All-in-One Mac · The Digital Hub · 2004
iMac G5
Apple hid the entire machine behind a flat panel on a simple foot, establishing the all-in-one shape every iMac has used since.
Put the whole computer behind the screen: "Where did the computer go?"
iMac (Intel, early 2006) (2006)
My own
The iMac G5 hid the whole computer behind the screen. This one was mine.
iMac G5: key facts
When was the iMac G5 released?
The iMac G5 arrived on August 31, 2004. Apple discontinued it in March 2006.
How much did the iMac G5 cost?
The iMac G5 launched at $1,299 in 2004, about $2,208 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: PowerPC 970 (G5) at 1.60 GHz, 256 MB RAM, 78.1 GB storage, 17" or 20" LCD, all-in-one display.
Why does the iMac G5 matter?
Put the whole computer behind the screen: "Where did the computer go?"
Full specifications
| CPU | PowerPC 970 (G5) · 1.60 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 256 MB (up to 2 GB) |
| Storage | 78.1 GB |
| Display | 17" or 20" LCD, all-in-one |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 |
| Ports | USB 2.0, FireWire, Ethernet |
| Weight | 8.3 kg |
| Dimensions | Flat-panel all-in-one |
| Operating system | Mac OS X 10.3 |
| Released | August 31, 2004 |
| Discontinued | March 2006 |
| Launch price | $1,299 |
How the iMac G5 compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 64× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 1.60 GHz, the clock is roughly 2.0× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 20,000 modern phone photos, a respectable library even today.
Launched at $1,299 in 2004, about $2,208 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Sources
Specs checked against Apple technical specifications archive, EveryMac, Mactracker, Wikimedia Commons image credits.
Did you know?
The launch tagline literally asked, "Where did the computer go?"
Related All-in-One Mac models
Open the iMac G5 in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11