Overclocking your eMac
Background and Identification
The eMac is an all-in-one Macintosh desktop computer released by Apple on April 22, 2002. The eMac was a low-cost alternative to other Apple computers and was aimed at the education market, so it retained a similar design to the previous iMac G3 introduced in 1998. The eMac featured a G4 processor and a 17-inch CRT (cathode-ray tube) screen—the last CRT display sold by Apple.
Apple updated the eMac in 2003, 2004, and 2005 with faster processors and additional memory before the line was discontinued. All models could run Mac OS X, but the early models from 2002 and 2003 also shipped with Mac OS 9.2.2.
The eMac case is made of opaque white plastic. The front of the shell features two speakers and a CD/DVD tray (it kind of looks like a face), and the back is rounded to fit the CRT display. To identify this computer, look for the word “eMac“ on the hatch on the bottom of the case. You can also find the serial number written inside the disc drive door as shown in this article. Use Apple’s serial number lookup to find your model.
If you can boot the computer, you can find the exact specifications by clicking the Apple icon in the top left of the screen and choosing “About This Mac” or “Apple System Profiler.“
Specifications
Processor
- PowerPC G4
- 700 MHz to 1.42 GHz
Graphics
- 2002: Nvidia GeForce 2 MX
- 2003: ATI Radeon 7500
- 2004: ATI Radeon 9200
- 2005: ATI Radeon 9600
Display
- 17-inch CRT screen
- 1280x960 resolution
Memory
- 128 MB to 512 MB
- Expandable to 1 GB (or 2 GB unofficially on 2004 and 2005 eMacs)
Storage
- Capacity: 40 GB, 60 GB, 80 GB, 120 GB, or 160 GB
- Size: 3.5-inch form factor
Ports
- Three USB ports (1.1 for 2002-2003; 2.0 for 2004-2005)
- Two FireWire 400 ports
- Ethernet (10/100 Mbit/s)
- 56k modem (only optional in the 1.25 GHz 2005 model)
- Mini-VGA mirrored video output
Connectivity
- Optional Airport Wi-Fi
- Optional Bluetooth 1.1 (2004-2005 only)