Power Macintosh · The Translucent Revolution · 1999
Power Macintosh G3 (Blue & White)
The translucent makeover reaches the pro tower: a brilliant drop-down side door for instant access, plus FireWire and USB replacing the old ports.
First pro Mac with FireWire and USB, in the famous fold-down-door tower.
Power Mac G4 Cube (2000)
Power Macintosh G3 (Blue & White): key facts
When was the Power Macintosh G3 (Blue & White) released?
The Power Macintosh G3 (Blue & White) arrived on January 5, 1999. Apple discontinued it in August 1999.
How much did the Power Macintosh G3 (Blue & White) cost?
The Power Macintosh G3 (Blue & White) launched at $1,599 in 1999, about $3,070 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: PowerPC G3 at 300 MHz, 64 MB RAM, 5.9 GB storage, External display.
Why does the Power Macintosh G3 (Blue & White) matter?
First pro Mac with FireWire and USB, in the famous fold-down-door tower.
Full specifications
| CPU | PowerPC G3 · 300 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 64 MB (up to 1 GB) |
| Storage | 5.9 GB |
| Display | External |
| GPU | ATI Rage 128 |
| Ports | USB, FireWire, SCSI, Ethernet |
| Weight | 13 kg |
| Dimensions | Translucent tower with drop-down door |
| Operating system | Mac OS 8.5 |
| Released | January 5, 1999 |
| Discontinued | August 1999 |
| Launch price | $1,599 |
How the Power Macintosh G3 (Blue & White) compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 256× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 300 MHz, the clock is roughly 11× 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 1,500 modern phone photos, a respectable library even today.
Launched at $1,599 in 1999, about $3,070 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?
Its swing-open door is still cited as one of the best-ever PC case designs.
Related Power Macintosh models
Open the Power Macintosh G3 (Blue & White) in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11