Apple Power Mac G5 - PPC G5 1.6 GHz

Description: The Apple Power Mac G5 - PPC G5 1.6 GHz is a PowerPC 970-based, budget desktop PC.Compared to other basic PCs on the market, it is relatively inexpensive at around $530.This desktop comes with 256 MB RAM, and a 80GB hard drive.

Pros: None noted, given available product data.

Cons: None noted, given available product data.

Suitability: A value-oriented PC, suited for basic computing tasks, such as word processing, e-mail, and web browsing.Also comes with advanced word processing software -- fine for most serious business or academic writers.However, comes with a DVD player for watching movies.This computer also has a CD writer, allowing you to compile your own audio CDs or video CDs.

Value: Given its relatively inexpensive price, this PC has good features for the money.

Suggestions: (1) Using this PC's Firewire (1394) port, you can connect to many digital camcorders and other equipment and rapidly upload data to the computer's hard drive.(2) If you plan to be playing the latest 3-D games, you may want to invest in a more powerful video card from NVidia or ATI, which are popular with the gaming community (requires an open AGP or PCIe slot).

CNET's Product Briefs are generated by a software tool that combines product specifications with knowledge of our editorial experts. They do not reflect hands-on assessment or labs testing. For more information about how we create Product Briefs, contact us.

• Manufacturer: Apple
• Part Number: M9020LL/A

• General

• Type Personal computer
• Product Form Factor Tower
• Width 8.1 in
• Depth 18.7 in
• Height 20.1 in
• Weight 39.2 lbs
• Desktop type Budget desktop system

• Processor

• Type IBM PowerPC 970 1.6 GHz
• Installed Qty 1
• Max processors supported 1

• Cache Memory

• Type L2 cache
• Installed Size 512 KB
• Cache Per Processor 512 KB

• Mainboard

• Data bus speed 800 MHz

• Environmental Parameters

• Environmental standards EPA Energy Star
• Min operating temperature 50 °F
• Max operating temperature 95 °F
• Operating humidity range 5 - 95%

• RAM

• Installed Size 256 MB / 4 GB (max)
• Technology DDR SDRAM
• Memory Speed 333 MHz
• Memory Specification Compliance PC2700
• Form Factor DIMM 184-pin

• Storage Controller

• Type 2 x Serial ATA - Integrated
• Controller interface type Serial ATA-150

• Storage

• Floppy drive type None
• Hard Drive 1 x 80 GB - Standard - Serial ATA-150 - 7200 rpm
• Hard Drive (2nd) None x None

• Optical Storage

• Type CD-RW / DVD-R
• CD / DVD read speed 32x (CD) / 8x (DVD)
• CD / DVD write speed 16x (CD) / 4x (DVD)
• CD / DVD rewrite speed 10x

• Optical Storage (2nd)

• Type None

• Storage Removable

• Type None
• Capacity None

• Monitor

• Monitor Type None.

• Graphics Controller

• Type AGP 8x - Plug-in card
• Graphics Processor / Vendor NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra
• Video Memory 64 MB DDR SDRAM
• Digital Video Standard Digital Visual Interface (DVI)
• Max Monitors Supported 2

• Audio Output

• Type Sound card - Integrated
• Max sample rate 48 KHz

• Input Device

• Type Mouse, Keyboard

• Telecom

• Modem Fax / modem - Integrated
• Max transfer rate 56 Kbps
• Protocols & Specifications ITU V.92

• Audio Input

• Type None

• Cluster

• Cluster Storage Controller None
• Storage:Type None

• Networking

• Networking Network adapter - Integrated
• Data Link Protocol Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet
• Features AirPort Extreme ready

• Expansion / Connectivity

• Expansion Bays Total (Free) 1 ( 0 ) x Front accessible - 5.25" x 1/2H, 2 ( 1 ) x Internal - 3.5" x 1/3H
• Expansion Slots Total (Free) 4 ( 2 ) x Memory - DIMM 184-pin, 3 ( 3 ) x PCI 64 / 33 MHz - Full-length, 1 ( 0 ) x AGP Pro, 1 ( 0 ) x Processor, 1 ( 1 ) x AirPort Extreme
• Interfaces 1 x Display / video - DVI-Analog/Digital - 29 pin combined DVI, 1 x Display / video - Apple Display Connector (ADC) - 35 pin ADC, 1 x Display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15), 2 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire), 1 x IEEE 1394b (FireWire 800) - 9 pin FireWire 800, 3 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB Type A, 2 x USB - 4 pin USB Type A, 1 x Audio - Line-out - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 1 x Audio - Line-in - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 1 x Headphones - Output - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 1 x Audio - Input - TOSLINK, 1 x Audio - Output - TOSLINK, 1 x Network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45, 1 x Modem - Phone line - RJ-11

• Printer

• Type None

• Miscellaneous

• Cables Included DVI-VGA adapter, Keyboard cable, Modem cable

• Power

• Power device type Power supply
• Voltage Required AC 120/230 V

• Operating System / Software

• OS Provided Apple MacOS X 10.3
• Software FAXstf, EarthLink, Apple iCal, Apple iChat, Apple iLife, Apple iSync, OmniGraffle, Apple Safari, OmniOutliner, Apple Sherlock, Apple QuickTime, Apple DVD Player, GraphicConverter, Apple Address Book, Apple Mac OS X Mail, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Art Directors Toolkit, FileMaker Pro (Trial), Microsoft Office v. X Test Drive, QuickBooks for Mac New User Edition

• Manufacturer Warranty

• Service & Support 1 year warranty
• Service & Support Details Limited warranty - Parts and labor - 1 year, Technical support - Phone consulting - 90 days

• Sustainability

• EPA Energy Star Compliant Yes
• Greenpeace policy rating (Sept 2009) 4.9

Apple

Manufacturer profile

• Website: http://www.apple.com
• Address: 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA. 95014
• Phone: 1-408-996-1010