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Apple iMac G5

[Vin177]

The Apple iMac G5 (2004–2006) was notable for integrating a full PowerPC G5 desktop-class processor into an ultra-thin, all-in-one LCD form factor, a radical engineering achievement at the time that foreshadowed modern slim desktop design. Its claim to fame was bringing 64-bit PowerPC performance and quiet, fan-zoned thermal design to mainstream users and educational institutions, making it a common sight in university labs and classrooms. Historically, it represents both the peak of Apple’s PowerPC era and a transitional milestone just before the shift to Intel, and it was extremely popular, selling in large numbers and serving as Apple’s flagship consumer Mac during its production run.

• Manufacturer: Apple
• Type: Desktop computer
• Release Date: 2004
• Cost at release: Canadian suggested retail prices ranged roughly from $3,500 (adjusted for inflation) for a 17″ 1.6 GHz model up to $5,000 (adjusted for inflation) for a 20″ 1.8 GHz model.
• MIPS: 4,600-6,000 (4.6 – 6.0 GIPS)

Hardware Specifications

• CPU: IBM PowerPC G5 (PowerPC 970 family), 64-bit RISC architecture, Clock speeds: 1.6 GHz, 1.8 GHz, 2.0 GHz, 1.9 GHz, 2.1 GHz (model dependent)
  • Memory (RAM): Standard: 256 MB or 512 MB DDR / DDR2 SDRAM
  • Maximum: 2 GB–2.5 GB (revision dependent)
• Storage: 80 GB to 250 GB Serial ATA (SATA), 7200 RPM hard drives
• Graphics:
  • NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra (64 MB)
  • ATI Radeon 9600 / X600 Pro / X600 XT (128 MB)
• Display:
  • 17-inch LCD: 1440 × 900 resolution
  • 20-inch LCD: 1680 × 1050 resolution
• Optical Drive:
  • Slot-loading DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo Drive
  • or SuperDrive (DVD±R/RW), model dependent
• Ports & Connectivity: USB 2.0 ×3, FireWire 400 ×2, Ethernet (10/100 or Gigabit on later models), 56k V.92 modem, Audio in/out, Optional AirPort Extreme (802.11b/g) and Bluetooth
• Camera (late models): Integrated iSight webcam (2005–2006 revisions)
• Weight:
  • 17-inch models: ~15.5–18.5 lb (7.0–8.4 kg)
  • 20-inch models: ~22–25.2 lb (10.0–11.4 kg)

Operating System & Programming Languages 

• Operating System: Mac OS X 10.3 Panther
• Supported Languages:
  • Apple / Native Development
    • C, C++ (GCC toolchain)
    • Objective-C (Cocoa, Carbon frameworks)
    • AppleScript
    • Java (Apple-supplied JVM, Java 1.4–1.5 era)
  • Scripting & Interpreted Languages
    • Python
    • Perl
    • Ruby
    • PHP
    • Shell scripting (bash, zsh, sh)
  • Academic & Scientific
    • Fortran (via GCC)
    • MATLAB (PowerPC versions available)
    • R (early PowerPC builds)
  • Web & Application Development
    • HTML, CSS, JavaScript
    • Server-side development using Apache, PHP, Perl, Python

Notables

• One of the first mass-market desktops to place all components directly behind a flat LCD, establishing the modern all-in-one layout.
• Desktop-class CPU in a thin chassis: Used a full 64-bit PowerPC G5, previously found only in large Power Mac towers, an unusual engineering feat for 2004.
• Introduced independent cooling zones with multiple fans, influencing later quiet-PC and Apple thermal designs.
• The last PowerPC-based iMac, marking the close of Apple’s IBM/Motorola CPU lineage before the 2006 Intel transition.
• Widely deployed in education and design labs, valued as an affordable UNIX workstation.
• Informally called the “iMac Slab” or “Flat iMac” by collectors and technicians.
• Early models became known for capacitor failures, now a common restoration talking point in vintage computing circles.

Donated by: Dr Paul Van Oorschot