PowerBook G4 550 (Gigabit - Ti) Specs (Gigabit Ethernet, M8362LL/A*, PowerBook3,3, M8407, 1895): EveryMac.com

Apple PowerBook G4 550 (Gigabit - Ti) Specs

Identifiers: Gigabit Ethernet - M8362LL/A* - PowerBook3,3 - M8407 - 1895

All PowerBook G4 Models | All 2001 Models | Dynamically Compare This Mac to Others

Apple PowerBook G4 The PowerBook G4/550 (Gigabit) features a 550 MHz PowerPC 7440 (G4) processor with the AltiVec "Velocity Engine" vector processing unit and 256k on chip level 2 cache, 128 MB or 256 MB of PC133 SDRAM (256 MB standard starting December 17, 2001 - M8622LL/A), a 20 GB Ultra ATA/66 hard drive, a slot-loading 6X DVD-ROM drive (DVD/CD-RW "Combo" drive starting December 17, 2001 - M8622LL/A), and ATI Mobility Radeon (4X AGP) graphics with 16 MB of DDR SDRAM in a 1-inch thick Titanium case with a 15.2" TFT display (1152x768 native resolution). Custom configurations also were available.

Compared to the PowerBook G4/400 (Titanium) that it replaced, the PowerBook G4/550 (Gigabit) has a faster processor, an on chip level 2 cache, improved graphics, and a new lightweight power adapter.

Also see: What are the differences between the "Gigabit" PowerBook G4 (550/667) models?

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

Tech Specs
Ports
Popular Q&As

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

Expand All Details | Contract All Details

Introduction Date:

October 16, 2001*

Discontinued Date:

April 29, 2002

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.

On December 17, 2001, this system was upgraded with 256 MB of RAM standard and a DVD/CD-RW "Combo" drive (M8622LL/A).

Also see: All Macs introduced in 2001.

Processors:

Geekbench 2:

280

Details:

This model only is compatible with the 32-bit Geekbench 2 benchmark. 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 Geekbench 2 user submissions for Macs with the PowerBook3,3 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models.

To dynamically compare Geekbench results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison.

Processor Speed:

550 MHz

Processor Type:

PowerPC 7440 (G4)

Details:

The PowerPC G4 includes the AltiVec "Velocity Engine" vector processor.

Processor Upgrade:

Soldered

FPU:

Integrated

Details:

N/A

System Bus Speed:

100 MHz

Cache Bus Speed:

550 MHz (Built-in)

Details:

N/A

ROM/Firmware Type:

Open Firmware

ROM/Firmware Size:

1 MB

Details:

The Boot ROM is roughly 1 MB, other instructions are loaded into RAM.

L1 Cache:

64k

L2/L3 Cache:

256k (on chip)

Details:

Includes a 256k "on chip" level 2 cache that runs at processor speed.

RAM Type:

PC133 SDRAM

Min. RAM Speed:

8 ns

Details:

Supports 144-pin PC133 SDRAM SO-DIMM memory modules.

Also see: How do you upgrade the RAM in the PowerBook G4 models? How much RAM of what type do these systems support?

Standard RAM:

128 MB, 256 MB

Maximum RAM:

1 GB

Details:

128 MB standard from October 16, 2001 to December 17, 2001 (M8362LL/A), 256 MB standard from December 17, 2001 to April 29, 2002 (M8622LL/A).

In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells memory -- as well as other upgrades -- for this PowerBook G4.

In Germany, site sponsor CompuRAM sells memory and other upgrades for this PowerBook G4.

Also see: Actual Max RAM of All G3 & Later Macs.

Motherboard RAM:

None

RAM Slots:

Details:

N/A

Video Card:

Mobility Radeon

VRAM Type:

DDR SDRAM

Details:

ATI Mobility Radeon with 16 MB DDR SDRAM (4X AGP).

Also see: What kind of video processor is provided by the PowerBook G4 models? What is the maximum resolution each can support on an external display?

Standard VRAM:

16 MB

Maximum VRAM:

16 MB

Details:

The video cannot be upgraded.

Built-in Display:

15.2" Widescreen

Native Resolution:

1152x768

Details:

15.2" color widescreen TFT active-matrix display with a 1152 by 768 native resolution. Apple reports that it also supports "896 by 600, 720 by 480, and 640 by 480 at 3:2 aspect ratio; [and] 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, and 640 by 480 at 4:3 aspect ratio".

2nd Display Support:

Dual/Mirroring

2nd Max. Resolution:

1280x960

Details:

The maximum resolution supported on an external VGA display is 1920x1400 at millions of colors.

Standard Storage:

20 GB

Std. Storage Speed:

N/A

Details:

A 48 GB hard drive also was available as a build-to-order option.

Also see: How do you replace or upgrade the hard drive in the PowerBook G4 models?

Site sponsor Other World Computing sells storage upgrades for this PowerBook G4.

Also see: SSD Compatibility Guide for All G3 & Later Macs.

Storage Dimensions:

2.5" (12.5 mm)

Storage Interface:

Ultra ATA/66

Details:

This model supports a single Ultra ATA/66 (ATA-5) 2.5" hard drive or SSD that is up to 12.5 mm thick.

Standard Optical:

6X DVD-ROM*

Standard Disk:

None

Details:

Apple reports that the 6X slot-loading DVD-ROM drive also is capable of reading "DVD-Video, DVD-RAM, and CD-ROM discs". It shipped standard from October 16, 2001 to December 17, 2001 (M8362LL/A). An optional CD-RW drive was availabe as a build-to-order option (writes CD-R/RW at 8X, reads CD-ROM at 24X).

A DVD/CD-RW "Combo" drive (reads DVD-ROM at 8X, writes CD-R/RW at 8X, reads CD-ROM at 24X) shipped standard standard from December 17, 2001 to April 29, 2002 (M8622LL/A).

Also see: What are the capabilities of the optical drive provided by the PowerBook G4 models? Can one upgrade the optical drive?

Standard Modem:

56k v.90

Standard Ethernet:

10/100/1000Base-T

Details:

N/A

Standard AirPort:

802.11b (Optional)

Standard Bluetooth:

None

Details:

Internal AirPort (802.11b) was available as a build-to-order option.

Also see: Which PowerBook G4 models support AirPort? Which support AirPort Extreme? Which have internal support for Bluetooth or Bluetooth 2.0+EDR?

USB Ports:

2 (1.1)

Firewire Ports:

1 (400)

Details:

Two USB 1.1 ports. One Firewire "400" port.

Expansion Slots:

Type I/II PC Card

Expansion Bays:

None

Details:

Single PC Card slot supporting a Type I or Type II PC Card (CardBus compliant).

Also see: Is it possible to add external SATA to the PowerBook G4?

Incl. Keyboard:

Full-size

Incl. Input:

Trackpad

Details:

Apple reports that the integrated keyboard has "77 (US) or 78 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys, 4 arrow keys (inverted "T" arrangement), and [an] embedded numeric keypad." The trackpad supports tap, double tap, and drag capabilities.

Case Type:

Notebook

Form Factor:

PowerBook G4

Details:

Apple Order No:

M8362LL/A*

Apple Subfamily:

Gigabit Ethernet

Details:

*The M8362LL/A order number is for the original configuration introduced on October 16, 2001 with 128 MB of RAM and a DVD-ROM drive. On December 17, 2001, the system was upgraded with 256 MB of RAM standard and a DVD/CD-RW "Combo" drive and assigned order number M8622LL/A.

Apple Model No:

M8407 (EMC 1895)

Model ID:

PowerBook3,3

Details:

Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model.

Also see: All Macs with the M8407 Model Number, the 1895 EMC Number, and the PowerBook3,3 Model Identifier.

For more about these identifiers and how to locate them on each Mac, please refer to EveryMac.com's Mac Identification section.

Battery Type:

50 W h LiIon

Battery Life:

5 Hours

Details:

5 hours under "normal usage conditions" as estimated by Apple.

Also see: What is the battery life of the PowerBook G4 models?

Pre-Installed MacOS:

9.2.1 & X 10.1

Maximum MacOS:

X 10.4.11

Details:

This system cannot run versions of MacOS X more recent than 10.4.11.

Also see: Which PowerBook G4 models can boot MacOS 9? Which PowerBook G4 models can only run MacOS 9 applications in the "Classic" environment?

MacOS 9 Support:

Boot/Classic Mode

Windows Support:

Emulation Only

Details:

This model is capable of booting in Mac OS 9 and using Mac OS 9 applications within the Mac OS X "Classic" environment.

Dimensions:

1.1 x 13.4 x 9.5

Avg. Weight:

5.3 lbs (2.4 kg)

Details:

In inches while closed - height by width by depth, (2.6 cm, 34.1 cm, 24.1 cm).

Original Price (US):

US$2199

Est. Current Retail:

N/A

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.

Expand All Details | Contract All Details

Video (Monitor):

1 (VGA)

Floppy (Ext.):

None

Details:

Also see: What is a "DVI" port? Which PowerBook G4 models have DVI ports? Which do not?

ADB:

None

SCSI:

None

Details:

N/A

Serial (Standard):

None

Serial (Geoport):

None

Details:

N/A

USB:

2 (1.1)

Firewire:

1 (400)

Details:

Two USB 1.1 ports. One Firewire "400" port.

Modem:

1 (RJ-11)

Ethernet:

1 (RJ-45)

Details:

Internal card provides 56k v.90 modem and 10/100/1000Base-T (Gigabit) Ethernet. 4-Mbps IrDA port also provided.

S-Video Input:

None

S-Video Output:

Details:

S-video to composite adapter also provided.

Microphone:

1 (Internal)

Sound In:

None

Details:

Internal omnidirectional microphone. No other audio input.

Sound Out:

Headphone:

None

Details:

Single 16-bit stereo sound output minijack also can be used with headphones.

Security (Lock):

Joystick (PC):

None

Details:

N/A

Power:

N/A

Power Adapter:

Details:

100V-240V AC, 45 W power adapter.

Ten of the most popular Q&As about the PowerBook G4 models follow.

Permalink | Report an Error/Typo | Sign Up for Site Update Notices

<< PowerBook G4 (Home) | Also see: PowerBook G4 FAQ

Established in 1996, EveryMac.com has been created by experts with decades of experience with Apple hardware. EveryMac.com includes, and always has included, original research incorporating detailed, hands-on inspection of packaging, computers, and devices as well as extensive real-world use. All information is provided in good faith, but no website or person is perfect. Accordingly, EveryMac.com is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind whatsoever. EveryMac.com, and the authors thereof, shall not be held responsible or liable, under any circumstances, for any damages resulting from the use or inability to use the information within. For complete disclaimer and copyright information please read and understand the Terms of Use and the Privacy Policy before using EveryMac.com. Copying, scraping, or use of any content without expressed permission is not allowed, although links to any page are welcomed and appreciated.