The architecture of iMac (Flat Panel) computer is designed around the PowerPC G4 microprocessor and a custom IC: the Pangea memory controller and the I/O device controller. The Pangea IC occupies the center of the block diagram.
The PowerPC G4 microprocessor is connected to the Pangea IC by a MaxBus bus with 64 data lines and a bus clock speed of 100 MHz. The Pangea IC has other buses that connect with the boot ROM, the hard disk drive and the optical drive, the power controller IC, the sound IC, the internal modem module, and the optional wireless LAN module.
Each of the components listed here is described in one of the following sections.