Collection › Power Mac G4 Cube

D296 · Apple Heritage Museum · Lugano

Power Mac G4 Cube

2000 · iMac era Power Mac G3/G4/G5

Introduced

2000

Original price

$ 1799

Processor

PowerPC 7400 (G4) with AltiVec Velocity Engine

Original OS

Mac OS 9.0.4

Max OS

Mac OS X 10.4.11

1976

1984

1998

2001

2007

2020

2026

Pre-Mac

Mac era

iMac era

iPod era

iPhone era

Silicon

Processor

ProcessorPowerPC 7400 (G4) with AltiVec Velocity Engine

Speed450 MHz

Cache1 MB backside (L2) cache

Memory & graphics

Standard RAM64 MB

Max RAM1.5 GB

RAM typePC100 SDRAM (3.3V, unbuffered, 64-bit, 168-pin, 100 MHz)

Memory slots3 DIMM slots

GPUATI Rage 128 Pro (2X AGP)

VRAM16 MB SDRAM

Resolutionsup to 1920 x 1200

Display connectionVGA and ADC connectors, plus digital video output

Storage

Storage20 GB Ultra ATA/66 (5400 rpm)

InterfaceUltra ATA/66

BaysSingle drive bay

Connectivity

USB2 x USB 1.1

FireWire2 x FireWire 400

Ethernet10/100BASE-T Ethernet

Wi-FiAirPort (802.11b) available by custom configuration

Audio outUSB (via external Harman Kardon USB amplifier/speakers); no analog audio out

Modem56 kbps modem

Software

Original OSMac OS 9.0.4

Max OSMac OS X 10.4.11

KeyboardApple Pro Keyboard (108-key)

Included peripheralsApple Pro Mouse (optical), Apple Pro Keyboard, external power supply, USB speakers with amplifier

Power

Weight14.0 lb. (6.6 kg)

Dimensions9.8 in (24.8 cm) H x 7.7 in (19.5 cm) W x 7.7 in (19.5 cm) D

Expansion slotsNo PCI slots; one 2X AGP slot (short cards only); AirPort slot

Identifiers

Model IDPowerMac5,1

Model N°M7886

EMC1844

Order N°M7642LL/A

Lifecycle

Introduced2000

Discontinued2001

History

Contained in an 8x8x8 cube, the Power Mac G4 Cube combined the elegance of the iMac with the power of the PowerMac G4. The Cube sacrificed expandability for its compact size: it had no PCI slots and, although the graphics card was installed in a 2x AGP slot, there was no room for standard-length AGP cards. With the exception of PCI expansion, the Cube was as versatile as its larger G4 cousin: three RAM slots, one AirPort card slot, and two USB and FireWire ports. The Cube arrived in retail markets with a 450 MHz G4 processor, a 20 GB hard drive, a 56 kbps modem, 64 MB of RAM, and Apple's Pro Mouse, for $1,799 USD. Another configuration was available through the Apple Store, with a 500 MHz G4, a 30 GB hard drive, and 128 MB of RAM, for $2,299 USD. Gigabit Ethernet was available as a custom option. The Cube did not achieve the success Apple hoped for. The general consensus was that Apple had misunderstood the market, turning the Cube into an expensive "luxury" computer instead of a less expensive iMac without a monitor. In February 2001, the Cube received a feature and price change. The base configuration was reduced to $1,299 USD. A "better" configuration was made available, with a CD-RW drive and 128 MB of RAM, for $1,599 USD. Finally, the high-end version received a 60 GB hard drive, 256 MB of RAM, a CD-RW drive, and a 32 MB NVIDIA GeForce2 MX graphics card, and was sold for $2,199 USD.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Mac_G4_Cube · Wikipedia

Trivia

• The Power Mac G4 Cube was a perfect 8x8x8 inch cube that sacrificed expandability to maintain compact dimensions, eliminating PCI slots and limiting graphics cards to those of reduced length. • At launch in 1999, the Cube cost $1799 with a 450 MHz G4 processor, 20 GB drive and 64 MB of RAM, but Apple had overestimated demand for a "luxury" computer rather than offering an affordable alternative to the iMac. • After the initial commercial flop, Apple reduced the base model price to just $1299 in February 2001, also introducing mid-range configurations with CD-RW drives and increased RAM up to 256 MB in the premium version.

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D296 · APPLE HERITAGE MUSEUM · LUGANO

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