pro
64MB of DDR SDRAM
AGP 4X graphics slot

ADC and DVI connectors
DVI to VGA adapter included

NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra
64MB DDR SDRAM
AGP 8X graphics slot

ADC and DVI connectors
DVI to VGA adapter included

Expansion
Slots

Four 3.5-inch hard drive bays (one filled)

Two optical drive bays (one filled)

Four 64-bit, 33MHz PCI
One AGP 4X (filled)

Two hard drive bays (one filled)

One optical drive bay (filled)

Three open full-length 33MHz, 64-bit PCI slots
One AGP Pro 8X (filled)

Hard Drive

80 GB Ultra ATA/100
7200 rpm
80GB Serial ATA
7200 rpm

Optical Drive

Combo drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)


Reads DVDs at 12x speed
Writes CD-R discs at 32x speed,
Writes CD-RW discs at 10x speed
Reads CDs at 32x speed

SuperDrive (DVD-R/CD-RW)

Writes DVD-R at 4x
Reads DVDs at 8x
Writes CD-R at 16x
Writes CD-RW at 10x
Reads CDs at 32x

Connectivity & Communication

Optional 11-Mbps AirPort Card
(802.11b)

10/100/1000BaseT

56k V.92 internal modem

No Bluetooth

Optional 54 Mbps AirPort Extreme
(802.11g )

10/100/1000BaseT

56k V.92 internal modem

Optional Bluetooth 1.1 module and antenna

 Ports

Two USB 1 Ports

No FireWire 800 port
2 FireWire 400 Ports

Stereo analog audio line in and line out minijacks

Three USB 2.0 ports (one on front)

1 FireWire 800 port
2 FireWire 400 ports (one on front)

Stereo audio in and out minijacks

Optical digital audio in and out Toslink connectors

Specification Notes

The G4 machine is OS 9 bootable, the G5 is not.

Performance
Machine
Power Mac G4/1.25 GHz Single Processor
Power Mac G5/1.6 GHz Single Processor
Processor Single
89.27 seconds (est.)
68.20 seconds - - 24% faster
Processor Dual
NA
NA
Graphics
23 frames per second (est.)
28 frames per second - - 22% faster
Drive
Not enough data
131 points
General - Interface
28.34 seconds
27.20 seconds - - 4% faster
Notes

The G5's processor is clocked in at about 28% faster. So in general processing you will see a 28% to 30% performance improvement. However as things move forward, and the G5 processor is more widely adopted, applications may be written that can take advantage of special performance features of the G5. The G5 processor is definitely the forward looking chip.

Where there is (est.), it means that we estimated these scores from data we had, but could not make a direct comparison between the two machines. We think that we are in the ballpark, but the scores may not be spot on.

The G5 is definitely the faster machine, though the G4 is a solid performer of its own. We think that you would find the G5 the more responsive machine. We were not able to provide a drive score for the G4 because we did not have enough data to ascertain a reliable number. However the G5's drive should be, measurably, a better performer.

An advantage that the G4 has, is that it is more expandable, having more PCI slots and more drive bays (including a second optical drive bay).

Links To Further Information
Machine
Power Mac G4/1.25 GHz (Dual Processor)
Power Mac G5/1.6 GHz Single Processor
Reviews

We could find no reviews of the single processor machine. Ther are however reviews of a similar dual processor one

MacSpeedZone
CNet
Macworld
2-Pop

Links to additional information
Price & Bundle Comparisons

Note

We receive a small commission on computers purchased using the links below. Though this adds no cost to your purchase price, it does help us defray the cost of running MacReviewZone and MacSpeedZone. Your support is appreciated! As always check your tax status at these merchants so that you don't get a nasty shock at checkout time.

For Latest up-to-date prices check the online Buyer's Guides

G5/1.6 GHz Single Processor #M9020LL/A
Store Apple Store
Price & Shipping*

$1,799
Free ground shipping

Sales Tax

All states with sales tax.

Deals & Bundles

available - Available

unknown - Unknown

unavailable - Unavailable

Apple Promotions and

available Base Machine
available Final Cut Express for $99 (a $299 value)
available Keynote for $49 (a $99 value)
available $300 (total) rebate on Final Cut Pro and DVD Studio
unavailable Epson C84 printer, free after $99 rebate

 
Store ClubMac ... Best Buy
Price & Shipping*

$1,794
$49 ground shipping after $30 mail-in rebate.
$122 FedEx overnight after $50 mail-in rebate

Sales Tax

CA, TN, WI

Deals & Bundles

available - Available

unknown - Unknown

unavailable - Unavailable

Apple Promotions and any/all of the following:

available Base Machine
available 512MB RAM, free after rebate. $40 install (low stock)
unavailable Epson C84 printer, free after rebates
unavailable Epson CX5400 multi-function printer for $30 after mail-in rebates ($149 up front)
unavailable Epson CX6400 multi-function printer for $80 after mail-in rebates ($199 up front)
available HP DeskJet 3650 for $30 after mail-in rebate ($80 up front)
available HP DeskJet 5150 for $50 after mail-in rebate ($100 up front)
available HP DeskJet 5650 for $100 after mail-in rebate ($150 up front)
available HP DeskJet 6122 for $130 after mail-in rebate ($180 up front)
available Lexmark P707, free after mail-in rebate
available Lexmark X1150 multi-function printer, free after mail-in rebates
available $300 (total) rebate on Final Cut Pro and DVD Studio
unavailable LaCie 200 GB FireWire 800/USB 2 hard drive for $259 after rebate
available Finding Nemo DVD, free after $20 mail-in rebate
available Pirates of the Caribbean DVD, free after $25 mail-in rebate
unavailable Audiovox portable DVD player for $139 after $40 mail-in rebate
available Concord Eye-Q 3.1 megapixel digital camera for $50 after $70 mail-in rebate
available Refurbished TiVo 20 Hour recorder for $99 after a $40 mail-in rebate (low stock)
available Final cut Express for $99 ($299 value, low stock)
available MYOB FirstEdge for $10
available Total Training OS X CD for $10
available Keynote for $45 ($99 value)

 
Store MacConnection
Price & Shipping*

$1,794
Free through December 19

Sales Tax

MA, NC, OH, TN

Deals & Bundles

available - Available

unknown - Unknown

unavailable - Unavailable

Apple Promotions and:

available Base machine
available 512 MB RAM, free after mail-in rebate
available MacSoft Unreal Tournament 2003 & iShock II USB Game Pad  $200 after mail-in rebate ($2,044 total)
available Yellow Dog Linux for $200 ($1,994 total)
available Keynote for $251 ($2,045 total)

 
Store MacMall ... Best Buy
Price & Shipping*

$1,794
$40 ground shipping charge after mail-in rebate
$103 FedEx overnight after $50 mail-in rebate

Sales Tax

CA, TN, WI

Deals & Bundles

available - Available

unknown - Unknown

unavailable - Unavailable

Apple Promotions and any/all of the following:

available Base Machine
available 512MB RAM, free after rebate. $40 install (low stock)
unavailable Epson C84 printer, free after rebates
unavailable Epson CX5400 multi-function printer for $30 after mail-in rebates ($149 up front)
unavailable Epson CX6400 multi-function printer for $80 after mail-in rebates ($199 up front)
available HP DeskJet 3650 for $30 after mail-in rebate ($80 up front)
available HP DeskJet 5150 for $50 after mail-in rebate ($100 up front)
available HP DeskJet 5650 for $100 after mail-in rebate ($150 up front)
available HP DeskJet 6122 for $130 after mail-in rebate ($180 up front)
available Lexmark P707, free after mail-in rebate
available Lexmark X1150 multi-function printer, free after mail-in rebates
available $300 (total) rebate on Final Cut Pro and DVD Studio
unavailable LaCie 200 GB FireWire 800/USB 2 hard drive for $259 after rebate
available Finding Nemo DVD, free after $20 mail-in rebate
available Pirates of the Caribbean DVD, free after $25 mail-in rebate
unavailable Audiovox portable DVD player for $139 after $40 mail-in rebate
available Concord Eye-Q 3.1 megapixel digital camera for $50 after $70 mail-in rebate
available Refurbished TiVo 20 Hour recorder for $99 after a $40 mail-in rebate (low stock)
available Final cut Express for $99 ($299 value, low stock)
available MYOB FirstEdge for $10
available Total Training OS X CD for $10
available Keynote for $45 ($99 value)

 
Store MacZone
Price & Shipping*

$1,795
Free shipping (up to $40) for a "limited time"
$35 2nd day shipping for a "limited time"

Sales Tax

CA, IL, MO, NV, OH, TN, WA

available - Available

unknown - Unknown

unavailable - Unavailable

Apple Promotions and:

available Base Machine
available 512 MB RAM, free after mail-in rebate ($40 installation fee)

 

Power Mac G4 1.25GHz /256MB/80GB/Combo/GigE/56K #M9145LL/A  ... Original price: $1,299


Apple Store - New $1,299 .... 1 year warranty ... Shipping Free. Tax: All States with a sales tax
ClubMac - New $1,294 .... one year warranty.... Shipping $25. Tax: CA, TN, WI ... Extras
MacConnection (search for item M9145LL ) - New $1,294 ... one year warranty.... Shipping Free. Tax: MA, NC, OH, TN ... Extras
MacMall - New $1,294 .... one year warranty.... Shipping $25. Tax: CA, TN, WI ... Extras
MacZone - New $1,295 ... one year warranty .... Shipping Free. Tax: CA, IL, MO, NV, OH, TN, WA ... Extras
Small Dog - New $1,299.... 1 year warranty ... Shipping $33. Tax: VT
 

Shipping charges are to California - your mileage may vary. Also prices quoted are for the bare machine and do not reflect RAM installation charges (usually $40), nor the in-store prices of add-on products for which there is a rebate. Shipping charges (if any) for bundled products , also are not reflected in the prices above.

Weekly Buyer's Guides

G4 PowerBook Buyers Guide eMac Buyer's Guide iMac Buyer's Guide iBook Buyers Guide Power Mac Buyers Guide

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