In the ever-evolving landscape of personal computing, the year 2001 witnessed a groundbreaking moment with the introduction of the Apple Power Mac G4 Early 2001. A formidable addition to Apple’s Power Mac G4 series, this computer not only marked a significant milestone in the world of personal computing but also pioneered advanced digital audio technology that has become ubiquitous in today’s modern computers.
In January 2001, Apple unveiled the Power Mac G4 Early 2001 also known as “Power Mac G4 with Digital Audio”, a computer that redefined the possibilities of personal computing. Running on PowerPC G4 processors clocking up to 733 MHz, this powerhouse featured a new high-performance architecture, a 133 MHz system, and memory buses, alongside five slots for enhanced expandability.
One of the standout features of the Power Mac G4 series was the incorporation of CD-RW drives in all models. However, it was the introduction of the revolutionary SuperDrive that truly set it apart. The SuperDrive, a combination CD-RW/DVD-R drive, was capable of reading and writing DVDs that could be played in consumer DVD players. This groundbreaking feature opened up new possibilities for users, making the Power Mac G4 the first complete solution for CD and DVD authoring.
Accompanying the Power Mac G4 “Digital Audio” was Apple’s new iTunes, a user-friendly “jukebox” software that allowed all G4 users to burn their standard audio CDs with built-in CD-RW drives. The synergy between iTunes and the SuperDrive, coupled with Apple’s iDVD and DV Studio Pro software applications, empowered users to create professional-quality DVD videos for playback on consumer DVD players.
Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO, lauded the Power Mac G4’s capabilities, stating, “With the new Power Mac G4s, Apple has created the first complete solution for CD and DVD authoring, years ahead of everyone else.”
The introduction of iDVD was a breakthrough for both professionals and consumers. This application simplified the complex process of DVD authoring by offering professionally designed themes and drag-and-drop simplicity. With one click, iDVD converted video files into the required format, compressed them into the MPEG-2 compression standard, and burned the DVD-R disc with the SuperDrive.
Complementing this was Apple’s optional DVD Studio Pro application, the first full-featured DVD authoring tool available for less than $1,000. This software provided professional-quality DVD encoding, authoring, and writing, further enhancing the Power Mac G4’s capabilities. Users could encode Final Cut Pro projects in the DVD format, preview finished projects in real-time, and burn DVD video discs with the SuperDrive.
Upon its debut, the Power Mac G4 was offered at a starting price of $1,699. Designed with cutting-edge features, it boasted a range of configurations, including processors ranging from 466 MHz to 733 MHz, 128 MB or 256 MB of RAM, and hard drive options of 30 GB, 40 GB, or 60 GB. The inclusion of a 5x DVD-ROM or 8x CD-RW drive and a 16 MB ATI Rage 128 Pro graphics card in the base model further solidified its position as a formidable computing machine.
The Power Mac G4 line featured faster processors, a high-performance system bus, PCI slots with enhanced throughput, an AGP 4x slot with new graphic card options, a digital audio sound system with built-in amplification, and Ultra ATA/66 hard drives up to 60 GB.
Despite its eventual discontinuation on July 18, 2001, replaced by the Power Mac G4 QuickSilver, the Power Mac G4 Early 2001 remains a pivotal piece of computing history. Even after 23 years, it holds a special place in the hearts of Apple enthusiasts and tech aficionados who continue to appreciate its advanced features and capabilities.
The Apple Power Mac G4 with Digital Audio stands as a testament to Apple’s commitment to innovation. Its introduction marked a turning point in personal computing, laying the foundation for the seamless integration of audio and video capabilities that we now take for granted in modern computers. As we look back at this iconic machine, we can’t help but marvel at its role in shaping the digital landscape we navigate today.
Power Mac G4 Early 2001 Details
| Introduced | January 9, 2001 |
| Discontinued | July 18, 2001 |
| Model Identifier | PowerMac3,4 |
| Model Number | M5183 |
| EMC | 1862 |
| Order Number | M7627LL/A (466 MHz) M7688LL/A (533 MHz) M7945LL/A (dual 667 MHz) M7681LL/A (dual 733 MHz) M8451LL/A (dual 733 MHz) |
| Original Price | $1,699 $2,199 $2,799 $2,999 $3,499 |
| Colors | Graphite |
| Weight | 30 Ibs. 13.607 KG |
| Dimensions | 17” H x 8.9” W x 18.4” D 43.18 cm H x 22.6 cm W x 46.73 cm D |
Power Mac G4 with Digital Audio Tech Specs
Processor
| Processor | PowerPC 7410 G4 PowerPC 7450 G4 |
| Processor Speed | 466 MHz 533 MHz Dual 533 MHz Dual 667 MHz Dual 733 MHz |
| Architecture | 32-bit |
| Number of Cores | 1 or 2 |
| System Bus | 133 MHz |
| Cache | 64 KB L1 256 KB or 1 MB backside L2 1 MB L3 (733 MHz) |
Storage & Media
| Storage | 30 GB 5400 rpm 40 GB 7200 rpm 60 GB 7200 rpm |
| Media | 1 – 5x DVD-ROM or 8x CD-RW SuperDrive 1 – Zip 250 drive (Optional) |
Memory
| Built-in Memory | 128 MB 256 MB |
| Maximum Memory | 1.5 GB |
| Memory Slots | 3 – PC-133 3.3v 168-pin SDRAM |
| Minimum Speed | 10 ns |
| Interleaving Support | No |
Display
| Built-in Display | None |
Graphics
| Graphics Card | ATI Rage 128 Pro ATI Radeon NVIDIA GeForce2 MX NVIDIA GeForce3 |
| Graphics Memory | 16 MB (Rage 128 Pro) 32 MB (Radeon and GeForce2) 64 MB (GeForce3) |
| Display Connection | 1 – VGA 1 – ADC |
| Display Modes | Single display only (Rage 128 Pro) Dual display extended and video mirroring (Radeon) |
Expansion
| Expansion Slots | 4 – 33 MHz 64-bit PCI 1 – 4x AGP |
| Bays | 4 – Internal 3.5″ ATA drive bays 1 – Optical drive bay 1 – Zip 250 bay |
| Hard Drive Interface | Ultra ATA/66 (ATA-5) |
| Optical Drive Interface | EIDE (ATA-3) |
Connections
| Ethernet | 10/100/1000BASE-T (RJ-45) |
| Modem | 56k (Optional) |
| Wi-Fi | AirPort Card 802.11b (Optional) |
| Bluetooth | None |
| ADB | None |
| USB | 2 – 12 Mbps |
| Serial | None |
| SCSI | None |
| FireWire | 2 – 400 Mbps (15W total power) |
| Audio In | 1 – 3.5-mm analog input jack |
| Audio Out | 1 – 2.5-mm Apple Pro Speaker minijack |
| Display | 1 – VGA 1 – ADC |
Software
| Original OS | Mac OS 9.1 |
| Later OS | Mac OS X 10.0.3 |
| Maximum OS | Mac OS X 10.4.11 |
| Firmware | Mac OS ROM 6.7.1 |
| Bundled Software | Mac OS 9.1 QuickTime iMovie 2 iTunes Microsoft Internet Explorer Microsoft Outlook Express Netscape Communicator FAXstf Pro Palm Desktop Apple Hardware Test CD Configurations with DVD-R/CD-RW drive include iDVD authoring and encoding software |
Keyboard and Mouse
| Peripherals | Apple Pro Keyboard Apple Pro Mouse |
Power
| Backup Battery | 3.6 V 850 mAh Lithium (922-4028) |
| Maximum Continuous Power | 338 W |
| Line Voltage | 115 V AC (90-132 V AC) or 230 V AC (180-264 V AC) |
Further Reading and References
- Power Mac G4 (Digital Audio): Technical Specifications – Apple Support
- Power Mac G4 (Digital Audio): Setting Up (Manual PDF) – Apple Support
- Apple Delivers New Power Mac G4 with 733 MHz PowerPC G4 Processors – Apple Newsroom
- Power Mac G4 – Wikipedia
- Digital Audio Power Mac G4 – Low End Mac
- The Future of Digital Audio Power Macs in the Age of Leopard – Low End Mac
- Power Mac G4 – Relatively Ambitious
- On the Power Mac G4 – 512 Pixels
- G4 Macintosh Digital Audio & Quicksilver – Ancientelectronics
- Power Mac G4/ Macintosh Server G4 Service Source (PDF) – Apple Repair Manuals
Disclaimer: The data presented in this article is under continuous development and has been manually collected from various sources based on their availability. The author of this article may revise this dataset as additional research is conducted and reviewed. Please note that the information is provided “as is” and “as available” without express or implied warranties. The author cannot be held responsible for any omissions, inaccuracies, or errors in the published information. Any warranties relating to this information are hereby disclaimed.
Last updated: January 22, 2024
