eMac 800 MHz/1 GHz (ATI Graphics)

• Got an iMac or an eMac? Join the iMac email list.
• Mac OS 9 List is for those using Mac OS 9, either natively or in Classic Mode.
• Jaguar List is for those using Mac OS X 10.2.
• Panther List is for those using Mac OS X 10.3.
• Tiger List is for those using Mac OS X 10.4.
• Leopard List is for those using Mac OS X 10.5.

Overview

Details

• Introduced 2003.05.06 at US$799 (800 MHz CD-ROM), $999 (1 GHz Combo), and $1,299 (1 GHz SuperDrive); 800 MHz model discontinued 2003.10.22 and prices dropped to $799 (Combo) and $1,099 (SuperDrive). Replaced 2004.04.13 by 1.25 GHz eMac.
• requires Mac OS 9.2.2, OS X 10.2 or later, 10.5 not officially supported on 800 MHz model
• CPU: 800 MHz/1 GHz G4
• bus: 133 MHz
• performance:
• • Geekbench 2 (Leopard): 527 (1 GHz), 404 (800 MHz)
  • Geekbench 2 (Tiger): 539 (1 GHz), 372 (800 MHz)
• RAM: 128/256 MB, expandable to 1,024 MB using two PC133 SDRAM (3.3 V, 64-bit, 168-pin)
• VRAM: 32 MB SGRAM
• Video: supports resolutions of 1280 x 960, 1152 x 870, 1024 x 768, 800 x 600, and 640 x 480 using ATI Radeon 7500 AGP 4x chip set, supports video mirroring with mini-VGA adapter
• monitor: 17" (16" viewable) multiscan to 1280 x 960
• L2 cache: 256 KB on-chip cache running at full CPU speed
• hard drive: 40/60/80 GB Ultra ATA
• Optical drive: 32x CD-ROM, 8x10x32x Combo drive, 4x SuperDrive
• microphone: built in (above monitor), standard 3.5mm minijack, compatible with line-level input, not compatible with Apple's PlainTalk microphone
• USB: 3 USB 1.1 ports
• FireWire: 2 FW400 ports
• AirPort: accepts AirPort Extreme card
• modem: built in v.90 56k modem
• ethernet: 10/100Base-T
• Microphone: internal
• power: 150W
• PRAM battery: 3.6V half-AA
• height: 15.8 in/40.6 cm
• width: 15.8 in/40.6 cm
• depth: 17.1 in/43.3 cm
• weight: 50 lb/22.7 kg
• part no.: M9150 (800 CD), M8950 (1 GHz Combo), M8951 (SuperDrive)
• upgrade path: none

Online Resources

• Best used eMac deals, updated biweekly.
• Best classic Mac OS deals. Best online prices for System 6, 7.1, 7.5.x, Mac OS 7.6, 8.0, 8.1, 8.5, 9.0, 9.2.2, and other versions.
• Best Mac OS X 10.0-10.3 deals. Best online prices for Mac OS X 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, and 10.3.
• Best Mac OS X 10.4 'Tiger' deals. Best online prices for Mac OS X 10.4.
• Best Mac OS X 10.5 'Leopard' deals. Best online prices for Mac OS X 10.5.
• What's the best version of OS X for my Mac?, Ian R Campbell, The Sensible Mac, 2008.02.28. Which version of Mac OS X is best for your hardware depends on several factors.
• Unsupported Leopard installation, Dan Knight, 2007.10.31. How to install Mac OS X 10.5 on unsupported hardware - plus field reports.
• Faking out the Leopard installer with Open Firmware, Dylan McDermond, Unsupported Leopard, 2007.12.06. You don't have to hack the installer to make the Mac OS X 10.5 installer run on sub-867 MHz G4 Macs by using this simple Open Firmware trick.
• Low End Mac's Compleat Guide to Mac OS 9, 2008 edition, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.05.12. Declared dead by Steve Jobs 6 years ago, Mac OS 9 remains fast and stable, but Classic software hasn't kept up with Web changes. What Macs support OS 9, where to buy it, and how to update to version 9.2.2.
• Leopard is the way to go, even on most old G4 Macs, Carl Nygren, My Turn, 2008.05.14. The useful and just cool features in Mac OS X 10.5 make this the biggest step forward in the history of the Mac OS.
• Jaguar or Panther on Pismo?, Mac 128K corrections, installing OS X from an iPod, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.02.29. Also an old iMac, an optical trackball for ADB Macs, internal or external hard drive for an eMac, and Leopard on a 500 MHz PowerBook G4.
• Safari 3.1 will be 'crazy fast', OS X 10.5.2 update, 20x SuperDrive from $35, and more, Mac News Review, 2008.02.15. Also Security Update for Tiger, Graphics Update for Leopard, Mac mini "as powerful as a larger desktop", TechTool Deluxe update, and more.
• 1 working eMac from 2 broken ones, Dan Knight, Mac Daniel, 2007.11.14. A pair of matching eMacs, each with a different failure, results in one working eMac and lots of leftovers.
• Leopard with 384 MB RAM, on a PowerBook G4/550, benchmarked, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.11.06. Leopard on Digital Audio, Quicksilver, and Sawtooth Power Macs. Questions on CPU load in OS X 10.5 and whether beige G3s and PCI Power Macs might run it.
• Happy with my G3s, plus Leopard on eMacs, G4 iMacs, G4 PowerBooks, and the G4 iBook, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.11.02. A reminder of the happiness found sticking with older versions of the Mac OS on G3 Macs, plus field reports of Leopard running on even more unsupported G4 Macs.
• eMac virtual screen solution, PowerBook 3400 problem, IBM Model M and the Mac, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.10.26. Also G4 iMacs inspire lust, TrueType fonts and vintage Macs, deinterlacing DVDs, and Allegro USB sleep issues.
• Unsupported Leopard installation and the truth about Leopard DVD Player system requirements, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.10.25. How to create a hacked Leopard installer, and exactly what benefit you gain from a 1.6 GHz CPU with DVD Player under Leopard.
• Leopard DVD Player requires 1.6 GHz CPU, dual processor questions, and dual boot Macs, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.10.24. DVD Player currently runs on any G3 that supports Tiger, but the new version needs 1.6 GHz of power and other bloat in Leopard.
• The future of eMacs in the Age of Leopard, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2007.10.24. Early eMacs aren't officially supported under Mac OS X 10.5, but Leopard could run well with the right upgrades.
• WiFi options for Lombard, installing Tiger on a DVD-less eMac, 3D home design software, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.10.01. Two PC Card 802.11g options for the Lombard PowerBook, PowerPC version of OS X needed for eMac, three programs for home design, and a source for downloading old Mac software.
• iPhone profits, dead ethernet, PowerBook 1400 software, and more on the Mac mini, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.08.01. How to work around a dead ethernet port in an eMac, finding older software for an old PowerBook, and more suggestions on improving or replacing the Mac mini.
• Software to darken iMac display, columnist returns iPhone, Logitech introduces air mouse, and more, Mac News Review, 2007.07.20. Also a USB turntable for turning your record albums into MP3s, a retractable thumb drive, iPhone: The Missing Manual, Parallels Desktop 3 a major update, and more.
• Pismo the best PowerBook, capacitor problems in Macs, XPostFacto for Leopard, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.06.28. Also more on tin whiskers and why you sometimes have to remove RAM to get OS X to install on older Macs.
• The truth about CRTs and shock danger, Tom Lee, Online Tech Journal, 2007.05.22. You've been warned that CRT voltage can injure and even kill. The truth is that this danger is overstated - and takes attention away from a greater danger.
• 11 ways to optimize your Mac's performance, Ed Eubanks Jr, The Efficient Mac User, 2007.03.12. If your Mac is getting sluggish, here are 11 tips that can help restore its original performance.
• Customizing Mac OS 9, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 2006.08.01. Fiddling with themes, picking a browser, and making the Classic Mac OS work just the way you want it to.
• Installing OS X 10.4 'Tiger' on DVD-challenged Macs using FireWire Target Disk Mode, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.07.10. Mac OS X ships on a single install DVD, which Apple will exchange for CDs at $10. But if you have access to a DVD-equipped Mac and a FireWire cable, you're good to go.
• $899 education iMac, Classic on Intel Macs, LCD in an eMac, Mac mini in a Prius, and more, Mac News Review, 2006.07.07. Also Mac mini 'almost sinfully attractive', Mac mini benchmarks, iPod Updater 2006-06-28, new iPod car options, and more.
• End of G4 models points to unprecedented value for used G4 Macs, Leaman Crews, Plays Well with Others, 2006.06.02. The PowerPC G4 may no longer have a place in Apple's product line, but that's a far cry from saying G4-based Macs are obsolete. If anything, their value is going to increase.
• Making the move from Jaguar (OS X 10.2) to Panther (10.3), Ted Hodges, Vintage Mac Living, 2006.04.11. One advantage of Apple's "no upgrades" policy for OS X - someone can give you their old copy after upgrading without worrying about violating their license.
• Web browser tips for the classic Mac OS, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 2006.01.03. Tips on getting the most out of WaMCom, Mozilla, Internet Explorer, iCab, Opera, and WannaBe using the classic Mac OS.
• The best browsers for PowerPC Macs and the classic Mac OS, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 2005.12.16. Two browsers stand out from the pack: iCab 3 is modern and remains under development, and WaMCom brings Mozilla to older Macs.
• How to add memory, replace the hard drive, and use a second display with your eMac, Evan Kleiman, Mac Happens, 2005.02.01. Three low-cost ways to upgrade your eMac for better performance and greater flexibility.
• Screen Spanning Doctor lets you use a second monitor with your eMac and span screens, not simply mirror you internal display.
• Apple eMac Upgrade Guide is a great resource for information and pictures showing how to upgrade your eMac. Now get out there and make the most of your low-end Mac.
• Upgrading Apple eMac, Leo Bodnar, 2004.01.04. How to overclock an 800 MHz eMac, upgrade the hard drive, replace the CD-ROM, and add an external monitor complete with spanning.
• iMac PC133 memory pricing, ramseeker
• The iMac channel
• The iMac List, an email list iMac and eMac users
• Apple Specs for eMac (ATI Graphics)

Cautions

• You cannot plug the iPod shuffle directly into the eMac's USB port - it will not fit. It will not charge if plugged into a keyboard USB port or an unpowered USB hub. To charge it while using it with your eMac, you must us a USB extension cable, powered USB hub, iPod shuffle dock, or a USB power adapter.

Go to the iMac and eMac index.

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