Power Macintosh · The Translucent Revolution · 1999
Power Mac G4
Apple cheekily claimed the G4 was fast enough to be export-restricted as a weapon. Its AltiVec "Velocity Engine" made it a real powerhouse for Photoshop and video.
Marketed as a "supercomputer": its AltiVec engine pushed past a gigaflop.
Power Mac G4 Cube (2000)
Power Mac G4: key facts
When was the Power Mac G4 released?
The Power Mac G4 arrived on August 31, 1999. Apple discontinued it in June 2004.
How much did the Power Mac G4 cost?
The Power Mac G4 launched at $1,599 in 1999, about $3,070 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: PowerPC G4 (AltiVec) at 450 MHz, 256 MB RAM, 19.5 GB storage, External display.
Why does the Power Mac G4 matter?
Marketed as a "supercomputer": its AltiVec engine pushed past a gigaflop.
Full specifications
| CPU | PowerPC G4 (AltiVec) · 450 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 256 MB (up to 2 GB) |
| Storage | 19.5 GB |
| Display | External |
| GPU | ATI Rage 128 / Radeon |
| Ports | USB, FireWire, Ethernet, AGP |
| Weight | 13.6 kg |
| Dimensions | Graphite tower |
| Operating system | Mac OS 9.0 |
| Released | August 31, 1999 |
| Discontinued | June 2004 |
| Launch price | $1,599 |
How the Power Mac G4 compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 64× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 450 MHz, the clock is roughly 7.1× 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 5,000 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?
Ads called it the first "personal supercomputer," leaning into the export story.
Related Power Macintosh models
Open the Power Mac G4 in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11