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You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Mac Desktops > difference in G4 and G3

difference in G4 and G3
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pml589
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Aug 18, 2001, 11:22 PM
 
What is the difference between a 400mhz G4 and a 500mhz G3? I am confused
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Paul S
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Aug 18, 2001, 11:31 PM
 
The answer partly depends on what applications you are using. Overall, a 400MHz G4 should be faster than a 500MHz G3 (assuming same amount of RAM, HD speed, etc.). With AltiVec enhanced applications, the G4 will pull away from the G3 by leaps and bounds. For non-AltiVec apps, it's faster, but not as much. From speed tests I've seen (if memory servers), based only on processing power, they would be very, very close in non-AltiVec situations.

Since OS X is AltiVec enhanced, and with all new apps out there being made to take advantage of OS X, the speed difference will really start to get much wider as time goes on.

If your question is to help determine which machine to buy, the G4 wins hands down in my book.
     
EmAn
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Aug 18, 2001, 11:35 PM
 
In non AltiVec apps how is it faster, isn't a G3 basically a G4 without AltiVec?
     
Dr Evil
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Aug 19, 2001, 01:34 PM
 
The g3 and g4 aren't as silimar as some think, hence the naming convention of g(eneration)3 and g4. The g3 is derived from the PPC 603, which was the low end processor used in the Peformas, LCs, some clones, and the portable PPC PowerBooks. The G4 is derived from the PPC 604 which was the workhorse CPU used in the high end powermacs like the 8x00 and 9x00 series.

The PPC 603 didn't support multiprocessing (at least not well), so its derivitive, the G3, did not as well. The PPC 604 did support multiprocessing and was part of Apple's first consumer MP machine, the 9600/180 mp. So, that is why we didn't see MP machines until later in the G4 product cycle.

Other differnces include size and levels of cache power efficentcy, and heat dissapation.

Hope you enjoyed a little history lesson.

Dr Evil

edit: fixed spacing

[ 08-19-2001: Message edited by: Dr Evil ]
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NeoMac
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Aug 19, 2001, 02:54 PM
 
According to this IBM roadmap for the PPC, the difference between the G3 & G4 might not be around for much longer.
http://www.chips.ibm.com/products/po...dmap_small.jpg

"Last time the French asked for more evidence, it rolled through France with a German flag." - David Letterman
     
   
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