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Jasoco · Jul 26, 2002, 07:30 PM

I heard there are some differences between the G4 processor in the new iMac's and the ones in the PowerMacs.

Now, the newest PowerMac 800 has no L3 cache like the iMac. So, one would assume they're the same. But is there a difference?

I'm talking about the processor itself. Not the computer overall. Did they do something to the iMac's to water them down? Or not?

Todd Corzett · Jul 26, 2002, 07:38 PM

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but the iMac has a slower (I believe 100MHz) bus where the PowerMac has a faster one (133MHz).

-Todd...

nana4 · Jul 26, 2002, 07:39 PM

The iMac runs on a 100MHz FSB (PC100 SDRAM). The PowerMacs run on a 133 MHz FSB (PC133 SDRAM). The processor itself is identical.

CheesePuff · Jul 26, 2002, 07:57 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by nana4:
The iMac runs on a 100MHz FSB (PC100 SDRAM). The PowerMacs run on a 133 MHz FSB (PC133 SDRAM). The processor itself is identical.<hr /></blockquote>No, the iMac uses 168 pin 133 MHz DIMM.

The user accessible slot is a SO-RAM slot.

EDIT: sorry, but 144 not 168.

[ 07-26-2002, 07:58 PM: Message edited by: CheesePuff ]

jchen · Jul 26, 2002, 11:05 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by CheesePuff:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by nana4:
The iMac runs on a 100MHz FSB (PC100 SDRAM). The PowerMacs run on a 133 MHz FSB (PC133 SDRAM). The processor itself is identical.<hr /></blockquote>No, the iMac uses 168 pin 133 MHz DIMM.

The user accessible slot is a SO-RAM slot.

EDIT: sorry, but 144 not 168.<hr /></blockquote>That's PC133 RAM running AT PC100. PC133 is the same price (if not cheaper) as older PC100 which is why many OEM dealers (although not true anymore since SDR SDRAM IS obselete, Apple is the only company in the industry who has not advanced to either DDR or RDRAM for their desktop machines) will bundle their comps with PC133 RAM. For example, when my dad purchased his dual G4/500, it came with 64MB Samsung PC100 RAM.

[ 07-26-2002, 11:06 PM: Message edited by: jchen ]

mgl · Jul 27, 2002, 02:12 PM

PowerMac G4 800 vs. iMac G4 800 speed:
- G4 speed is the same
- Level 2 cache is the same
- PowerMac has 2MB DDR L3 cache, iMac has none
- PowerMac has 133mhz bus and memory speed, iMac is 100
- PowerMac has faster hard drive, I think 7200 vs 5400??
- PowerMac has AGP 4x, iMac is AGP 2x
- PowerMac has NVidia GeForce 4MX, iMac 15 has 2MX while iMac 17 has 4MX

CheesePuff · Jul 27, 2002, 03:34 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by mgl:
PowerMac G4 800 vs. iMac G4 800 speed:
- G4 speed is the same
- Level 2 cache is the same
- PowerMac has 2MB DDR L3 cache, iMac has none
- PowerMac has 133mhz bus and memory speed, iMac is 100
- PowerMac has faster hard drive, I think 7200 vs 5400??
- PowerMac has AGP 4x, iMac is AGP 2x
- PowerMac has NVidia GeForce 4MX, iMac 15 has 2MX while iMac 17 has 4MX<hr /></blockquote>The Power Mac G4 800 MHz does not have any L3 cache. Only the two higher-end models do. (and this increases system performance quite a bit).

iKevin · Jul 27, 2002, 10:00 PM

I tried out a 800mhz iMac at a local Apple reseller....It was a noticeably slower than my G4 733...So i'm sure the 800 PowerMac would well out pace it.

stepson · Jul 28, 2002, 01:00 PM

Yesterday I went to my first Apple store, (Short Hills in NJ) and played with many of the macs there. I really really liked the 17 inch iMac, friggin' awesome! I thought it looked cool when it came out, but oddly this is the first time i'd seen one 'in the flesh'. My girlfriend and I played around a lot, I was showing her all the cool things you can do, iMovie and iDVD and whatnot ... she was excited and now she wants one <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> . Later I screwed around with a PowerMac 933 hooked to a 23inch Cinema Display .... goddamn that display is breathtaking! Simple amazing, I should have gotten that for a TV instead of my 32inch <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> . Anyway, I did some of the same things, iMovie and whatnot ... and oddly the iMac didn't really seem any slower than the 933 at doing some simple renderings, both seemed to take about the same amount of time. I had just been playing with the iMac previous to this, so its not like my memory was hazy.

The 17" iMac is expensive ... but I think I'd take it over the 800 or 933Mhz towers ...