1 GHz eMac G4 Prototype Motherboard (rest later)

[Compgeke]

I've actually had this eMac since 2007 or 2008 (Leopard had JUST been released) but never really documented it or even mentioned it.

Backstory is there used to be a place in Napa that did computer training, after school programs,etc for kids and this was donated. They had no use for an eMac and I got it. At the time I didn't know it was anything special, just thought it was a 1 GHz eMac. It wasn't until later I realized red motherboard was special.

Anyways, here's some pics of the motherboard.





The tag on the board says "P86 EVT APOLLO 1.0GHZ".



EVT is the prototype of course, Apollo is a G4 of some sort and P86 is whatever it is. Some day I'll try and find a specific number.

820-1443-02 is the board P/N. Someone etched 180-A below it.



CPU is a "P86 Sample"



And just for fun, the tag on top of the CRT assembly. This thing isn't FCC tested or approved.



The chassis also has a different serial than the motherboard. I remember this from when I had the drive cover, it didn't match up with System Profiler.



I'll get some more pics of the rest this weekend, it's just too late tonight to do it. Just be ready though, it's not pretty. It's moved between 3 houses, has no case screws (or bottom cover or optical cover - mom threw those out by accident in 2009 when moving). 

 

[uniserver]

cool man!

 

[uniserver]

so production models went right form 800mhz to 1.25ghz  ?

 

[unity]

^ Not sure what you mean, but there were 1ghz models.

And as much as I hate the eMac, thats cool. Protos are always sweet finds! And an EVT in the wild is an odd thing. PVTs yes, but EVTs are not locked down yet so to speak so they generally stay internal to Apple. PVTs are basically trail runs of production of the finished products. So while the machines have no indication of PVT, some make it out. The early Titanium Powerbooks, for example, can have PVT marking on the motherboards. So thats a pretty rare find! And its red, red is always cool

 

[uniserver]

^-----------------------  ah education only … will get cha every time.

 

[unity]

It does not help too that Apple's modeling number system is a joke. MacTracker shows 5 "models".

700/800mhz April 2002-May 2003

800/1000mhz May 2003-Oct 2003

1000mhz Oct 2003-April 2004

1000mhz/1250mhz April 2004-May 2005

1420mhz May 2005-Oct 2005

So three 1ghz versions out there maybe? And even your chart shows two if you look, one being education.

But I really miss the days of simple model numbers. No all this EMC stuff and "order" numbers like M8577LL/A.   I know order numbers are nothing new, but you almost need it now to know what the heck you have.

 

[TheWhiteFalcon]

Not seeing a P86 listed, and Apollo was used for the Classic II. That being said, P88 was used for the 1GHz TiBook, and it's not like Apple never recycles codenames.

 

[MJ313]

I have a couple of reset buttons on my G4 EVT that aren't on production models... and it looks like yours has them too! and that longish white port in the middle too! neat!  No idea what that's used for tho.

 

[TheWhiteFalcon]

That looks like it's for an APX card adapter.

 

[MJ313]

There also appears to be, what looks like, another little port...it's black... about an inch below the white port in that first picture... that's not on production models.

 

[Compgeke]

Not seeing a P86 listed, and Apollo was used for the Classic II...

Apollo was also used as a name for G4s, but not sure if that's Apple or Motorola's name. P86 fits in with the P-numbering of the G3\G4 systems but not sure why they'd develop a separate CPU for the eMac rather than stealing it from the iMac.

 

[TheWhiteFalcon]

I don't know, but the 1GHz iMac G4 benchmarks slower than the 1GHz eMac, despite the iMac using DDR and the eMac PC133.

And I wasn't saying it's a fake or anything, just that you may want to update some charts.

 

[Compgeke]

Actually, P86 is apparently the eMac's name. This FCC testing document for the Airport Extreme has pictures of the eMac but says "P86" or "P86 EMAC".

 

[uniserver]

No you're right it's right there Plainview must be the freaking lead fumes On my end.

 

[maceffects]

If you ever want to sell it, let me know

 

[Gorgonops]

I don't know, but the 1GHz iMac G4 benchmarks slower than the 1GHz eMac, despite the iMac using DDR and the eMac PC133.

Just a point of order on that: The G4-based Macs with DDR shouldn't be expected to run any faster than a unit with SDR at the same bus speed. Apple switched to a system controller that supported DDR for the late-model G4s because SDRAM was becoming obsolete, but no "G4" (IE, 74xx-family) CPU has a DDR-capable frontside bus.

If a 1Ghz DDR iMac G4 does indeed benchmark slower than an a 1Ghz eMac it's probably because of thermal constraints or, I dunno, bad karma.

 

[TheWhiteFalcon]

It's not a lot, 530 vs 490. Probably is a thermal issue.