Apple Training Series: Desktop and Portable Systems, Second Edition

Core Technologies

There are several fundamental technologies that define Apple computers, even if they are not always cosmetically recognizable. These under-the-hood systems include the PowerPC main processor; the Universal Motherboard Architecture (UMA), with its improved systems for power management and connectivity; and optical disc drives that have broadened the range of capabilities for removable media.

PowerPC

The microprocessors used in recent Macintosh computers are the PowerPC G4 and G5, manufactured by Motorola and IBM. Each processor is a wafer about 1-inch square and less than 0.1-inch thick. The processor connects to the logic board with 360 pins. The G4 can execute one billion floating-point instructions per second, or one gigaflop. ...