Power Mac G4(PCI Graphics)
Move over, speed of light. Introducing the Power Mac G4.
Background
The PowerMac G4 (PCI Graphics) was announced in September 1999, along with the PowerMac G4 (AGP Graphics). Based on the same logic board as the "Blue and White" G3, the G4 PCI added a Motorola MPC 7400 processor to an already successful machine. Originally, the MPC 7400 chip had been planned to debut in the G4 AGP model, but Apple was not able to get the new machine ready in time. The G4 PCI had been in the works in case of such an event, and allowed Apple to ship 7400-equipped machines while they worked out the final bugs of the G4 AGP. The G4 PCI introduced the new case design, similar to that of the Blue and White G3, but tinted in the new professional color, "graphite." The G4 PCI was priced at a modest $1599 U.S., and shipped standard with 64 MB of RAM, a 10 GB hard drive, a 32x CD-ROM, 56 kbps modem. Zip and DVD-ROM/RAM drives were available as BTO options. There were extreme supply issues with the G4 initially and this was further compounded by an "erratum" in the initial revision of the 7400 that effectively lowered the ceiling of the chip to 450MHz. As a result, all models of the G4 were "speed dumped" in October.