Performance PC Buyer's Guide Change History

Q1/2006: Windows; removed Pentium 4 551 (3.4 GHz), upgraded video card from 64 MB to 128 MB, upgraded hard drive from 120 GB to 160 GB. Mac OS; no changes.

January 9th introduction: Mac OS; added Core Duo (1.83 GHz), upgraded hard drive from 120 GB to 160 GB.

Q4/2005: Windows; removed Pentium 4 550J (3.4 GHz), added Pentium D 820 (2.8 GHz), explicitly called out discrete video card. Mac OS; explicitly called out discrete video card.

October 19th introduction: Mac OS; downgraded PowerPC G5 chip speed from 2.0 GHz to 1.9 GHz, upgraded LCD from 19-inch to 20-inch, removed 15-inch LCD, upgraded video card from 64 MB to 128 MB, upgraded optical drive from CD-RW/DVD-ROM 'combo' to DVD±R/CD-RW.

Q3/2005: Windows; upgraded Intel chips from Pentium 4 540/640 3.2 GHz to Pentium 4 550J/551/650 3.4 GHz, upgraded AMD chip from Athlon 64 2.2 GHz/3400+ to Athlon 64 2.2 GHz/3500+, upgraded hard drive from 80 GB to 120 GB, upgraded LCD from 17-inch to 19-inch, removed 19-inch CRT, removed explicit SoundBlaster audio compatibility, removed optional floppy drive, explicitly called out Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 as the preferred operating system. Mac OS; upgraded PowerPC G5 chip speed from 1.8 GHz to 2.0 GHz, upgraded hard drive from 80 GB to 120 GB, upgraded LCD from 17-inch to 19-inch, removed 19-inch CRT, added Mac OS X version 10.4.x.

Q2/2005: Windows; added Intel Pentium 4 640 3.2 GHz to specification. Mac OS; no changes.

Q1/2005: Windows; upgraded Intel chip from Pentium 4.0 530 3.0 GHz to Pentium 4 540 3.2 GHz, upgraded AMD chip from Athlon 64 2.2 GHz/3200+ to Athlon 64 2.2 GHz/3400+. Mac OS; no changes.

Q4/2004: Windows; upgraded Intel chip from Pentium 4.0 3.0 GHz to Pentium 4 530 3.0 GHz, upgraded AMD chip from Athlon 64 2.0 GHz/3000+ to Athlon 64 2.2 GHz/3200+. Mac OS; no changes.

Q3/2004: Windows; upgraded RAM from 768 MB to 1.0 GB, upgraded AMD chip from Athlon XP (2.16 GHz/3000+) to Athlon 64 (2.0 GHz/3000+), added 17-inch LCD to standard configuration. Mac OS; upgraded RAM from 768 MB to 1.0 GB, added 17-inch LCD to standard configuration.

Q2/2004: Windows; no changes. Mac OS; no changes.

Q1/2004: Windows; upgraded RAM from 512 MB to 768 MB. Mac OS; upgraded RAM from 512 MB to 768 MB, added Mac OS X version 10.3.x.

Q4/2003: Windows; no changes. Mac OS; no changes.

Q3/2003: Windows; upgraded Intel chip speed from 2.8 GHz to 3.0 GHz, upgraded AMD chip speed from 2.08 GHz (2800+) to 2.16 GHz (3000+). Mac OS; upgraded PowerPC G4 chip speed from 1.0 GHz to 1.25 GHz.

August 18th introduction: Mac OS; added 1.8 GHz PowerPC G5 chip.

Q2/2003: Windows; upgraded Intel chip speed from 2.53 GHz to 2.8 GHz, upgraded AMD chip speed from 2.0 GHz (2400+) to 2.08 GHz (2800+). Mac OS; no changes.

Q1/2003: Windows; upgraded Intel chip speed from 2.4 GHz to 2.53 GHz, upgraded AMD chip speed from 1.73 GHz to 2.0 GHz, clarified Athlon specification to Athlon XP, upgraded optional LCD specification from 15-inch to 17-inch, modem specification changed to V.92. Mac OS; upgraded PowerPC chip speed from 867 MHz to 1.0 GHz, upgraded optional LCD specification from 15-inch to 17-inch, modem specification changed to V.92, removed Mac OS 9.2.x.

Q4/2002: Windows; upgraded Intel chip speed from 2.23 GHz to 2.4 GHz, upgraded hard drive from 40 GB to 60 GB, modem specification changed to v.92. Mac OS; upgraded PowerPC G4 chip specification from single 867 MHz to dual 867 MHz, upgraded hard drive from 40 GB to 60 GB, modem specification changed to v.92, added Mac OS X version 10.2.x.

Q3/2002: Windows; upgraded minimum chip speed from 1.7 GHz to 2.23 GHz. Mac OS; upgraded PowerPC G4 chip from 800 MHz to 867 MHz, added Mac OS X versions 10.1.4 and 10.1.5.

Q2/2002: Windows; upgraded minimum chip speed from 1.4 GHz to 1.7 GHz, upgraded RAM from 256 MB to 512 MB, added Windows XP Professional. Mac OS; upgraded RAM from 256 MB to 512 MB, added Mac OS X version 10.1.2+.

Q1/2002: Windows; upgraded minimum chip speed from 1.0 GHz to 1.4 GHz (removing the Pentium III from consideration), upgraded hard drive from 30 GB to 40 GB, removed CD-RW drive. Mac OS; upgraded PowerPC G4 chip from 733 MHz to 800 MHz, upgraded hard drive from 30 GB to 40 GB, removed CD-RW drive, added Mac OS X version 10.1.x.

Q4/2001: added change history link. Windows; added CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive, removed DVD-ROM drive. Mac OS; upgraded PowerPC G4 chip from 533 MHz to 733 MHz, added CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive, removed DVD-ROM drive, added Mac OS 9.2.x.

Q3/2001: began performance PC specification.

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