PowerPC Upgrades for 68040 Macs with LC PDS

The Apple Power Mac Processor Upgrade (APMPU) is a PowerPC 601 upgrade for 68040-based Macs that have a 32-bit LC processor direct slot (PDS) – the Quadra 605/LC 475/Performa 475-476, LC 575/Performa 575-578, LC 580/Performa 580-588, and Quadra 630/LC 630/Performa 630 series.

PowerPC 601 Upgrades for 68040 PDS Macs

The Apple Power Mac Upgrade Card (APMUC) plugs into the 68040 Processor Direct Slot (PDS) of the Centris 650, Quadra 650, Quadra 700, Quadra 800, Quadra 900, and Quadra 950 and provides PowerPC 601 power. With an adapter, it also works in the Centris 610 and Quadra 610. It is not compatible with 68040-based Macs […]

Quadra 630

The Quadra 630 was the last Mac designed around the 68040 processor. It was designed to replace the Quadra 610. LC and Performa versions of the 630 use the less expensive 68LC040, which lacks an FPU, while the Quadra 630 sports a full 68040. The slide-out motherboard makes upgrades very easy.

Quadra 650

Finding the market confused with five product lines (Mac II, Centris, Quadra, Performa, and PowerBook), Apple renamed the Centris models in October 1993. At the same time, the 68040 CPU in the Quadra 650 was boosted to 33 MHz.

Quadra 610

Finding the market confused with five product lines (Mac II, Centris, Quadra, Performa, and PowerBook), Apple renamed the Centris models in October 1993.

Quadra 605

What was the smallest desktop Mac prior to the Mac mini? Apple’s LC series, which measured just under 3″ tall, although it had as big a footprint as four Minis. And the Quadra 605 (also known as the LC 475 and Performa 475 or 476) was the most powerful model in this diminutive line.

Quadra 840av

Using the same case as the Quadra 800, the 840av incorporates the same AV circuitry as the Centris 660av. Running a 40 MHz CPU, this was Apple’s fastest 68040-based computer ever.

Centris 660av (Quadra 660av)

Initially introduced as the Centris 660av (the two models are identical except for the nameplate), the Quadra 660av shares the same case design as the Centris 610.

Quadra 800

Apple introduced a new case design with the Quadra 800, one later used by the Quadra 840av and two Power Macs, the 8100 and 8500. Perhaps the most frustrating case to work with, it has three front accessible drive bays. One is for the floppy drive; the others may hold CD-ROM, a DAT drive, a SyQuest mechanism, etc.

Centris 650

Creating a midpoint between the Mac II line and the Quadra series, the short-lived Centris models were introduced in February 1993. The Centris 650 uses the same chassis as the IIvx, IIvi, and Performa 600.

Centris 610

Creating a midpoint between the Mac II line and the Quadra series, the short-lived Centris models were introduced in February 1993. The Centris 610 introduced a new case style, one that would later be used for the Centris 660av and Power Mac 6100.

Quadra 950

Apple replaced the Quadra 900 with the 950, boosting CPU speed from 25 MHz to 33 MHz. Because Apple removed some “wait states” from the video section, the 950’s internal video is about 20% faster than the 900’s – and the faster CPU helps things along even more. The 950 can display 16-bit video on […]

Quadra 900

October 1991 saw the introduction of Macs using Motorola’s high-octane 68040 CPU. The Quadra 900 was a full-fledged tower design, although it had only a single front accessible drive bay. The Quadra 700 and 900 were the first Macs with built-in ethernet, using Apple’s AAUIs connector.

Quadra 700

October 1991 saw the introduction of the firest Macs using Motorola’s high-octane 68040 CPU. The Quadra 700, built in the same chassis as the Mac IIci, was built as a minitower, although with no front accessible hard drive bays. The Quadra 700 and 900 were the first Macs with built-in ethernet, using Apple’s AAUI connector.