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Apple Power Macintosh G3 266 Minitower Specs

Identifiers: Power Mac G3 MT - M6142LL/A* - N/A* - M4405 - None

All Power Macintosh G3 Models | All 1997 Models | Dynamically Compare This Mac to Others

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Apple Power Mac G3The Apple Power Macintosh G3/266 Minitower, based on the compact Gossamer architecture, features a 266 MHz PowerPC 750 (G3) processor with 512k of backside cache, 32 MB or 128 MB of RAM, a 4.0 GB or 6.0 GB hard drive, a 24X CD-ROM drive, ATI 3D Rage II+ or Rage Pro (starting May 1, 1998) graphics acceleration with 2 MB or 6 MB of VRAM, and either the "Whisper personality card" with audio input/output or the "Wings personality card" with audio/video input/output -- all packed into an easily expandable minitower 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 Minitower -- the original version (M6142LL/A) with 32 MB of RAM, a 6 GB IDE hard drive, 2 MB of VRAM, a Zip drive, S-video and composite video input/output ports (Wings) for US$3000, and the second version (M6459LL/A) -- added January 6, 1998 -- with 128 MB of RAM, a 4 GB Ultra/Wide SCSI hard drive, 6 MB of VRAM installed on board (and an additional 8 MB of VRAM on a 2D/3D graphics PCI card), dual display support, and both 10Base-T and 10/100Base-T Ethernet for US$4199.

Custom configuration options -- some of which were standard on the M6459LL/A configuration -- included an Ultra/Wide SCSI hard drive, an internal DVD-ROM drive, 10/100Base-T Ethernet, superior graphics, and a Firewire card, among others.

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.


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November 10, 1997* August 12, 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 (M6459LL/A) added January 8, 1998.

Also see: All Macs introduced in 1997.
1 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.
266 MHz PowerPC 750 (G3)
Details: N/A
ZIF Socket Integrated
Details: The Power Macintosh G3 models have the processor mounted on a ZIF socket.
66 MHz 133 MHz
Details: This system has a 133 MHz backside bus and 512k of level 2 cache.
Macintosh ROM 4 MB
Details: N/A
64k 512k (backside)
Details: The 512k of backside cache has a 133 MHz bus.
PC66 SDRAM 10 ns
Details: Supports 10 ns PC66 168-pin SDRAM.
32 MB, 128 MB 768 MB*
Details: *Apple officially reports that the maximum memory capacity of this system is 384 MB with three 128 MB memory modules. However, third-parties have been able to upgrade the RAM to 768 MB with three 256 MB memory modules.

Site sponsor Other World Computing sells memory -- as well as other upgrades -- for this Power Macintosh G3.

In Germany, site sponsor CompuRAM sells memory and other upgrades for this Power Mac G3.

Also see: Actual Max RAM of All G3 & Later Macs.
None 3
Details: There is no performance advantage to installing memory modules in pairs.
3D Rage II+* EDO SGRAM
Details: *ATI 3D Rage II+ graphics onboard originally, upgraded to ATI Rage Pro starting May 1, 1998. The M6142LL/A configuration also has 8 MB of VRAM on a 2D/3D graphics PCI card.
2 MB, 6 MB* 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). The M6142LL/A configuration 6 MB of VRAM standard onboard and 8 MB of VRAM on a 2D/3D graphics PCI card.
Single Display* 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.

*The M6142LL/A configuration supports dual displays.
None* N/A
Details: *The M6142LL/A configuration supports dual displays with a pre-installed PCI card.
4.0, 6.0 GB N/A
Details: M6142LL/A shipped standard with an IDE/ATA-2 hard drive. M6459LL/A shipped with an Ultra/Wide SCSI PCI card and hard drive. This system 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.

Also see: SSD Compatibility Guide for All G3 & Later Macs.
3.5" (25.4 mm) IDE/ATA-2 & SCSI*
Details: *Shipped standard with either a 3.5" IDE/ATA-2 hard drive or a Ultra/Wide SCSI PCI card and hard drive. It also has an internal SCSI bus (up to 5 MB/second). It is designed to hold one internal 3.5" hard drive and it has three front-facing 5.25" drive bays that also can be used by a hard drive or removable storage drives. Capacity of each hard drive drive must be smaller than 128 GB.
24X CD-ROM 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). An internal Zip 100 drive also was standard on the M6142LL/A configuration.
56k (optional) 10Base-T*
Details: *10/100Base-T Ethernet also was available as a build-to-order option on the M6142LL/A configuration and standard on the M6459LL/A configuration.
None None
Details: N/A
None None*
Details: *Firewire "400" available via build-to-order.
3 PCI, Personality* 1 3.5", 3 5.25"
Details: *In the original default configuration (M6142LL/A), this model has three open 33 MHz PCI slots and the "personality card" slot that is occupied by a "Wings personality card" providing audio and video input/output. In the second default configuration (M6459LL/A) one 33 MHz PCI slot is open and the "personality card" slot is occupied by a "Whisper personality card" that provides audio input/output (no video).

It has one "internal" 3.5" bay (for a hard drive) and three external 5.25" bays (which can be used by hard drives and removable media drives). By default, one external 5.25" bay is free on the M6142LL/A configuration and two on the M6459LL/A configuration.
AppleDesign Keyboard Apple ADB Mouse II
Details: N/A
Tower Power Mac G3 MT (Beige)
Details: N/A
M6142LL/A* Power Mac G3 MT
Details: *M6142LL/A refers to the configuration with 32 MB of RAM, a 6 GB IDE hard drive, 2 MB of VRAM, a Zip drive, S-video and composite video input/output ports. M6459LL/A was assigned to the configuration added January 6, 1998 -- with 128 MB of RAM, a 4 GB Ultra/Wide SCSI hard drive, 6 MB of VRAM installed onboard (and an additional 8 MB of VRAM on a 2D/3D graphics PCI card), dual display support, and both 10Base-T and 10/100Base-T Ethernet.
M4405 (EMC None) 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 M4405 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.
3.6V Lithium N/A
Details: N/A
8.0 X 10.2.8
Details: This system cannot run versions of MacOS X more recent than 10.2.8.
Boot/Classic Mode 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.
15.2 x 9.6 x 17.8 33.1 lbs. (15 kg)
Details: In inches - height by width by depth, (38.6 cm, 24.4 cm, 45.2 cm).
US$3000, US$4199* N/A
Details: *US$3000 for the original configuration (M6142LL/A) and US$4199 for the second configuration added January 8, 1998 (M6459LL/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.


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 (DB-15) None
Details: N/A
1 1 (DB-25)
Details: Single ADB port and single SCSI port.
2* 2*
Details: *Two Geoport compatible serial ports standard (one printer, one modem).
None None*
Details: *Firewire "400" available via build-to-order.
1* (RJ-11) 1* (RJ-45)
Details: *Internal 56k modem optional, 10Base-T Ethernet standard, 10/100Base-T available via build-to-order.
None* None*
Details: One configuration of the Power Macintosh G3/266 Minitower (M6142LL/A) as well as one configuration of the Power Macintosh G3/300 Minitower (M7247LL/A) have S-video and composite input/output ports.
None 1
Details: Includes a single analog 16-bit stereo sound in jack.
1 None
Details: Includes a single analog 16-bit stereo sound out jack.
1 N/A
Details: N/A
1 N/A
Details: 100-240V AC. 240W maximum.

Ten of the most popular Q&As about the Power Macintosh G3 models follow.



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