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Apple iMac G5/1.6 17" Specs

Identifiers: iMac G5 - M9248LL/A - PowerMac8,1 - A1058 - 1989

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Apple iMac G5The Apple iMac G5/1.6 17-Inch, along with the simultaneously introduced iMac G5/1.8 17-Inch and iMac G5/1.8 20-Inch, features a revolutionary design with the entire computer placed behind the flat-panel display in an integrated all-in-one enclosure approximately two inches deep.

Like the aluminium-clad Apple Cinema Displays, the "non-iSight" iMac G5 models are suspended by an aluminum stand with an adjustable hinge, and support 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.

The Apple iMac G5/1.6 17-Inch shipped equipped with a 1.6 GHz PowerPC 970 (G5) processor with an optimized AltiVec "Velocity Engine" vector processing unit and a 512k on-chip level 2 cache, 256 MB of 400 MHz PC3200 DDR SDRAM, an 80 GB (7200 RPM) Serial ATA hard drive, a vertically-mounted slot-loading 8X DVD-ROM/CD-RW "Combo" Drive, NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra graphics with 64 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 support for AirPort Extreme (802.11g) and Bluetooth with optional cards.

The iMac G5 series is 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 original iMac G5 models?

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


  • Tech Specs
  • Ports
  • Global Original Prices
  • Popular Q&As

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


August 31, 2004 May 3, 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.

Also see: All Macs introduced in 2004.
1 64-Bit
Details: Also see: All models with a 64-Bit processor courtesy of EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Sort.
842 N/A
Details: When last updated, Geekbench 2 only provided sufficient 32-bit performance data for this model. 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 and 64-bit Geekbench 2 user submissions for Macs with the PowerMac8,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models.

To dynamically compare Geekbench 2 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison.
N/A N/A
Details: The Geekbench 3 benchmark does not support this model. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better.

You also might be interested in reviewing all 32-bit single core and multicore Geekbench 3 user submissions for Macs with the PowerMac8,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models.

To dynamically compare 32-bit Geekbench 3 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison.
N/A N/A
Details: The Geekbench 3 benchmark does not support this model. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better.

You also might be interested in reviewing all 64-bit single core and multicore Geekbench 3 user submissions for Macs with the PowerMac8,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models.

To dynamically compare 64-bit Geekbench 3 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison.
1.6 GHz PowerPC 970 (G5)
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".

Also see: How fast is the iMac G5 compared to the iMac G4 Flat-Panel and Power Macintosh G5?
N/A N/A
Details: N/A
Soldered Integrated
Details: The processor is mounted directly to the motherboard.
533 MHz (3:1) 1.6 GHz (Built-in)
Details: 533 MHz frontside bus.
Open Firmware N/A
Details: Boot ROM and around 1 MB, other instructions are loaded into RAM (NewWorld).
32k/64k 512k
Details: 32k level 1 data cache, 64k level 1 instructional cache. The 512k on-chip level 2 cache runs at processor speed.
PC3200 DDR 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?
256 MB 2 GB
Details: In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells memory -- as well as other upgrades -- for this iMac.

Also see: Actual Max RAM of All G3 & Later Macs.
None 2
Details: If non-matching RAM is installed, the 128-bit memory bus will operate as a 64-bit bus.
GeForce FX 5200 Ultra* DDR SDRAM
Details: *Apple formally reports that this model has a NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra with 64 MB of DDR SDRAM (AGP 8X support). An eagle-eyed EveryMac.com reader noted in software that it self-reports that it has a "GeForce FX 5200" (non-Ultra).

Also see: What type of video processor is provided by the iMac G5? Is it upgradable?
64 MB 64 MB
Details: Video cannot be upgraded.
17.0" TFT 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 350:1, and viewing angle of 120 degrees horizontal and 90 degrees vertical.
Mirroring Only* 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.
80 GB HDD 7200 RPM
Details: Also see: How do you replace or upgrade the hard drive in the iMac G5 models?

In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells storage upgrades for this iMac.

Also see: SSD Compatibility Guide for All G3 & Later Macs.
3.5" (26.10 mm) Serial ATA (1.5 Gb/s)
Details: This model holds a single 3.5" Serial ATA (1.5 Gb/s) hard drive or SSD. Storage drives larger than 128 GB are supported.
8X "Combo Drive" None
Details: Apple reports that the slot-loading 8X DVD-ROM/CD-RW "Combo" drive "reads DVDs at up to 8x speed, writes CD-R discs at up to 24x speed, writes CD-RW discs at up to 16x speed, [and] reads CDs at up to 24x speed."

Also see: What are the capabilities of the optical drive provided by the iMac G5?
56k v.92 10/100Base-T
Details: Internal modem and 10/100Base-T Ethernet standard.
802.11b/g (Optional) 1.1 (Optional)
Details: This model could be configured with AirPort Extreme (802.11b/802.11g) and Bluetooth at the time of purchase for additional cost.
3 (2.0) 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.
AP/BL None
Details: Internal AirPort Extreme (802.11b/802.11g) and Bluetooth support.
Apple Keyboard Apple Mouse
Details: N/A
All-in-One iMac G5
Details: Integrated all-in-one "ice white" enclosure approximately two inches deep supported by an aluminum stand.
M9248LL/A iMac G5
Details: The Apple order number should be unique to this system.
A1058 (EMC 1989) PowerMac8,1
Details: Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model.

Also see: All Macs with the A1058 Model Number, the 1989 EMC Number, and the PowerMac8,1 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
X 10.3.5 (7P35) X 10.5.8
Details: This system cannot run versions of MacOS X more recent than 10.5.8.
N/A N/A
Details:
Classic Mode Only* Emulation Only
Details: *This model is capable of using Mac OS 9 applications within the Mac OS X "Classic" environment provided with Mac OS X 10.4.11 "Tiger" and lower ("Classic" is not supported starting with Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard"). It cannot boot into Mac OS 9.
16.9 x 16.8 x 6.8 18.5 lbs. (8.4 kg)
Details: In inches - height by width by depth, (43 cm, 42.6 cm, 17.3 cm).
US$1299 US$25-US$50
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.


1 (Mini-VGA) None
Details: Apple notes that the system has a "VGA output port for video mirroring on [an] external display or projector" and "S-video and composite video output to connect directly to a TV or projector", using an adapter (sold separately).
None None
Details: N/A
None None
Details: N/A
3 (2.0) 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.
1 (RJ-11) 1 (RJ-45)
Details: Internal modem and 10/100Base-T Ethernet standard.
None 1*
Details: Apple notes that the system has "S-video and composite video output to connect directly to a TV or projector", using an adapter (sold separately).
1 (Built-in) 1
Details: Includes a single "audio line input".
1* 1*
Details: Includes a single "headphone/optical digital audio output" port.
1 None
Details: N/A
1 N/A
Details: 100V-240V AC, 180W maximum.

Global original prices for the iMac G5/1.6 17" in 34 different countries and territories follow; organized alphabetically by region.

For global original prices for Intel Macs in one particular country on a single page, please refer to EveryMac.com's Global Original Prices section.

Original Prices - North & South America

C$1749 N/A
N/A US$1299

Original Prices - Europe

N/A N/A
N/A N/A
N/A N/A
N/A N/A
N/A N/A
N/A N/A
¤1369 N/A
N/A £919

Original Prices - Asia

N/A N/A
N/A N/A
¥157,290 N/A
N/A N/A
N/A N/A
N/A N/A

Original Prices - Australia & New Zealand

A$2199 NZ$2340

If you have additional original prices for this model, please get in touch. Thank you.


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


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