Apple Power Macintosh G3 266 Desktop Specs
Identifiers: Power Mac G3 DT - M6202LL/A* - N/A* - M3979 - None
All Power Macintosh G3 Models | All 1997 Models | Dynamically Compare This Mac to Others
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The Apple Power Macintosh G3/266 Desktop, based on the compact Gossamer architecture, features a 266 MHz PowerPC 750 (G3) processor with 512k of backside cache, 32 MB of RAM, a 4.0 GB hard drive, a 24X CD-ROM drive, ATI 3D Rage II+, Rage Pro (starting May 1, 1998), or Rage Pro Turbo (starting August 12, 1998) graphics acceleration with 2 MB of VRAM (expandable to 6 MB), and the standard "Whisper personality card" with audio input/output -- all packed into an easily expandable desktop case.
The Power Macintosh G3 models were the first Apple Macs to use the "third-generation" (G3) PowerPC 750 processor which also unveiled a new "backside" level 2 cache for a substantial performance boost compared to earlier systems using a "lookaside" level 2 cache.
There were at least two different "standard" configurations of the Power Macintosh G3/266 Desktop -- the original version (M6202LL/A) equipped with ATI 3D Rage II+ or ATI Rage Pro graphics and a Zip drive for US$2400 and a second revision (M6508LL/A) -- introduced August 12, 1998 -- configured with ATI Rage Pro Turbo graphics and no Zip drive for US$1599.
Custom configuration options included an Ultra/Wide SCSI hard drive, internal DVD-ROM drive, internal Zip drive, 10/100Base-T Ethernet, superior graphics, and a Firewire card among others.
To purchase or upgrade a G3 Mac -- as well as newer Macs -- see site sponsor OHS.
- Tech Specs
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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.
| Introduction Date: |
November 10, 1997* |
Discontinued Date: |
December 14, 1998 |
| 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.
*Second configuration (M6508LL/A) with ATI Rage Pro Turbo graphics and no Zip drive introduced on August 12, 1998.
Also see: All Macs introduced in 1997. |
| Processors: |
1 |
Geekbench 2: |
N/A |
| Details: |
N/A 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 N/A* 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: |
266 MHz |
Processor Type: |
PowerPC 750 (G3) |
| Processor Upgrade: |
ZIF Socket |
FPU: |
Integrated |
| Details: |
The Power Macintosh G3 models have the processor mounted on a ZIF socket. |
| System Bus Speed: |
66 MHz |
Cache Bus Speed: |
133 MHz |
| Details: |
This system has a 133 MHz backside bus and 512k of level 2 cache. |
| ROM/Firmware Type: |
Macintosh ROM |
ROM/Firmware Size: |
4 MB |
| L1 Cache: |
64k |
L2/L3 Cache: |
512k (backside) |
| Details: |
The 512k of backside cache has a 133 MHz bus. |
| RAM Type: |
PC66 SDRAM |
Min. RAM Speed: |
10 ns |
| Details: |
Supports low profile 10 ns PC66 168-pin SDRAM. |
| Standard RAM: |
32 MB |
Maximum RAM: |
768 MB* |
| Details: |
*Apple officially reports that the maximum memory capacity of this system is 192 MB with three low profile 64 MB memory modules. However, third-parties have been able to upgrade the RAM to 768 MB with three 256 MB low-profile memory modules.
Site sponsor Other World Computing sells memory -- as well as other upgrades -- for this Power Macintosh G3.
Also see: Actual Max RAM of All G3 & Later Macs. |
| Motherboard RAM: |
None |
RAM Slots: |
3 |
| Details: |
There is no performance advantage to installing memory modules in pairs. |
| Video Card: |
3D Rage II+* |
VRAM Type: |
EDO SGRAM |
| Details: |
*ATI 3D Rage II+ graphics onboard originally, upgraded to ATI Rage Pro starting May 1, 1998, and upgraded to ATI Rage Pro Turbo starting August 12, 1998 (M6508LL/A). |
| Standard VRAM: |
2 MB* |
Maximum VRAM: |
6 MB* |
| Details: |
*This model has 2 MB of VRAM onboard and a single expansion slot that supports an additional 4 MB of VRAM (3.3V 83 MHz 144-pin SO-DIMM). |
| Display Support: |
Single Display |
Resolution Support: |
1024x768* |
| Details: |
Apple advertised that this system can support "thousands of colors at up to 1024 by 768-pixel resolution (24-bit), [and] millions of colors at up to 832 by 624-pixel resolution (32-bit), refresh rate of up to 85 Hz." It can support resolutions up to 1600x1200 with the maximum 6 MB of VRAM installed. |
| 2nd Display Support: |
None |
2nd Max. Resolution: |
N/A |
| Standard Hard Drive: |
4.0 GB |
Int. HD Interface: |
IDE/ATA-2 & SCSI* |
| Details: |
Shipped standard with an IDE/ATA-2 hard drive but also has an internal SCSI bus (up to 5 MB/second) -- drives larger than 128 GB are not supported.
In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells storage upgrades for this Power Mac G3. |
| Standard Optical: |
24X CD-ROM |
Standard Disk: |
1.44 MB (Manual) |
| Details: |
24X tray-loading CD-ROM drive standard. An optional DVD-ROM drive was available by custom configuration (did not support MPEG-2 video playback without a third-party solution). Internal Zip 100 drive standard in original configuration (M6202LL/A), available build-to-order in second configuration (M6508LL/A). |
| Standard Modem: |
56k (optional) |
Standard Ethernet: |
10Base-T* |
| Details: |
*10/100Base-T Ethernet also was available as a build-to-order option. |
| Standard AirPort: |
None |
Standard Bluetooth: |
None |
| USB Ports: |
None |
Firewire Ports: |
None* |
| Details: |
*Firewire "400" available via build-to-order. |
| Expansion Slots: |
3 PCI, Personality* |
Expansion Bays: |
2 3.5" |
| Details: |
*In the default configuration, this model has three open 33 MHz PCI slots and the "personality card" slot that is occupied by a "Whisper personality card" providing audio input/output.
It has two 3.5" drive bays (one is internal and intended for a hard drive, and one is external and intended for a Zip 100 drive). By default, the external 3.5" bay is occupied by a Zip 100 drive in the original configuration (M6202LL/A) and open in the second configuration (M6508LL/A). The system also has an external 5.25" drive bay occupied by the optical drive. |
| Incl. Keyboard: |
AppleDesign Keyboard |
Incl. Input: |
Apple ADB Mouse II |
| Case Type: |
Desktop |
Form Factor: |
Power Mac G3 DT (Beige) |
| Apple Order No: |
M6202LL/A* |
Apple Subfamily: |
Power Mac G3 DT |
| Details: |
*M6202LL/A was the model number assigned to the original configuration with ATI 3D Rage II+ or ATI Rage Pro graphics and a Zip drive. M6508LL/A refers to the configuration introduced August 12, 1998 with ATI Rage Pro Turbo graphics and no Zip drive. The configurations are otherwise identical. |
| Apple Model No: |
M3979 (EMC None) |
Model ID: |
N/A* |
| Details: |
*This model does not have a Model Identifier. Its Gestalt ID is 510.
Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model.
Also see: All Macs with the M3979 Model Number, the None EMC Number, and the N/A* 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: |
3.6V Lithium |
Battery Life: |
N/A |
| Pre-Installed MacOS: |
8.0 |
Maximum MacOS: |
X 10.2.8 |
| Details: |
This system cannot run versions of MacOS X more recent than 10.2.8. |
| MacOS 9 Support: |
Boot/Classic Mode |
Windows Support: |
Emulation Only |
| Details: |
All Power Macintosh G3 models are capable of booting Mac OS 9 and using Mac OS 9 applications within the Mac OS X "Classic" environment.
Site sponsor OHS specializes in heavily upgraded Macs capable of running both Mac OS X and Mac OS 9 applications. |
| Dimensions: |
6.3 x 14.4 x 16.9 |
Avg. Weight: |
22.0 lbs. (10 kg) |
| Details: |
In inches - height by width by depth, (16 cm, 36.6 cm, 42.9 cm). |
| Original Price (US): |
US$2400* |
Est. Current Retail: |
N/A |
| Details: |
*The first configuration originally sold for US$2400 (M6202LL/A). The second configuration sold for US$1599 (M6508LL/A).
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. |
Ten of the most popular Q&As about the Power Macintosh G3 models follow.
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