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Ask Johnny Appleseed - Performance Comparison Data Between A Power Mac G4 450MHz And G4 1.42GHz Mac Mini

Friday, August 22, 2005

Request

Could you compare the Power Mac G4 450MHz vs. G4 1.42GHz Mac Mini?

Lee


Power Mac G4 450MHz - DVD-RAM - M7232LL/A vs
Mac Mini G4 1.42GHz - Combo - M9687LL/B

Specially prepared for Lee

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

Feature Power Mac G4 450MHz Mac Mini G4 1.42GHz Difference
Released

August, 1999

July, 2005

5yr 11mths
Current Price

$379

$594

$215
Original Price

$3500

$599

$2,901
Processor Speed 450 MHz 1.42 GHz 216%
Cache
(speed)

1MB
(225MHz)

512K
(1.42 GHz)
100%
531%
Bus Speed 100 MHz 167 MHz 67%
RAM
(MAX)
256MB
(1.5 GB max)
512MB
(1.0 GB max)
100%
50%
Graphics Card ATI RAGE Pro 128 ATI Radeon 9200  
Graphics Memory 16MB 32MB 100%
Expansion
Slots
AirPort
4 RAM Slots
3 PCI
1 AGP 2X
Comm
AirPort Extreme
1 RAM Slot
 
Hard Drive 27GB Ultra ATA/66
7200 rpm
80GB Ultra ATA
..... Unknown
196%
Optical Drive DVD-RAM Slot loading Combo drive
..... (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)
 
Communication
Wired
10/100 BT Ethernet 10/100 BT Ethernet  
Communication
Wireless
Optional 11-Mbps AirPort Extreme

Built-in 54-Mbps AirPort Extreme
Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
391%
Ports USB 2 USB 1.0 Ports (12 Mbps) 2 USB 2.0 Ports (480 Mbps) 3900%
Ports Firewire 3 FireWire 400 Port
..... (1 internal)
1 FireWire 400 Port 200%
Video Output DVI
VGA

DVI
VGA Adapter -
S-video Adapter -
Composite Adapter -

 
Video Options Unknown Single Monitor  
Screen Size ..... N/A ..... N/A  
Screen Resolution 1280 x 1024 1920 x 1200 76%
Battery Life ..... N/A ..... N/A  
Weight 30 (13.64 kg) 2.9 pounds (1.32 kg) 27.1 (12.32 kg)
Extras 2 Hard Drive Bays (empty)
Zip Drive installed
Optional SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)  


Extra charge option
Machine with more advantageous feature
Machine with less advantageous feature
Neutral/Unknown

Feature Analysis: Even given its limitations, and simplicity, the Mac mini is, for the most part, more feature rich than the Power Mac listed above. The Power Mac does come out on the top in terms of expansion options. So if you need the ability to add extra drives or PCI cards, the Mac mini is not the machine for you. (Have an opinion or information about the Mac mini? Share them here)

For more detailed information see the following links
Power Mac Specs & Features
Mac mini Specs & Features

Performance

Performance Test Power Mac G4 450MHz*** Mac Mini G4 1.42GHz Difference
Processor General 48 points 130 points 171%
Graphics (Card) 78 points 453 points 481%
Graphics (Processor) 62 points 154 points 148%

*** Performance based on G4/450GHz Cube which has the same processor and graphics systems. Performance of Cube in these areas should be comparable to the Power Mac

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

Analysis Performance: In basic processing work the Mac mini is nearly 3 times as fast as the Power Mac, and in certain graphics performance it is just shy of 6 times as fast. Though we were not able to included comparative data for hard drive performance, the hard drive on the Mac mini is not the fastest in the world, Compared to the current low-end G5 iMac, the Mac mini's hard drive is a little less than half as fast in basic file copying.

About the tests:

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

Hard Drive Large File – Single 1.2 GB File

Additional Resources

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

Reviews Power Mac
BBC News
SF Chronicle

Mac Mini InfoZone
Mac Mini Buyer's Guide
Mac Mini Specs & Features

Reviews Mac mini
SchwarzTech
123macmini
BareFeats
ForeverGeek
BareFeats

Also search at MacReviewZone and MacSpeedZone on the following part numbers M7232LL or M9687LL which should turn up additional information

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


Mac mini Prices

This Section Updated Thursday, July 17, 2008

Your old Computer has value - Computer Trade In Program

= Current Model
= Previous Model
unavailable = Unavailable
unknown = Unknown/Delay
= Installation Fee ($20 to $40)
Extras
= Canadian Dollars
New, Closeout, OpenBox, Refurbished and Used

Mac mini G4/ 1.42 GHz
Price - Condition - Warranty -Store


G4/1.42GHz 80/Super  #M9971LL/B Originally: $699

Can't Find It? Search store for M9971LL

User Reviews @ Amazon

$550 -Used- Amazon unavailable
$459 to $599 -Used- 90day - PowerMax  unavailable

$480 -Refurbished- Amazonunavailable
$599 - Refurbished - 1yr - Apple Refurbished   unavailable

$679 -OpenBox- 1yr - PowerMax  unavailable

$499 -Closeout- 1yr - PowerMax  unavailable
$750 -Closeout- -- Amazon unavailable

New Mac Minis ....


G4/1.42GHz 80/Combo #M9687LL/B Originally: $599

Can't Find It? Search store for M9687LL

User Reviews @ Amazon

$500 -Used- Amazon unavailable
$549 to $599 -Used- 90day - PowerMax  unavailable

$519 - Refurbished - 1yr - Apple Refurbished  unavailable
$549 - Refurbished - 1yr - Apple Canada Refurbished unavailableunavailable
$478 -Refurbished- Amazonunavailable

$588 -OpenBox- 1yr - PowerMax unavailable
mail-in printer rebate

$599 -  Closeout- 1yr - PowerMax unavailable
mail-in printer rebate
$750 -Closeout- 1yr - Amazon unavailable

New Mac Minis ....

 


Reviews

July 2005 Mac Mini

All
LowEndMac
Macworld

G4/1.42GHz - Combo
YodaMac

January 2005 Mac Mini

G4/1.42GHz - M9687LL/A
SchwarzTech
123macmini
BareFeats
ForeverGeek
BareFeats



G4/1.42GHz 80/Combo #M9687LL/A Originally: $599

Can't Find It? Search store for M9687LL

User Reviews @ Amazon

$650 -Used - Amazonunavailable

$439 - Refurbished - 1yr - Apple Refurbished unavailable
$459 -Refurbished- 1yr - PowerMax unavailable

$479 - OpenBox- 1yr - PowerMax unavailable

$494 -  Closeout - 1yr - PowerMax  unavailable
mail-in printer rebate
$750 - Closeout - 1yr - Amazon unavailable

New Mac Minis ....


G4/1.25GHz 40/Combo #M9686LL/A/B Originally: $499

Can't Find It? Search store for M9686LL

$439 to $479 -Used- 90day - PowerMax  unavailable
$480 -Used-