Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors)
The loud, dual-processor G4 with two drive doors on the front.
Overview
The Mirrored Drive Doors model took its nickname from the pair of louvered doors on the front panel, behind which sat two optical drive bays. Its dual G4 processors ran at 867 MHz, 1 GHz or 1.25 GHz on a DDR memory system borrowed from the Xserve.
The case got heavier at about 42 pounds, with a double-fan cooling system that proved noisy; Apple issued a firmware fix and an exchange program. Graphics options ranged from the GeForce4 MX to a GeForce4 Ti, and storage up to 120 GB of Ultra ATA/100.
It could run both Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X. It was the last G4 tower to boot Mac OS 9 natively, and a favorite of enthusiasts for upgrading.
Why it mattered
It closed out the Mac OS 9 tower era, with performance enough to take it to Leopard.
At a glance
- Announced
- August 13, 2002
- Released
- August 13, 2002
- Discontinued
- January 28, 2003
- Launch price
- Not available
- Chip / processor
- Dual PowerPC G4, 867 MHz to 1.25 GHz
- Storage
- 60 to 120 GB hard disk
- Status
- Vintage
Highlights
- Dual G4 at 867 MHz to 1.25 GHz
- DDR memory based on the Xserve design
- Two front drive doors
- Last G4 tower able to boot Mac OS 9
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Chip
- Chip
- Dual PowerPC G4, 867 MHz, 1 GHz or 1.25 GHz
Memory
- RAM
- 256 to 512 MB DDR SDRAM
- Storage options
- 60, 80 or 120 GB Ultra ATA/100, 7200 rpm
Graphics
- GPU
- Nvidia GeForce4 MX (32 MB), ATI Radeon 9000 Pro (64 MB) or GeForce4 Ti (128 MB)
Design
- Dimensions
- 43.2 x 22.6 x 46.7 cm (17 x 8.9 x 18.4 in)
- Weight
- 19 kg (42 lb)
Software
- Launch OS
- Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar
- Latest supported OS
- Mac OS X 10.5.8 Leopard
Availability
- Announced
- August 13, 2002
- Released
- August 13, 2002
- Discontinued
- January 28, 2003
Colors
- Finishes
- Quicksilver
How it compares
More in the Power Mac G4 family
Power Mac G4 (PCI Graphics)
The first G4 desktop, billed as a supercomputer on your desk.
Power Mac G4 Cube
A silent G4 suspended in a clear acrylic cube.
Power Mac G4 (Gigabit Ethernet)
Gigabit Ethernet as a standard feature, plus the first dual-G4 tower.
Power Mac G4 (Quicksilver)
A silver, restyled G4 tower with a clean new case.