What are the differences between the Power Mac G4 Cube models?

Please note that the Power Mac G4 Cube models were introduced on July 19, 2000 and were placed on "indefinite hold" on July 3, 2001.

The Power Mac G4 Cube models -- the Power Mac G4/450 Cube and G4/500 Cube -- have a great deal in common, both externally and internally.

Externally, both Power Mac G4 Cube models use the same attractive and compact "cube" case design. Internally, both use the same motherboard design with a PowerPC 74xx (G4) processor, 100 MHz system bus, three PC100 SDRAM slots, support for an Ultra ATA/66 (ATA-5) hard drive, and a dedicated "short" 2X AGP video card slot.

However, these models do vary by configuration and the major differences are summarized below:

Power Mac G4	G4/450 Cube	G4/500 Cube
Processor:	450 MHz	500 MHz
System Bus:	100 MHz	100 MHz
Backside L2:	1 MB	1 MB
Memory Type:	PC100 SDRAM	PC100 SDRAM
Std. RAM:	64, 128, 256 MB*	128 MB
Max. RAM:	1.5 GB	1.5 GB
Video Card:	Rage 128 Pro*	Rage 128 Pro**
Video RAM:	16 MB*	16 MB**
Hard Drive:	20 GB*	30 GB**
Optical Drive:	DVD-ROM*	DVD-ROM**
AirPort (802.11b):	Optional	Optional
Bluetooth:	None	None
Slots:	Airport	Airport
Model No:	M7642LL/A	M7642LL/A†
Orig. Price:	US$1799	US$2299

* This model was originally configured with 64 MB of RAM, a 16 MB ATI Rage 128 Pro graphics card, a 20 GB hard drive, and a DVD-ROM drive. Starting February 22, 2001, it also could be configured with 64 MB, 128 MB, or 256 MB of RAM, a 32 MB NVIDIA GeForce2 MX video card, a 40 GB (5400 RPM) or 60 GB (7200 RPM) hard drive, and a CD-RW drive.

** This model also was available with a 16 MB ATI Radeon or a 32 MB NVIDIA GeForce2 MX video card, a 40 GB (5400 RPM) or 60 GB (7200 RPM) hard drive, and a CD-RW drive.

† This model was only available direct from Apple. This model number is for the Power Mac G4/450 Cube that also was available from resellers.

Site sponsor PowerMax sells a wide selection of new and used Macs -- including the Power Mac G4 Cube from time-to-time -- free of sales tax.

Please refer to the Ultimate Mac Comparison feature to compare any Power Mac G4 Cube model to any other G3 or later Mac.