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Ask Johnny Appleseed - Performance Comparison Data Between A PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz And iMac G5/2.0 GHz

Friday, August 19, 2005

Request

Could you compare the new 20" iMac with the 15" 1.67GHz PowerBook? And an objective question: Whcih would you recommend?

Kyle


15 Inch PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz - Super - M9677LL/A vs
20 Inch iMac G5/2.0 GHz - Super - M9845LL/A

Specially prepared for Kyle

Request a custom performance & features comparison of any two Apple computers

Feature PowerBook 15" G4/1.67GHz iMac 20" G5/2.0GHz Difference
Current Price

$2,299

$1,799

$500
Processor Speed 1.67GHz 2.0 GHz 20%
Cache 512K 512K  
Bus Speed 167 MHz 667 MHz 299%
RAM
(MAX)
512MB
(2 GB max)
512MB
(2 GB max)
 
Graphics Card ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 ATI Radeon 9600  
Graphics Memory 64MB 128MB 100%
Expansion
Slots
AirPort Extreme
PC Card/CardBus slot
AirPort Extreme  
Hard Drive 80GB Ultra ATA/100
5400 rpm
250GB Serial ATA
7200 rpm
230%
33%
Optical Drive "SuperDrive"
(DVD±RW/CD-RW)
"SuperDrive"
(DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
 
Communication
Wired
10/100/1000 BT Ethernet 10/100/1000 BT Ethernet  
Communication
Wireless
Built-in 54-Mbps AirPort Extreme
Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
Built-in 54-Mbps AirPort Extreme
Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
 
Ports USB 2 USB 2.0 Ports (480 Mbps) 3 USB 2.0 Ports (480 Mbps) 50%
Ports Firewire 1 FireWire 400 Port
1 FireWire 800 Port
2 FireWire 400 Port
100%
Video Output DVI
VGA Adapter
S-video Adapter
Composite Adapter


VGA Adapter -
S-video Adapter -
Composite Adapter -

 
Video Options Dual display and video mirroring Video mirroring  
Screen Size 15.2-inch TFT 20 -inch LCD 32%
Screen Resolution 1024x768 1680 by 1050 124%
Battery Life 50 -watt-hour - up to 4.5 hours N/A  
Weight 5.7 lbs (2.5 kg) 25.2 pounds (11.4 kg)  
Extras Backlit keyboard
Third speaker for midrange
Optional 128MB of video memory
Trackpad provides scrolling
2048 x 1536 on external display
AGP 8X Graphics support
Built-in stereo speakers
Optical digital audio output
 


Extra charge option
Machine with more advantageous feature

Feature Analysis: One advantage that the PowerBook has, is that it has Dual Display support - meaning you can enlarge the machine's Desktop, by attaching an external monitor to the PowerBook. You can display up to 2048 x 1536 resolution on an external monitor. The PowerBook also has a faster FireWire port and, of course, is portable. In most other aspects the iMac will provide you with a much better bang for your buck.

For more detailed information see the following links
PowerBook Specs & Features
iMac Specs & Features

Performance

Performance Test PowerBook 15" G4/1.67GHz iMac 20" G5/2.0GHz Difference
Processor General 147 points 208 points 41%
Processor Multitasking 265.94 Seconds 202.08 Seconds 32%
Graphics (Card) 834 points 1230 points 47%
Graphics (Processor) 173 points 245 points 42%
Graphics Gaming (Card) 27.5 FPS
30 FPS 9%
Hard Drive Multi-Files 131.61 Seconds 80.27 Seconds 64%
Hard Drive Large File 131.23 Seconds 57.82 Seconds 127%
CD-R Burn Speed 105.95 Seconds 115.02 Seconds 9%
Battery Time 125 Minutes    

Denotes the faster score
Use cautiously until difference confirmed by other testers

Analysis Performance: The iMac is clearly the better performer, turning in moderate to significant performance improvement over the PowerBook. Only in Graphics Gaming and CD burn speed was the performance gap relatively minor.

Final Thoughts: From a practical standpoint the iMac is the way to go. However if you need portability, or want a PowerBook for some other reason, the PowerBook will get the job done. Just keep in mind that you will pay the price in treasure, performance and features.

About the tests:

Processor test, Graphics tests are based on CineBench 2003 which you can download and run on your own machine

Graphics Gaming
Based on the Game 4X4 EVOLUTION 2

Hard Drive Multi-Files – 900 MB Folder of thousands of files

Hard Drive Large File – Single 1.2 GB File

CD-R Burn Speed – Music track burned onto CD

Battery Test - A full charged battery is drained by playing a DVD

Additional Resources

PowerBook Info Zone
PowerBook Performance
PowerBook Performance vs Others
PowerBook Buyer's Guide
Apple's PowerBook Web Pages
PowerBook Specs & Features

Reviews PowerBook
Globe & Mail
Macworld
PCWorld
Macworld
The Register
Macworld
Forbes

iMac InfoZone
iMac Performance
iMac Performance vs Others
iMac Buyer's Guide
Apple's iMac Page
iMac Specs & Features

Also search at MacReviewZone and MacSpeedZone on the following part numbers M9677LL or M9845LL which should turn up additional information

Request a custom performance & features comparison of any two Apple computers


iMac Prices


October 2005 G5 iMacs

20" 2.1GHz - MA064LL/A
Macworld
MacInTouch
PC Magazine
Time Magazine
PC World
BareFeats
17" 1.9GHz - MA063L/A
Macworld
MacInTouch
PC Magazine
Time Magazine
Geek.com
BareFeats

May 2005 G5 iMacs

20" 2.0GHz - M9845LL/A
vs eMac G4/1.42GHz
vs Power Mac Dual G4/1.0GHz
BusinessWeek
Vnunet
17" 2.0GHz - M9844LL/A
17" 1.8GHz - M9843LL/A

September 2004 G5 iMacs

All
Detroit Free Press
Washington Times
TechNY.com
PC Performance
1.6GHz 17-inch - M9248LL/A
Boston Globe
G4TechTV
Macworld
TheMacObserver
Fortune
BareFeats
TidBits
Macworld
1.8GHz 17-inch - M9249LL/A
Boston Globe
G4TechTV

BareFeats

Macworld
BareFeats
TheMacObserver
Fortune

ZDNet
TidBits
Macworld
1.8GHz 20-inch - M9250LL/A
Macsimum Closeouts
Boston Globe
Canada.com

G4TechTV
BareFeats

Macworld

BareFeats

MacUser
TheMacObserver
Fortune

MacOpinion
BareFeats
TidBits
Macworld

Sept/Nov 2004 iMac Reviews

All
Washington Times
TechNY.com
PC Performance

1.6GHz 17-inch

Boston Globe
G4TechTV
Macworld
TheMacObserver
Fortune
BareFeats
TidBits
Macworld

1.8GHz 17-inch

Boston Globe
G4TechTV

BareFeats

Macworld
BareFeats
TheMacObserver
Fortune

ZDNet
TidBits
Macworld

1.8GHz 20-inch

Macsimum Closeouts
Boston Globe
Canada.com

G4TechTV
BareFeats

Macworld

BareFeats

MacUser
TheMacObserver
Fortune

MacOpinion
BareFeats
TidBits
Macworld


iMac G4/1.25GHz 20-inch

ComparisonZone: vs PwBk G4/1.5GHz
Detroit Free Press
GCN
Macworld
MacAddict
ZDNet
USA Today
The Advertiser
Sydney Morning Herald
PC Magazine
MacUserUK
The Advertiser

iMac G4/1.25GHz 17-inch

ComparisonZone: vs eMac G4/1.25GHz
MacReviewZone
MacReviewZone
MacReviewZone
MacHome
SF Gate

iMac G4/1GHz 15-inch

MacReviewZone
Times of Oman

G5 iMacs

This section updated: Monday, November 5, 2007

Your old Computer has value - Computer Trade In Program


20 Inch G5/2.1GHz MA064LL/A - Originally: $1,699

Can't Find It? Search store on MA064LL

User Reviews @ Amazon

$1,099 to $1,259 - Used - 90day - PowerMax unavailable
$1,200 to $1,280 - Used -   30day - Mega Macs unavailable
$2,000 -Used - Amazon unavailable

$1,249 -Refrubished-   1yr - PowerMax unavailable
Free MP3 sunglasses
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$1,299 to $1,399 -OpenBox-   1yr - PowerMax unavailable
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$1,999 - Closeout - Amazon unavailable
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$75 rebate on RAM
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20 Inch G5/2GHz M9845LL/A - Originally: $1,799

Can't Find It? Search store on M9845LL

User Reviews @ Amazon

$930 to $1,270 - Used -   30day - Mega Macs unavailable
$1,089 to $1,259 - Used - 90day - PowerMax unavailable
$1,098 - Used - Amazon unavailable

$1,288 -Refrubished-   1yr - PowerMax unavailable


20 Inch G5/1.8 GHz M9250LL/A - Originally: $1,899

Can't Find It? Search store on M9250LL

User Reviews @ Amazon

$830 to $1,000 - Used -- Mega Macs unavailable
$869 to $1,239 - Used - 90day - PowerMax unavailable
$978 -Used - Amazon unavailable

$1,399 -Refrubished-   1yr - PowerMax unavailable


17 Inch G5/2GHz M9844LL/A - Originally: $1,499

Can't Find It? Search store on M9844LL

User Reviews @ Amazon

$909 to $1,159 - Used - 90day - PowerMax unavailable
$
930 to $1,020 - Used -   30day - Mega Macs unavailable
$1,078 -Used- Amazon unavailable

$1,096 -OpenBox-   1yr - PowerMax unavailable
$75 rebate on RAM
Double your money back on shipping!


$1,600 -Refrubished- Amazon unavailable
$1,288 -Refrubished-   1yr - PowerMax unavailable
$75 rebate on RAM
Double your money back on shipping!

$1,269 to $1,669 - Closeout -   1yr - PowerMax unavailable
$75 rebate on RAM 
Double your money back on shipping!
$1,600 -Closeout- Amazon unavailable


17 Inch G5/1.9GHz MA063LL/A - Originally: $1,299


Can't Find It? Search store on MA063LL

User Reviews @ Amazon

$920 to $1,050 - Used -   30day - Mega Macs unavailable
$869 to $1,249 - Used - 90day - PowerMax unavailable
$998 -Used- Amazon unavailable

$1,049 -Refrubished-   1yr - PowerMax unavailable
Free MP3 sunglasses
Double your money back on shipping!

$1,049 to $1,139 -OpenBox-   1yr - PowerMax