iMac G5 (2004)
The computer is behind the display, only two inches thick.
Overview
The iMac G5 was a radical simplification: a flat white panel only about two inches deep, on a slim aluminum foot, with everything behind the glass. Apple described it as a display with a computer hidden inside.
The 1.6 GHz PowerPC G5 processor was a 64-bit chip like the one in the tower Power Mac. Widescreen displays came in 17-inch (1440 x 900) and 20-inch (1680 x 1050) sizes, with 256 MB or more of memory, up to 160 GB of storage and a slot-loading optical drive.
The machine ran quietly thanks to three thermal zones, and three screws let owners lift off the back to reach memory. It would be updated twice before the Intel switch.
Why it mattered
It created the thin, display-first iMac form that persists today.
At a glance
- Announced
- August 31, 2004
- Released
- September 1, 2004
- Discontinued
- October 12, 2005
- Launch price
- $1,299
- Chip / processor
- PowerPC G5 (970FX), 1.6 GHz
- Display
- 17" or 20"
- Storage
- 80 to 160 GB
- Status
- Vintage
Highlights
- Entire computer inside a 2-inch panel
- 64-bit PowerPC G5 processor
- 17-inch and 20-inch widescreen options
- Three thermal zones for quiet running
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Display
- Size
- 17-inch or 20-inch
- Type
- Widescreen TFT LCD
- Resolution
- 1440 x 900 (17-inch), 1680 x 1050 (20-inch)
Chip
- Chip
- PowerPC G5 (970FX), 1.6 GHz and faster
Memory
- RAM
- 256 MB DDR (512 MB on some models), expandable to 2 GB
- Storage options
- 80 to 160 GB hard disk; slot-loading Combo or SuperDrive
Graphics
- GPU
- Nvidia GeForce FX 5200 Ultra, 64 MB
Ports
- Ports
- 3 USB 2.0, 2 FireWire 400, mini-VGA, Ethernet, audio in and out
Design
- Weight
- 8.4 kg (18.5 lb) for the 17-inch
- Depth
- 5.1 cm (2 in)
Software
- Launch OS
- Mac OS X 10.3 Panther
- Latest supported OS
- Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
Availability
- Announced
- August 31, 2004
- Released
- September 1, 2004
- Discontinued
- October 12, 2005
- Launch price
- $1,299
Colors
- Finishes
- White
