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Apple iMac G5/1.8 17" (ALS) Specs

Identifiers: Ambient Light Sensor - M9843LL/A - PowerMac8,2 - A1058 - 2055

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Apple iMac G5The Apple iMac G5/1.8 17-Inch (Ambient Light Sensor) was introduced to replace the iMac G5/1.8 17-Inch (M9249LL/A) -- and has a handful of configuration differences -- more RAM, a larger hard drive, improved graphics, Gigabit Ethernet, and standard AirPort Extreme (802.11g) and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR -- but an inferior optical drive and a US$200 lower introductory price.

Like their predecessors, the "chassis" of the Ambient Light Sensor iMac G5 models rest upon an aluminum stand with an adjustable hinge, and it supports the "Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) mounting interface standard" which makes it easy to mount the system directly on a kiosk, wall, or articulating arm. Additionally, as the name implies, all "Ambient Light Sensor" models have a sensor under the edge of the display that dims the sleep indicator light when the room is dark -- a nice touch for a system setup in a bedroom.

The iMac G5/1.8 17-Inch (ALS) features a 1.8 GHz PowerPC 970 (G5) processor with an optimized AltiVec "Velocity Engine" vector processing unit and a 512k on-chip level 2 cache, 512 MB of 400 MHz PC3200 DDR SDRAM, a 160 GB (7200 RPM) Serial ATA hard drive, a vertically-mounted slot-loading 8X DVD-ROM/CD-RW "Combo" drive, ATI Radeon 9600 graphics with 128 MB of DDR SDRAM (AGP 8X), and built-in stereo speakers underneath the 17" TFT Active Matrix LCD (1440x900) display designed to "bounce sound off the desk below". Connectivity includes Firewire "400" and USB 2.0, as well as standard AirPort Extreme (802.11g) and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR.

The iMac G5 models are cooled by three "ultra-quiet blowers that draw cool air into the system" through the speaker grill and a slit in the top of the back of the case allows heat to dissipate.

Also see: What are the differences between the second generation or "Ambient Light Sensor" iMac G5 models?

Despite the age of this system, site sponsor Other World Computing has RAM, hard drives, SSDs, and other upgrades available for this specific iMac while supplies last.


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Click on the category for related details. The most commonly needed info is "open" by default, but all info is important.


May 3, 2005 October 12, 2005
Details: The "Introduction Date" refers to the date a model was introduced via press release. The "Discontinued Date" refers to the date a model either was replaced by a subsequent system or production otherwise ended.

Also see: All Macs introduced in 2005.
1 64-Bit
Details: Also see: All models with a 64-Bit processor courtesy of EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Sort.
1039 N/A
Details: When last updated, Geekbench 2 only provided sufficient 32-bit performance data for this model. These numbers reflect an average of user provided 32-bit and 64-bit results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better.

You also might be interested in reviewing all 32-bit and 64-bit Geekbench 2 user submissions for Macs with the PowerMac8,2 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models.

To dynamically compare Geekbench 2 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison.
N/A N/A
Details: The Geekbench 3 benchmark does not support this model. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better.

You also might be interested in reviewing all 32-bit single core and multicore Geekbench 3 user submissions for Macs with the PowerMac8,2 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models.

To dynamically compare 32-bit Geekbench 3 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison.
N/A N/A
Details: The Geekbench 3 benchmark does not support this model. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better.

You also might be interested in reviewing all 64-bit single core and multicore Geekbench 3 user submissions for Macs with the PowerMac8,2 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models.

To dynamically compare 64-bit Geekbench 3 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison.
1.8 GHz PowerPC 970* (G5)
Details: The PowerPC 970 "G5" has 64-bit data paths and registers with native support for 32-bit application code. It additionally includes the AltiVec "Velocity Engine" vector processor and "two independent double-precision floating-point units".

*Although it is unlikely to be important to the average user, this system may have a PowerPC 970fx processor.

Also see: How fast is the iMac G5 compared to the iMac G4 Flat-Panel and Power Macintosh G5?
N/A N/A
Details: N/A
Soldered Integrated
Details: The processor is mounted directly to the motherboard.
600 MHz (3:1) 1.8 GHz (Built-in)
Details: 600 MHz frontside bus.
Open Firmware N/A
Details: Boot ROM and around 1 MB, other instructions are loaded into RAM (NewWorld).
32k/64k 512k
Details: 32k level 1 data cache, 64k level 1 instructional cache. The 512k on-chip level 2 cache runs at processor speed.
PC3200 DDR 400 MHz
Details: Supports 400 MHz PC3200 DDR SDRAM. If installing RAM in both slots, use matching memory for best performance.

Also see: How do you upgrade the RAM in the iMac G5 models? How much RAM of what type do these systems support?
512 MB 2 GB
Details: In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells memory -- as well as other upgrades -- for this iMac.

Also see: Actual Max RAM of All G3 & Later Macs.
None 2
Details: If non-matching RAM is installed, the 128-bit memory bus will operate as a 64-bit bus.
Radeon 9600 DDR SDRAM
Details: ATI Radeon 9600 with 128 MB of DDR SDRAM (AGP 8X support).

Also see: What type of video processor is provided by the iMac G5? Is it upgradable?
128 MB 128 MB
Details: Video cannot be upgraded.
17.0" TFT 1440x900
Details: This model has a 17.0" TFT active matrix display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and a native resolution of 1440x900. In the 16:10 aspect ratio, it also supports 1152x720, 1024x640, and 800x500, and in the 4:3 aspect ratio it supports 1024x768, 800x600, and 640x480. Apple additionally reports a "typical" brightness of 200 cd/m, contrast ratio of 400:1, and viewing angle of 120 degrees horizontal and 90 degrees vertical.
Mirroring Only* 1024x768*
Details: Apple reports that this system has a "VGA output port for video mirroring on an external display or projector", and supports output resolutions of "640 x 480 pixels at 60Hz, 800 x 600 pixels at 75Hz and 1024 x 768 pixels at 75Hz".

However, the hardware is capable of using an external display in dual or "extended desktop mode", Apple just blocked the capability in firmware to protect sales of more expensive Macs. Unsupported third-party hacks are available.
160 GB HDD 7200 RPM
Details: Also see: How do you replace or upgrade the hard drive in the iMac G5 models?

In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells storage upgrades for this iMac.

Also see: SSD Compatibility Guide for All G3 & Later Macs.
3.5" (26.10 mm) Serial ATA (1.5 Gb/s)
Details: This model holds a single 3.5" Serial ATA (1.5 Gb/s) hard drive or SSD. Storage drives larger than 128 GB are supported.
8X "Combo Drive" None
Details: Apple reports that the slot-loading 8X DVD-ROM/CD-RW "Combo" drive "reads DVDs at up to 8x speed, writes CD-R discs at up to 24x speed, writes CD-RW discs at up to 8x speed, [and] reads CDs at up to 24x speed."

Also see: What are the capabilities of the optical drive provided by the iMac G5?
56k v.92 10/100/1000Base-T
Details: Internal modem and 10/100/1000Base-T (Gigabit) Ethernet standard.
802.11b/g (Standard) 2.0+EDR
Details: AirPort Extreme (802.11g) and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR standard.
3 (2.0) 2 (400)
Details: Apple advertised that this system had a "total of five USB ports" counting three USB 2.0 ports on the system and two USB 1.1 ports on the keyboard. Two Firewire "400" ports are shared - 8 watts.
AP/BL None
Details: Internal AirPort Extreme (802.11b/802.11g) and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR pre-installed.
Apple Keyboard Apple Mouse
Details: N/A
All-in-One iMac G5
Details: Integrated all-in-one "ice white" enclosure approximately two inches deep supported by an aluminum stand.
M9843LL/A Ambient Light Sensor
Details: The Apple order number should be unique to this system.
A1058 (EMC 2055) PowerMac8,2
Details: Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model.

Also see: All Macs with the A1058 Model Number, the 2055 EMC Number, and the PowerMac8,2 Model Identifier.

For more about these identifiers and how to locate them on each Mac, please refer to EveryMac.com's Mac Identification section.
3.6V Lithium N/A
Details: N/A
X 10.4 (8A428) X 10.5.8
Details: This system cannot run versions of MacOS X more recent than 10.5.8.
N/A N/A
Details:
Classic Mode Only* Emulation Only
Details: *This model is capable of using Mac OS 9 applications within the Mac OS X "Classic" environment provided with Mac OS X 10.4.11 "Tiger" and lower ("Classic" is not supported starting with Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard"). It cannot boot into Mac OS 9.
16.9 x 16.8 x 6.8 18.5 lbs. (8.4 kg)
Details: In inches - height by width by depth, (43 cm, 42.6 cm, 17.3 cm).
US$1299 US$25-US$50
Details: Please note that on average the estimated current retail pricing of used systems is updated twice a year (please refer to the date on the bottom of the page for the date last updated).

Photo Credit: Apple Computer.


Click on a category for additional details. The most commonly needed info is "open" by default, but all info is important. The icons correspond with the icons for each port on the computer.


1 (Mini-VGA) None
Details: Apple notes that the system has a "VGA output port for video mirroring on [an] external display or projector" and "S-video and composite video output to connect directly to a TV or projector", using an adapter (sold separately).
None None
Details: N/A
None None
Details: N/A
3 (2.0) 2 (400)
Details: Apple advertised that this system had a "total of five USB ports" counting three USB 2.0 ports on the system and two USB 1.1 ports on the keyboard. Two Firewire "400" ports are shared - 8 watts.
1 (RJ-11) 1 (RJ-45)
Details: Internal modem and 10/100/1000Base-T (Gigabit) Ethernet standard. AirPort Extreme (802.11g) and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR standard as well.
None 1*
Details: Apple notes that the system has "S-video and composite video output to connect directly to a TV or projector", using an adapter (sold separately).
1 (Built-in) 1
Details: Includes a single "audio line input".
1* 1*
Details: Includes a single "headphone/optical digital audio output" port.
1 None
Details: N/A
1 N/A
Details: 100V-240V AC, 180W maximum.

Global original prices for the iMac G5/1.8 17" (ALS) in 34 different countries and territories follow; organized alphabetically by region.

For global original prices for Intel Macs in one particular country on a single page, please refer to EveryMac.com's Global Original Prices section.

Original Prices - North & South America

C$1599 N/A
N/A US$1299

Original Prices - Europe

N/A ¤1319
N/A N/A
N/A ¤1299
N/A ¤1299
N/A ¤1299
N/A N/A
¤1269 N/A
N/A N/A

Original Prices - Asia

N/A N/A
N/A N/A
¥152,040 N/A
N/A N/A
N/A N/A
N/A N/A

Original Prices - Australia & New Zealand

A$1999 NZ$2340

If you have additional original prices for this model, please get in touch. Thank you.


Ten of the most popular Q&As about the iMac models follow.


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