MacNN reader Dave Sawyer notes a slight difference among the new models: "the low-end 1.6GHz model comes with standard 64-bit 33MHz PCI slots, not the faster PCI-X which comes in the 1.8GHz and DP 2.0GHz models. This is shown in the G5's specs on Apple's web sites, but could easily be missed if someone isn't reading carefully. PCI vs PCI-X will probably not be an issue for most people as few probably will ever need PCI-X cards, but purchasers will need to be aware of this difference when deciding between the models." The low-end model also uses slower PC2700 (333MHz) RAM and has a 4GB maximum, while the other models offer PC3200 (400MHz) with a maximum of 8GB.

Another reader notes that the new Power Mac G5 SuperDrive offers better all-around performance: "The iMac Superdrive writes DRV-R disks at 4x speed, reads DVDs at 8x speed, writed CD-R at 16x and writes CD-RW at 8x and reads CD's at 32x speed. While the new G5's Superdrive reads DVDs at 12x, writes to DVD-R at 4x, reads CDs at 32x, writes to CD-R at 16x, and writes to CD-RW at 10x."

by MacNN Staff