Power Mac 8500 (Workgroup Server 8550)

Using the same case as the Power Mac 8100, the 8500 (a.k.a. 8515) was the first Mac minitower with a replaceable CPU daughter card. Unlike the first generation of Power Macs, the 8500 has PCI slots and uses the PowerPC 604 processor, a significantly improved, second-generation PPC design.

Power Mac 8500

The 8500 also has audio, S-video, and composite video ports on the rear. Thanks to its daughter card CPU design, it can be upgraded with a faster PowerPC 604, 604e, G3, or even G4 processor.

This model was also available as the Workgroup Server 8550.

Details

  • 8500/120 introduced 1995.08.08 at $4,000; discontinued
  • 8515/120 introduced 1996.01.11; discontinued
  • 8500/150 introduced 1996.04.22; discontinued
  • 8500/180 introduced 1996.08.05; discontinued
  • requires System 7.5.2 through 9.1; Mac OS 9.2.x requires a G3 or G4 upgrade
  • CPU: 120 MHz or faster PPC 604, 180 MHz 604e
  • Bus: 40-50 MHz, controlled by CPU card
  • Performance: 5.3/5.7/6.1 (120/132/150 MHz, relative to Centris 650); 57,200 (120 MHz), 68,650 (150 MHz), 87,464 (180 MHz) Whetstones
  • ROM: 4 MB
  • RAM: 16 MB, expandable to 512 MB using 70ns 168-pin DIMMs (8 sockets), Apple notes “128 MB DIMMs can be used, but have not been tested” – this would bring total RAM to 1 GB.
  • VRAM: 2 MB, expandable to 4 MB
  • Video: supports resolutions to 1280 x 1024
  • L2 cache: 256 KB standard, can be expanded to 1 MB
  • SCSI: internal fast SCSI bus (to 10 MBps), external SCSI bus (to 5 Mbps)
  • CD-ROM: 4x
  • PCI slots: 3
  • Microphone: standard 3.5mm minijack, compatible with line-level input including Apple’s PlainTalk microphone
  • ADB: 1 port for keyboard and mouse
  • serial: 2 DIN-8 GeoPorts on back of computer
  • SCSI: DB-25 connector on back of computer
  • Ethernet: AAUI and 10Base-T connectors on back of computer
  • upgrade path: CPU daughter card
  • Power supply: 225W
  • Height: 14.0 in
  • Width: 7.7 in
  • Depth: 15.75 in
  • Weight: 25.0 lb
  • PRAM battery: 3.6V half-AA
  • Gestalt ID: 69

Accelerators & Upgrades

Online Resources

Cautions

  • Apple discontinued support and parts orders for this model on 2001.10.15 (2001.10.22 in Canada), except in California. You may be able to find dealers with parts inventory either locally or on our parts and service list.
  • Apple Computer will consider this computer vintage as of 2001.07.16 in the United States and 2001.07.23 in Canada. As of that date, service parts will only be available for units purchased in California and being serviced within California.
  • G3 upgrade cards unstable?, MacWeek

Keywords: #powermac8500 #powermac8515 #workgrouserver8550

Short link: http://goo.gl/u5fXkG

searchwords: powermac8500, powermac8515