Apple iMac G5/2.0 17-Inch (ALS) Specs (M9844LL/A)
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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 G5/2.0 17-Inch (ALS) features a 2.0 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-R/CD-RW "SuperDrive", 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?
Visit site sponsor PowerMax to purchase new & used Macs, monitors, and peripherals.
Visit site sponsor Other World Computing to buy memory, drives, batteries, and more.
Click on the underlined category text for related details. The most commonly needed info is "open" by default, but all info is important.
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| Introduction Date: |
May 3, 2005 |
Discontinued Date: |
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. |
| Processor Type: |
PowerPC 970* (G5) |
Processor Speed: |
2.0 GHz |
| 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? |
| Processor Upgrade: |
None |
FPU: |
Integrated |
| Details: |
The processor is mounted directly to the motherboard. |
| System Bus Speed: |
667 MHz (3:1) |
Cache Bus Speed: |
2.0 GHz (Built-in) |
| Details: |
667 MHz frontside bus. |
| ROM/Firmware Type: |
Open Firmware |
ROM/Firmware Size: |
1 MB |
| Details: |
Boot ROM and around 1 MB, other instructions are loaded into RAM (NewWorld). |
| L1 Cache: |
32k/64k |
L2/L3 Cache: |
512k |
| Details: |
32k level 1 data cache, 64k level 1 instructional cache. The 512k on-chip level 2 cache runs at processor speed. |
| RAM Type: |
PC3200 DDR |
Min. RAM Speed: |
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? |
| Standard RAM: |
512 MB |
Maximum RAM: |
2.0 GB |
| Details: |
Site sponsor Other World Computing sells iMac memory, as well as hard drives, accessories, and other upgrades. |
| Motherboard RAM: |
None |
RAM Slots: |
2 |
| Details: |
If non-matching RAM is installed, the 128-bit memory bus will operate as a 64-bit bus. |
| Video Card: |
Radeon 9600 |
VRAM Type: |
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? |
| Standard VRAM: |
128 MB |
Maximum VRAM: |
128 MB |
| Details: |
Video cannot be upgraded. |
| Built-in Display: |
17.0" TFT |
Native Resolution: |
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. |
| 2nd Display Support: |
Mirroring Only* |
2nd Max. Resolution: |
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. |
| Standard Hard Drive: |
160 GB (7200 RPM) |
Int. HD Interface: |
Serial ATA (1.5Gb/s) |
| Details: |
Also see: How do you replace or upgrade the hard drive in the iMac G5 models? |
| Standard Optical: |
8X DL "SuperDrive" |
Standard Disk: |
None |
| Details: |
Apple reports that the slot-loading 8X DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW SuperDrive "writes DVD+R DL discs at up to 2.4x speed, writes DVD-R and DVD+R discs at up to 8x speed, writes DVD-RW and DVD+RW discs at up to 4x speed, reads DVDs at up to 8x speed, writes CD-R discs at up to 24x speed, writes CD-RW discs at up to 8x, [and] CDs at up to 24x speed."
Also see: What are the capabilities of the optical drive provided by the iMac G5? |
| Standard Modem: |
56k v.92 |
Standard Ethernet: |
10/100/1000Base-T |
| Details: |
Internal modem and 10/100/1000Base-T (Gigabit) Ethernet standard. |
| Standard AirPort: |
802.11b/g (Standard) |
Standard Bluetooth: |
2.0+EDR |
| Details: |
AirPort Extreme (802.11g) and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR standard. |
| USB Ports: |
3 (2.0) |
Firewire Ports: |
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.
Also see: Complete Ports. |
| Expansion Slots: |
AP/BL |
Expansion Bays: |
None |
| Details: |
Internal AirPort Extreme (802.11b/802.11g) and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR pre-installed. |
| Incl. Keyboard: |
Apple Keyboard |
Incl. Input: |
Apple Mouse |
| Case Type: |
All-in-One |
Form Factor: |
iMac G5 |
| Details: |
Integrated all-in-one "ice white" enclosure approximately two inches deep supported by an aluminum stand. |
| Apple Model No: |
M9844LL/A |
Apple Subfamily: |
Ambient Light Sensor |
| Details: |
The Apple model number should be unique to this system. |
| Gestalt/Model ID: |
N/A |
Machine Model: |
PowerMac8,2 |
| Details: |
Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model. |
| Battery Type: |
3.6V Lithium |
Battery Life: |
N/A |
| Pre-Installed MacOS: |
X 10.4 (8A428) |
Maximum MacOS: |
Current |
| Details: |
Please note that this system can run the current version of MacOS X as of the date last updated (see bottom of page). |
| MacOS 9 Support: |
Classic Mode Only* |
Windows Support: |
Emulation Only |
| Details: |
*This model is capable of using MacOS 9 applications within the MacOS X "Classic" environment provided with MacOS X 10.4.11 "Tiger" and lower ("Classic" is not supported starting with MacOS X 10.5 "Leopard"). It cannot boot into MacOS 9.
Site-sponsor OHS specializes in heavily upgraded Macs capable of running both MacOS X and MacOS 9 applications. |
| Dimensions: |
16.9 x 16.8 x 6.8 |
Avg. Weight: |
18.5 lbs. (8.4 kg) |
| Details: |
In inches - height by width by depth, (43 cm, 42.6 cm, 17.3 cm). |
| Original Price: |
US$1499 |
Est. Current Retail: |
US$825US$975 |
| 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. |
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