Common question: "What are the advantages of the new Apple PowerPC G3 chip?"

Several factors result in the G3's faster performance:

First, the G3 is the first chip specifically optimized for Mac OS.

Second, G3 chips include a larger 64k Level 1 (built onto the chip itself) cache, double previous caches.

Third, and probably most important, PowerPC G3 chips feature a new Level 2 cache design called a "backside cache." The new design does not use the system bus for cache access, rather it uses a dedicated bus for retrieving data. This bus can operate at higher speeds related to the CPU's clock speed, greatly enhancing the speed of overall computer operation.