In the realm of technology, some moments mark a significant shift in the landscape. One such moment occurred on October 19, 2004, when Apple introduced the Power Mac G5 Late 2004. This powerhouse of a machine wasn’t just a computer; it was a game-changer.
The Power Mac G5 Late 2004 was part of the esteemed Power Mac G5 series, which showcased Apple’s dedication to innovation and performance. This series of Power Macintosh computers, including the Late 2004 model, was meticulously designed, manufactured, and sold by Apple from 2004 to 2005.
What set the Power Mac G5 Late 2004 apart was its accessibility. Priced at $1,499, it offered a remarkable blend of power and affordability. Apple expanded its lineup with a 1.8 GHz single processor model, catering to a wider audience of prosumers and professionals without compromising on performance.
David Moody, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Mac Product Marketing, emphasized, “The new 1.8 GHz Power Mac G5 is a great entry-level system that lets prosumers and professionals tap the incredible performance benefits of the 64-bit PowerPC G5 processor at a very affordable price.”
Under the hood, the 1.8 GHz Power Mac G5 boasted impressive specifications. With 6.4 GB per second of memory bandwidth, up to 4 GB of main memory, and expandability through three PCI expansion slots, it was built to handle demanding tasks with ease. The inclusion of up to 500GB of internal Serial ATA mass storage and AGP 8X Pro graphics capabilities further solidified its reputation as a powerhouse.
Connectivity was key, and the Power Mac G5 Late 2004 didn’t disappoint. Equipped with NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 Ultra graphics card, dual display support, and a plethora of ports including Gigabit Ethernet, FireWire 800, USB 2.0, and optical digital audio in and out, it offered industry-leading connectivity options.
Moreover, with support for AirPort Extreme wireless networking and Bluetooth-ready capabilities, the Power Mac G5 Late 2004 seamlessly integrated into wireless environments, providing users with unparalleled flexibility.
Apple didn’t stop at hardware; they bundled the Power Mac G5 with essential software to enhance the user experience. From Mac OS X 10.3 Panther to iLife ‘04 suite and productivity tools like Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac Test Drive, the package was designed to cater to various user needs.
To complement the Power Mac G5, Apple offered a line of widescreen flat-panel displays. The 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display, with its stunning 2560-by-1600 pixel resolution, stood out as the flagship offering. Additionally, the 23-inch and 20-inch Cinema Displays provided professionals with high-quality visuals and seamless integration with the Power Mac G5.
Despite its eventual discontinuation on June 13, 2005, the legacy of the Power Mac G5 Late 2004 lives on. Even after 19 years, it continues to hold a special place in the hearts of Apple enthusiasts worldwide. It serves as a testament to Apple’s commitment to innovation and quality, reminding us of the remarkable strides the company made in its formative years.
Power Mac G5 Late 2004 Details
| Introduced | October 19, 2004 – 19 years ago |
| Discontinued | June 13, 2005 – 19 years ago |
| Time on the Market | 237 days (7 months) |
| Model Identifier | PowerMac9,1 |
| Model Number | A1093 |
| EMC | 2020 |
| Order Number | M9555LL/A |
| Original Price | $1,499 |
| Colors | Aluminum |
| Weight | 36 Ibs. 16.329 KG |
| Dimensions | 20.1” H x 8.1” W x 18.7” D 51.05 cm H x 20.57 cm W x 47.49 cm D |
Power Mac G5 Tech Specs
Processor
| Processor | PowerPC 970fx G5 |
| Processor Speed | 1.8 GHz |
| Architecture | 64-bit |
| Number of Cores | 1 |
| System Bus | 600 MHz |
| Cache | 64 KB / 32 KB L1 512 KB L2 |
Storage & Media
| Storage | 80 GB 7200 rpm 160 GB 7200 rpm 250 GB 7200 rpm |
| Media | 1 – 8x DVD-R/CD-RW “SuperDrive” |
Memory
| Built-in Memory | 256 MB |
| Maximum Memory | 4 GB |
| Memory Slots | 4 – PC-3200 184-pin DDR SDRAM |
| Interleaving Support | Yes |
Display
| Built-in Display | None |
Graphics
| Graphics Card | NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT DDL ATI Radeon 9600 XT ATI Radeon 9800 XT |
| Graphics Memory | 64 MB (GeForceFX 5200 Ultra) 128 MB (ATI Radeon 9600 XT) 256 MB (GeForce 6800 Ultra / GT DDL, ATI Radeon 9800 XT) |
| Display Connection | 1 – ADC (GeForceFX 5200 Ultra / ATI Radeon 9600 XT / ATI Radeon 9800 XT) 1 – DVI 2 – Dual-link DVI (GeForce 6800 Ultra / GT DDL) |
| Display Modes | Dual display extended and video mirroring |
Expansion
| Expansion Slots | 2 – 33 MHz 64-bit PCI 1 – 8x AGP Pro |
| Bays | 2 – Internal 3.5″ Serial ATA drive bays 1 – Optical drive bay |
| Hard Drive Interface | 2 – 1.5 Gbps Serial ATA (SATA) controllers |
| Optical Drive Interface | Ultra ATA/100 |
Connections
| Ethernet | 10/100/1000BASE-T (RJ-45) |
| Modem | 56k |
| Wi-Fi | AirPort Extreme Card 802.11b/g (Optional) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 1.1 (Optional) |
| ADB | None |
| USB | 3 – 480 Mbps (USB 2.0) |
| Serial | None |
| SCSI | None |
| FireWire | 2 – 400 Mbps 1 – 800 Mbps |
| Audio In | 1 – 3.5-mm analog input jack 1 – optical S/PDIF (Toslink) input |
| Audio Out | 2 – 3.5-mm analog output jack 1 – optical S/PDIF (Toslink) output 1 – Built-in speaker |
| Display | 1 – ADC (GeForceFX 5200 Ultra / ATI Radeon 9600 XT / ATI Radeon 9800 XT) 1 – DVI 2 – Dual-link DVI (GeForce 6800 Ultra / GT DDL) |
Keyboard and Mouse
| Peripherals | Apple Keyboard Apple Mouse |
Software
| Original OS | Mac OS X 10.3.5 |
| Later OS | Mac OS X 10.3.7 Mac OS X 10.4 |
| Maximum OS | Mac OS X 10.5.8 |
| Firmware | Mac OS ROM |
| Bundled Software | Mac OS X 10.3 iLife (including iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, and iDVD) QuickBooks for Mac New User Edition FAXstf Art Directors Toolkit Microsoft Office v.X Test Drive FileMaker Pro Trial OmniGraffle OmniOutliner GraphicConverter QuickTime iChat Safari Sherlock Address Book iCal iSync DVD Player EarthLink Acrobat Reader Classic environment Apple Developer Tools |
Power
| Backup Battery | 3.6 V 850 mAh Lithium (922-4028) |
| Maximum Continuous Power | 552 W |
| Line Voltage | 100 – 125 V AC or 200 – 240 V AC |
| Liquid Cooling | No |
Further Reading and References
- Power Mac G5 (Late 2004): Technical Specifications – Apple Support
- Apple Adds 1.8 GHz Model to Power Mac G5 Line at Just $1,499 – Apple Newsroom
- Power Mac G5 – Wikipedia
- Power Mac G5 (Late 2004) – Low End Mac
- Apple Power Mac G5 review – CNET
- Apple G5 – Sound on Sound
- 20 Macs for 2020: #20 – Power Mac G5 – Six Colors
- Power Mac G5 (Late 2004) Service Source (PDF) – Apple Repair Manuals
- Apple Power Macintosh G5: Flame On – Women and Dreams
- Today in Apple history: Power Mac G5 packs world’s first 64-bit CPU – Cult of Mac (Image 3 Source)
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.
