PowerPC G3

The PowerPC G3 (7xx) is a brand name that was used by Apple Computer for 3rd generation microprocessors from the PowerPC line that were developed by the AIM Alliance, which included Apple, IBM, and Motorola. The G3 processors were pivotal in simplifying and rejuvenating Apple's product line under a newly-returned Steve Jobs, which included the Power Macintosh G3, PowerBook G3, iMac G3, and iBook G3.

Development history
The PowerPC 740 and 750 were designed as evolutionary successors to the power efficient PowerPC 603. Enhancements included a faster system bus, larger L1 caches, a second integer unit, an enhanced floating point unit, and higher core frequency. The 750 also had support for an optional external L2 cache. The design was so successful that it quickly surpassed the PowerPC 604e in integer performance, causing Apple to forgo the 604ev and 620 in their new products.

Processors

 * PowerPC 740 — pin compatible with the PowerPC 603e, allowing upgrades for the PowerBook 1400 and 2400c.
 * PowerPC 750 — code named "Arthur", used in the original iMac G3. Not pin compatible with the 603 series due to extra signals required for the L2 cache bus.
 * PowerPC 755 — an updated version from Motorola that was used in some iBook G3 models
 * PowerPC 750CX — code named "Sidewinder", an updated version from IBM was used in one iBook G3 and one iMac G3 model.
 * PowerPC 750CXe — code named "Anaconda", and enhanced version from IBM that was used in several iBook G3 updates and the last iMac G3.
 * PowerPC 750FX — code named "Sahara", the last version used by Apple in a 900 MHz iBook G3.

Other versions

 * PowerPC 750GX — code named "Gobi", used by PowerLogix in a 1 GHz upgrade card for "Pismo" PowerBook G3 models.
 * Gekko — based on a 486 MHz version of the PowerPC 750CXe, used in the Nintendo GameCube
 * Broadway — based on a 729 MHz version of the PowerPC 750CL, an evolved CXe, used in the Nintendo Wii
 * Espresso — based on a 1.243 GHz version of the Broadway with 3 cores, used in the Nintendo Wii U

Marketing
After Apple adopted the G3 processor in November 1997, it began producing commercials ridiculing the slow speed of Intel's Pentium processors.