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eMac Q&A - Updated April 19, 2008
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What are the differences between the third generation "USB 2.0" eMac models?
Please note that the third generation eMac line -- formally dubbed the "USB 2.0" series -- was introduced on April 13, 2004 and discontinued on May 3, 2005.
The third generation "USB 2.0" eMac series -- consisting of multiple configurations of the eMac G4/1.25 (USB 2.0) -- is equipped with G4 processors, PC2700 SDRAM, an Ultra ATA/100 hard drive, ATI Radeon 9200 graphics, and a 17-inch CRT display in a large 50 pound (22.7 kg) ice white all-in-one case.
As its formal series name notes, this "USB 2.0" eMac was the first in the series to offer three USB 2.0 ports, but it also introduced a faster logic board design -- with a larger "on-chip" L2 cache, faster system bus, faster memory, faster graphics, and faster hard drive connectivity -- as well as internal Bluetooth 1.1 support.
As shipped, the "USB 2.0" models were configured with MacOS X 10.3.3 and cannot boot into earlier versions of the MacOS. They are capable of using MacOS 9 applications within the "Classic Environment" provided by MacOS X 10.4.11 "Tiger" and earlier.
The major differences are summarized below in this handy chart:
eMac USB 2.0 | ||
Processor: | 1.25 GHz* | 1.25 GHz |
System Bus: | 167 MHz | 167 MHz |
Level 2 Cache: | 512k (on-chip) | 512k (on-chip) |
Memory Type: | PC2700 SDRAM | PC2700 SDRAM |
Std. RAM: | 256 MB | 256 MB |
Max. RAM: | 1.0 GB** | 1.0 GB** |
Display: | 17.0" Flat CRT | 17.0" Flat CRT |
Resolution: | 1024x768† | 1024x768† |
Video Card: | Radeon 9200†† | Radeon 9200†† |
Video RAM: | 32 MB | 32 MB |
Hard Drive: | 40 GB | 80 GB |
Optical Drive: | "Combo" | "SuperDrive" |
AirPort Extreme: | Optional | Optional |
Bluetooth 1.1: | Optional | Optional |
Expansion: | AP Extreme/BT | AP Extreme/BT |
Model No: | M9425LL/A | M9461LL/A |
Orig. Price: | US$799 | US$999 |
* There also is a 1.0 GHz education-only variant of this system.
** Unofficially, these models can support 2.0 GB of RAM.
† The 17.0" flat CRT display has a 16.0" viewable area, a 0.25mm dot pitch, and supports 1024 by 768 pixels at 89 Hz as well as other resolutions.
†† These models have an ATI Radeon 9200 with 32 MB of DDR SDRAM.
Please refer to the Ultimate Mac Comparison feature to compare any eMac model to any other G3 or later Mac.
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