Apple Power Mac Desktop M8840LL/A (1.25-GHz DP PowerPC G4, 256 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive)

[Archived in Apple Computer, Products]

Manufacturer: Apple Computer
Price at amazon.com: Used from $1700.00

Product Description:

Although Apple’s midlevel 1.25 GHz M8840LL/A Power Mac G4 unit isn’t as potent as the top-of-the-line 1.4 GHz M8841LL/A model, it’s far from underpowered. In fact, like its upscale sibling, the M8840LL/A is driven by not one but two processors. Each runs at a clock speed of 1.25 GHz and both pack a whopping 1 MB of Level 3 cache. That’s a truly grand total of 2 MB of Level 3 cache, which allows the M8840LL/A Power Mac to perform at much higher speeds than its clock rating might otherwise indicate. Apple has also included 256 MB of fast PC2100 266 MHz DDR SDRAM memory (expandable to a massive 2 GB), a 64 MB ATI Radeon 9000 Pro graphics card, a spacious 80 GB Ultra ATA/100 hard disk running at an efficient 7,200 rpm, and a convenient CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive for burning audio CDs, backing up data, and playing the latest movies. As is typical with Apple computers, the system is stunningly designed. Featuring a dynamic metallic yet transparent case, an etched Apple logo, and a variety of front-mounted connections, it is both futuristic and functional. Desirable amenities include one high-speed FireWire 800 port (twice as fast as USB 2.0 for remarkably efficient interaction with peripherals such as digital camcorders), two standard FireWire ports, four USB ports, an Apple Pro keyboard with 15 programmable function keys and CD eject control, and an Apple Pro mouse. Wireless LAN and Internet support is offered via an AirPort Extreme card expansion slot. The M8839LL/A system includes just a single mono speaker and no display screen, but offers provisions for any level of audio-video setup. Apple has pre-installed a broad range of software, including Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar, iTunes, iMovie, and QuickBooks for Mac.

Description from Manufacturer:Although Apple’s midlevel 1.25 GHz M8840LL/A Power Mac G4 unit isn’t as potent as the top-of-the-line 1.4 GHz M8841LL/A model, it’s far from underpowered. In fact, like its upscale sibling, the M8840LL/A is driven by not one but two processors. Each runs at a clock speed of 1.25 GHz and both pack a whopping 1 MB of Level 3 cache. That’s a truly grand total of 2 MB of Level 3 cache, which allows the M8840LL/A Power Mac to perform at much higher speeds than its clock rating might otherwise indicate. Apple has also included 256 MB of fast PC2100 266 MHz DDR SDRAM memory (expandable to a massive 2 GB), a 64 MB ATI Radeon 9000 Pro graphics card, a spacious 80 GB Ultra ATA/100 hard disk running at an efficient 7,200 rpm, and a convenient CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive for burning audio CDs, backing up data, and playing the latest movies.

As is typical with Apple computers, the system is stunningly designed. Featuring a dynamic metallic yet transparent case, an etched Apple logo, and a variety of front-mounted connections, it is both futuristic and functional. Desirable amenities include one high-speed FireWire 800 port (twice as fast as USB 2.0 for remarkably efficient interaction with peripherals such as digital camcorders), two standard FireWire ports, four USB ports, an Apple Pro keyboard with 15 programmable function keys and CD eject control, and an Apple Pro mouse. Wireless LAN and Internet support is offered via an AirPort Extreme card expansion slot.

The M8839LL/A system includes just a single mono speaker and no display screen, but offers provisions for any level of audio-video setup. Apple has pre-installed a broad range of software, including Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar, iTunes, iMovie, and QuickBooks for Mac.Average Customer Rating:

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Comment: oooh....shiny Rating:
this computer performs incredibly. i use it for rendering digital video in final cut, and it cuts rendering times down to a fraction of what they were before. but i must say that with all the speed and flashy performance, and all the wonderful features packed into this magnificent machine, i hate it's guts. it's all thanks to the shiny mirrored drive doors. i abhor them. i am endlessly wiping them down to remove the finger prints and smudges that destroy the sheer beauty of my wonder computer. the truly terrible part is that they are not my fingerprints. everyone who walks by has to experience the glittering splendor physically. this burden of shiny perfection is too much for one mortal to bear....

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Comment: PowerMac 1.25GHz compromises Rating:
I bought a Dual 1.25GHz upgrading from a Dual 500 G4. I really love Macintosh computers and the Dual 1.25GHz runs about 250% faster than my Dual 500MHz. Using Retrospect I was able to get backup transfer rates between the 80GB and a 120GB I installed in the ATA66 cage of 1000 bytes a second. I only get 500 on my G4 500. Everything is faster. That is the good side. On the negative side the first 1.25GHz I recieved would not power up. The 2nd unit had a dieseling fan noise and a bad video card. The video would work but when using Apples DVD player it would crash the Mac as the DVD player looks for hardware in the ATI 9000 that was not working in my card. The other problem is heat. I measured a continual 110-112 in the DVD bay and found when you add a SuperDrive Apples metal DVD bay cover blocks the fan on the SuperDrive. Not using the cover subjects your cables to possible slicing from the sharp processor fins. With heat this high I would expect higher failure rates in the SuperDrive. I also measured 103 to 116 degrees in the rear hard drive bay without a 2nd drive installed in that cage. Installing a 2nd drive would increase heat even more. If I had it to do over I would skip the Dual 1.25GHz FW800 PowerMac as a result of these design problems. I would rather have a quite and well cooled G4 500 Dual than components in a box that seems very warm to me. I hope the next model PowerMac has a cooler designed case so I can once again recommend it.

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Comment: Great computer -- and quiet, too Rating:
I purchased and received a 1.25 ghz Power Mac G4 from the Apple Store Japan. Except for an issue with it not wanting to work with a ATA Raid card that operated fine in my old Quicksilver dual 1 ghz, the machine has been perfect. Since it was a "mirror door" series, I had steeled myself for the possibility that the noise level would be high, but I was pleasantly surprised to find it MUCH quieter than my Quicksilver -- about half as quiet, actually, based on side by side comparisons while copying files from my old machine to my new. So clearly, Apple has bent over backwards to find a reliable fix for the problems with this machine. The new G4s are super fast, not noisy at all, and sport many great features. If you've been holding out for a "quieter" G4 tower, this is it.

Posted at November 11, 2003 06:10 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)