Revealed: New Power Mac G5, iMac G5, eMac Specs

Highly reliable sources have confirmed the specifications of Apple's forthcoming revisions to its Power Mac G5, iMac G5 and eMac systems, expected to start shipping within a few days of Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger's April 29th release.
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New Power Mac G5 systems, code-named Q87, will top out at 2.7GHz, sources said, while video cards are being upgraded with double the SDRAM. All models will feature SuperDrives offering dual-layer DVD+R support, as well as DVD±RW/CD-RW compatibility.

Three primary configurations will be offered with the following specifications:

    * Dual-2GHz
          o 512K L2 cache per processor
          o Dual 1GHz frontside buses
          o 512MB PC3200 DDR SDRAM (4GB max.)
          o 160GB Serial ATA Hard Drive
          o 128MB DDR SDRAM ATI Radeon 9600 video card

    * Dual-2.3GHz
          o 512K L2 cache per processor
          o Dual 1.15GHz frontside buses
          o 512MB PC3200 DDR SDRAM (8GB max.)
          o 250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive
          o 128MB DDR SDRAM ATI Radeon 9600 video card

    * Dual-2.7GHz
          o 512K L2 cache per processor
          o Dual 1.35GHz frontside buses
          o 512MB PC3200 DDR SDRAM (8GB max.)
          o 250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive
          o 256MB DDR SDRAM ATI Radeon 9650 video card

Sources were unable to confirm at this time whether the systems will sport the dual-core PowerPC 970MP processor or the single-core PowerPC 970GX, although unconfirmed notes point to the PowerPC 970MP. The second core would deliver performance gains far greater than the 200-300MHz bumps each processor is receiving alone with the update.

Also uncertain is whether a more affordable single-processor Power Mac G5 system will continue to be offered. After axing the model with last June's Power Mac G5 revision, Apple re-introduced the less expensive 1.8GHz single-processor system in October 2004.

iMac G5, eMac

As first reported over a month ago, the updated iMac G5, code-named Q45 C/D, will reach 2GHz, while video memory is doubled to 128MB and the card itself upgraded to ATI's Radeon 9600. All models will also feature Bluetooth 2.0 and will ship pre-installed with Tiger and iLife '05.

Two 17-inch and one 20-inch model will continue to be offered in the following configurations:

    * "Good" 17-inch, 1.8GHz
          o 512K L2 cache
          o 512MB DDR SDRAM
          o 160GB Serial ATA Hard Drive
          o Combo Drive (CD-RW/DVD-ROM)

    * "Better" 17-inch, 2GHz
          o 512K L2 cache
          o 512MB DDR SDRAM
          o 160GB Serial ATA Hard Drive
          o SuperDrive (supporting dual-layer as well as DVD±RW/CD-RW burning)

    * "Best" 20-inch, 2GHz
          o 512K L2 cache
          o 512MB DDR SDRAM
          o 250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive
          o SuperDrive (supporting dual-layer as well as DVD±RW/CD-RW burning)

Other specifications will remain unchanged; pricing is expected to remain in line with current models.

Two eMac models, code-named Q86J, will continue to be available and will have their G4 processors bumped from 1.25GHz to 1.42GHz. The eMacs will also see their 32MB ATI Radeon 9200 video card upgraded to a 64MB ATI Radeon 9600 card, to take full advantage of new graphics capabilities found in Tiger's Core Image technology.

The low-end, Combo Drive eMac will feature 256MB of DDR SDRAM and an 80GB hard drive, while the SuperDrive eMac will pack 512MB of DDR SDRAM and a 160GB hard drive. Like the Power Mac G5 and iMac G5, the SuperDrive eMac will be capable of burning to dual-layer DVD+R media, as well as DVD±RW and CD-RW. It's unclear whether prices will be shaved slightly or remain the same.