Mac · The Digital Hub · 2004
iMac G5
Apple hid the entire machine behind a flat panel on a simple foot, establishing the all-in-one shape every iMac has used since.
iMac G5: key facts
When was the iMac G5 released?
The iMac G5 was released in August 2004. Apple discontinued it in March 2006.
How much did the iMac G5 cost?
The iMac G5 launched at $1,299 in 2004 — about $2,208 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What are the iMac G5’s specs?
The iMac G5 used a PowerPC 970 (G5) running at 1.60 GHz, with 256 MB of memory and 78.1 GB of storage. It ran Mac OS X 10.3.
Why does the iMac G5 matter?
Put the whole computer behind the screen — "Where did the computer go?"
Full specifications
| CPU | PowerPC 970 (G5) · 1.60 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 256 MB (up to 2 GB) |
| Storage | 78.1 GB |
| Display | 17" or 20" LCD, all-in-one |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 |
| Ports | USB 2.0, FireWire, Ethernet |
| Weight | 8.3 kg |
| Dimensions | Flat-panel all-in-one |
| Operating system | Mac OS X 10.3 |
| Released | August 2004 |
| Discontinued | March 2006 |
| Launch price | $1,299 |
How the iMac G5 compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 64× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 1.60 GHz, the clock is roughly 2.0× 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 20,000 modern phone photos — a respectable library even today.
Launched at $1,299 in 2004 — about $2,208 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Cross-architecture speed figures are clock-only and approximate; inflation figures use US CPI.
Did you know?
The launch tagline literally asked, "Where did the computer go?"
Related Mac models
Open the iMac G5 in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-06-25