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Apple PowerBook G3 500 (Firewire/Pismo) Specs

Identifiers: Firewire/Pismo - M7633LL/A* - PowerBook3,1 - M7572 - 1840-1

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The PowerBook G3/500 (Firewire/Pismo) -- formally a member of the "PowerBook Firewire" series (note the lack of official "G3" designation) as dubbed by Apple, but often referred to by its codename of "Pismo" -- features a 500 MHz PowerPC 750 (G3) processor with 1 MB of "backside" level 2 cache, 128 MB of RAM, a 12.0 GB or 20.0 GB hard drive, a tray-loading 6X DVD-ROM drive, and ATI Rage Mobility 128 graphics with 8 MB of SDRAM in a sleek black portable case with a 14.1" TFT active-matrix color display.

Although each shares a case that is quite similar to the "Bronze Keyboard/Lombard" PowerBook G3 models that came before them, the "Firewire/Pismo" systems use a faster logic board design with a faster bus (100 MHz), faster hard drive standard (Ultra ATA/66), faster graphics (Rage Mobility 128), support for optional AirPort (802.11b), and dual Firewire ports (dropping SCSI).

There are two slightly different configurations of this model. It originallly shipped with a 12.0 GB hard drive (M7633LL/A), and on September 13, 2000, this was increased to a 20.0 GB hard drive (M7712LL/A). The price for each configuration was US$3499.

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Introduction Date:

February 16, 2000*

Discontinued Date:

January 9, 2001

Details:

The "Introduction Date" refers to the date a model was introduced via press release. The "Discontinued Date" refers to the date a model either was replaced by a subsequent system or production otherwise ended. On September 13, 2000, Apple increased the size of the hard drive from 12.0 GB to 20.0 GB (M7712LL/A). Also see: All Macs introduced in 2000.

Processor Speed:

500 MHz

Processor Type:

PowerPC 750 (G3)

Details:

N/A

Processors:

1

Geekbench:

258

Details:

Geekbench 2 benchmarks reflect results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better. Individual user-submitted benchmarks can vary, but an average can be useful to get an idea of the relative performance of different Macs. You also might be interested in combing through all Geekbench user-submissions for Macs with the PowerBook3,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models. To dynamically compare Geekbench results from different Macs side-by-side, please see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison.

Processor Upgrade:

PB G3 Daughtercard

FPU:

Integrated

Details:

A variety of third-party processor upgrades were available.

System Bus Speed:

100 MHz

Cache Bus Speed:

200 MHz (5:2)

Details:

N/A

ROM/Firmware Type:

Open Firmware

ROM/Firmware Size:

1 MB

Details:

The Boot ROM is roughly 1 MB, other instructions are loaded into RAM.

L1 Cache:

64k

L2/L3 Cache:

1 MB (backside)

Details:

Includes a 1 MB level 2 cache on a 200 MHz backside bus.

RAM Type:

PC100 SDRAM

Min. RAM Speed:

10 ns

Details:

Supports 144-pin PC100 SDRAM SO-DIMM memory modules.

Standard RAM:

128 MB

Maximum RAM:

1 GB*

Details:

*Apple officially supports 512 MB of RAM in this model. However, third-parties have been able to upgrade it to 1.0 GB using two 512 MB memory modules. Site sponsor Other World Computing sells memory -- as well as other upgrades -- for this PowerBook G3. Also see: Actual Max RAM of All G3 & Later Macs.

Motherboard RAM:

None

RAM Slots:

2

Details:

N/A

Video Card:

Rage Mobility 128

VRAM Type:

SDRAM

Details:

ATI Rage Mobility 128 graphics with 8 MB of SDRAM.

Standard VRAM:

8 MB

Maximum VRAM:

8 MB

Details:

The video cannot be upgraded.

Built-in Display:

14.1" TFT

Native Resolution:

1024x768

Details:

A 14.1" color TFT active-matrix display with a 1024x768 native resolution. Supports 640x480 and 800x600 when scaled.

2nd Display Support:

Dual/Mirroring

2nd Max. Resolution:

1024x768

Details:

Simultaneously supports native resolution on the internal display and a maximum of 1024x768 on an external display.

Standard Hard Drive:

12.0 GB, 20.0 GB

Int. HD Interface:

Ultra ATA/66

Details:

The original model was equipped with a 12.0 GB hard drive (M7633LL/A). 20.0 GB hard drive standard starting September 13, 2000 (M7712LL/A). This model does not support hard drives larger than 128 GB.

Standard Optical:

6X DVD-ROM*

Standard Disk:

None

Details:

*This model has a single "hot-swappable" 5.25" bay (on the right side) that holds a tray-loading 6X DVD-ROM by default. The right bay can hold a battery as well, but the battery bay (on the left side) only supports a battery.

Standard Modem:

56.6k

Standard Ethernet:

10/100Base-T

Details:

N/A

Standard AirPort:

802.11b (Optional)

Standard Bluetooth:

None

Details:

Internal support for "AirPort" (802.11b), but not pre-installed by default. No internal support for Bluetooth.

USB Ports:

2 (1.1)

Firewire Ports:

2 (400)

Details:

Dual onboard USB 1.1 ports and Firewire "400" ports.

Expansion Slots:

1 Type I/II PC Card*

Expansion Bays:

1 5.25"

Details:

*1 Type I/II PC card slot (CardBus compatible). This system has one "hot-swappable" 5.25" bay that shipped with a 6X DVD-ROM by default. Please note that these bays are not backwards compatible with the Wallstreet/PDQ models. Additionally, Apple notes that expansion modules designed for the "Bronze Keyboard/Lombard" models will work with this system, but not necessarily vice versa.

Incl. Keyboard:

Full-size

Incl. Input:

Trackpad

Details:

Apple reports that the integrated keyboard has 77 (US) or 78 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys, 4 arrow keys, and an embedded numeric keypad. The trackpad supports tap, double tap, and drag capabilities.

Case Type:

Notebook

Form Factor:

PB G3 Firewire/Pismo

Details:

N/A

Apple Order No:

M7633LL/A*

Apple Subfamily:

Firewire/Pismo

Details:

*M7633LL/A was assigned to the original configuration with a 12 GB hard drive. M7712LL/A was assigned to the second configuration equipped with a 20 GB hard drive.

Apple Model No:

M7572 (EMC 1840-1)

Model ID:

PowerBook3,1

Details:

Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model. Also see: All Macs with the M7572 Model Number, the 1840-1 EMC Number, and the PowerBook3,1 Model Identifier. For more about these identifiers and how to locate them on each Mac, please refer to EveryMac.com's Mac Identification section.

Battery Type:

50 W h LiIon

Battery Life:

5 Hours, 9-10 Hours*

Details:

*Apple estimated 5 hours with a single battery and 9-10 hours with dual batteries under "normal usage conditions".

Pre-Installed MacOS:

9.0.2

Maximum MacOS:

X 10.4.11

Details:

This system cannot run versions of MacOS X more recent than 10.4.11.

MacOS 9 Support:

Boot/Classic Mode

Windows Support:

Emulation Only

Details:

This model is capable of booting in Mac OS 9 and using Mac OS 9 applications within the Mac OS X "Classic" environment. Site sponsor OHS specializes in heavily upgraded Macs capable of running both Mac OS X and Mac OS 9 applications.

Dimensions:

1.7 x 10.4 x 12.7

Avg. Weight:

5.7-6.1 lbs (2.6-2.8 kg)

Details:

In inches while closed - height by width by depth, (4.1 cm, 32.3 cm, 26.4 cm). Apple reported that the weight varied by configuration.

Original Price:

US$3499

Est. Current Retail:

US$125-US$200

Details:

Please note that on average the estimated current retail pricing of used systems is updated twice a year (please refer to the date on the bottom of the page for the date last updated). Photo Credit: Apple Computer.

Click on the underlined category text for additional details. The most commonly needed info is "open" by default, but all info is important. The icons correspond with the icons for each port on the computer.

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Video (Monitor):

1 (VGA)

Floppy (Ext.):

None

Details:

N/A

ADB:

None

SCSI:

None

Details:

No ADB or SCSI.

Serial (Standard):

None

Serial (Geoport):

None

Details:

N/A

USB:

2 (1.1)

Firewire:

2 (400)

Details:

Dual onboard USB 1.1 ports and Firewire "400" ports.

Modem:

1 (RJ-11)

Ethernet:

1 (RJ-45)

Details:

Internal 56.6k modem and 10/100Base-T Ethernet standard. IrDA port also provided.

S-Video Input:

None

S-Video Output:

1

Details:

N/A

Microphone:

1 (Internal)

Sound In:

1

Details:

Internal microphone and 16-bit stereo sound audio in jack.

Sound Out:

1

Headphone:

None

Details:

Single 16-bit stereo sound output minijack also can be used with headphones.

Security (Lock):

1

Joystick (PC):

None

Details:

N/A

FM Tuner:

None

TV Tuner:

None

Details:

N/A

Power:

N/A

Power Adapter:

1

Details:

100V-240V AC power adapter, 45 Max watts.

Ten of the most popular Q&As about the PowerBook G3 models follow.

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