FAQ's - What's the Difference in the G4's?

The low-end model (model M7631) includes a PCI graphics slot (and accompanying PCI graphics card), no wireless networking capabilities, no digital video-in support, hardware DVD decoding, and the same modem used in the Blue & White Power Mac G3s.

The 450 and 500 MHz models (models M7232 and M6921) use an AGP graphics slot (and accompanying AGP graphics card, support wireless networking (AirPort), support video-in with an appropriate video card, offer software DVD decoding, and use a special modem designed for the G4.

From the outside you can distinguish the low-end model from the middle and high-end machine by the arrangement of the microphone and speaker jacks on the back of the Macs. The low-end model has the two jacks placed side-by-side while on the higher end machines the jacks are vertically arranged. And because Apple can't seem to release a professional Mac without putting part of its name in parentheses, you may also find that Apple refers to the low-end model as Power Mac G4 (PCI Graphics) and the other two as Power Mac G4 (AGP Graphics).