P'Mac, iMac, eMac specs are here


Citing "highly reliable sources," Think Secret reports it has confirmed the specifications of Apple's forthcoming Power Mac G5, iMac G5 and eMac revisions, which it is claimed will ship "within a few days of Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger's April 29th release."

New PowerMacs, code-named Q87, are expected to offer:

• Dual-2GHz
-- Dual 1GHz frontside buses
-- 512MB PC3200 DDR SDRAM (4GB max.)
-- 160GB Serial ATA Hard Drive
-- 128MB Radeon 9600
• Dual-2.3GHz
-- Dual 1.15GHz frontside buses
-- 512MB PC3200 DDR SDRAM (8GB max.)
-- 250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive
-- 128MB Radeon 9600
• Dual-2.7GHz
-- Dual 1.35GHz frontside buses
-- 512MB PC3200 DDR SDRAM (8GB max.)
-- 250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive
-- 256MB Radeon 9650

However, Think Secret's source(s) were unable to confirm whether the systems will sport the dual-core 970MP processor or the single-core 970GX. Also uncertain is whether the mothership will continue to offer a cost-down single-processor model.

Consumer kit

Updated iMac G5s, code-named Q45 C/D, will get a modest speed bump and, most importantly, better video in the form of a 128MB Radeon 9600. Also, models will also feature Bluetooth 2.0 and will ship with Tiger and iLife '05 pre-installed.

• 17-inch, 1.8GHz
-- 512MB DDR SDRAM
-- 160GB Serial ATA Hard Drive
-- Combo Drive (CD-RW/DVD-ROM)
• 17-inch, 2GHz
-- 512MB DDR SDRAM
-- 160GB Serial ATA Hard Drive
-- DL SuperDrive
• 20-inch, 2GHz
-- 512MB DDR SDRAM
-- 250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive
-- DL SuperDrive

Lastly, Apple will rollout two eMac models, code-named Q86J, featuring 1.25 and 1.42 GHz processors, respectively. Also, video will be upgraded to a 64MB Radeon 9600 solution.

Editor's note: And there you have it... TS states that other specs are the same or nearly so, as will be the pricing.

And, it has to be said that, with the exception of Doom 3, the eMac would seem to offer high-enough specs for fairly decent game play. I know the hardcore among you will whinge on this point, but why not, hmm?

But where are the HD models? There have been persistent rumors that HD models would arrive soon.

It may be that Apple is saving/waiting HD in order to offer some fresh, top-range kit for the holiday shopping season. Given the still immature state of consumer HD, this is as good a reason as any.

What's your take?