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Apple Upgrades Power Mac G5 Line

Ian Bell
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The new Power Mac G5 line delivers higher performance graphics options with more memory and built-in support for Apple’s breakthrough 30-inch Cinema HD Display on the 2.7 GHz model. The new line also includes larger hard drives, a faster 16X SuperDrive with double-layer support and 512MB of memory across the line.

Powered by dual 64-bit PowerPC G5 processors, the Power Mac G5 provides a 128-bit memory architecture, delivers expansion of up to 8GB of fast 400 MHz DDR SDRAM and supports graphics cards with up to 256MB of video memory. The top model features two 2.7 GHz processors, each with an independent 1.35 GHz front-side bus for an amazing bandwidth of up to 21.6 GBps.  

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All new Power Mac G5 models come standard with dual-display support with either the ATI Radeon 9600 graphics card with 128MB of video memory or the ATI Radeon 9650 with 256MB of video memory.  The new Power Mac G5 line gives users new graphics options to drive Apple’s gorgeous 30-inch Cinema HD Display. The dual processor 2.7 GHz Power Mac G5 features built-in support to drive Apple’s breakthrough 30-inch Cinema HD Display right out of the box.  Available as a build-to-order option on every model, the NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL high-performance graphics card can drive up to two 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Displays.

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Every Power Mac G5 ships with a new, faster 16X SuperDrive with double-layer support capable of burning up to 8.5GB on a single DVD, 512MB memory and larger hard drives for up to 800GB of internal storage, all within the Power Mac G5’s signature aluminum enclosure featuring innovative computer-controlled cooling for quiet operation. All Power Mac G5 desktops deliver industry-leading connectivity, high-performance I/O and expansion including Gigabit Ethernet, FireWire® 800, FireWire 400, three PCI-X or PCI expansion slots, USB 2.0, optical digital audio input and output, and analog audio input and output.

The Power Mac G5, with a suggested retail price of $1,999 (US), includes:

  • Dual 2.0 GHz 64-bit PowerPC G5;
  • 512MB 400 MHz DDR SDRAM (4GB maximum);
  • 160GB Serial ATA 7200 rpm hard drive;
  • AGP 8X Pro graphics slot;
  • ATI Radeon 9600 with 128MB DDR SDRAM;
  • 3 PCI slots (64-bit 33MHz); and
  • 16X SuperDrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±R/CD-RW).

The Power Mac G5, with a suggested retail price of $2,499 (US), includes:

  • Dual 2.3 GHz 64-bit PowerPC G5;
  • 512MB 400 MHz DDR SDRAM (8GB maximum);
  • 250GB Serial ATA 7200 rpm hard drive;
  • AGP 8X Pro graphics slot;
  • ATI Radeon 9600 with 128MB DDR SDRAM;
  • 3 PCI-X slots (one 64-bit 133 MHz, two 64-bit 100 MHz); and
  • 16X SuperDrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±R/CD-RW).

The Power Mac G5, with a suggested retail price of $2,999 (US), includes:

  • Dual 2.7 GHz 64-bit PowerPC G5;
  • 512MB 400 MHz DDR SDRAM (8GB maximum);
  • 250GB Serial ATA 7200 rpm hard drive;
  • AGP 8X Pro graphics slot;
  • ATI Radeon 9650 with 256MB DDR SDRAM and support for one 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display;
  • 3 PCI-X slots (one 64-bit 133 MHz, two 64-bit 100 MHz); and
  • 16X SuperDrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±R/CD-RW).

Build-to-order options include up to 8GB of RAM, 250GB, 400GB and two 400GB Serial ATA hard drives, Combo (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) drive, graphics cards (ATI Radeon 9600, ATI Radeon 9650, and NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL), AirPort Extreme Card, Bluetooth module, internal v.92 56K modem, Apple Fibre Channel PCI-X Card, Apple PCI-X Gigabit Ethernet card and Mac OS X Server version 10.4 “Tiger.”

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Ian Bell
Ian Bell
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