These Macs are not bad, just limited. This article tells you how
to make the best of your Mac - and maybe even make it better.
The 6200, 5200, 5260/5300, and 6300 series Performas and PowerMacs were
Apple's way of trying to transition from the LC slot machines, such
as the LC III, Quadra 605, and Performa 630 series, to the newer PowerPC
architecture in the low end line of Macs. These computers were
based on a hybrid of the Quadra 605 and 630 motherboards, but with
a PowerPC 
603 or 603e chip attached (and some other
components adjusted, added, or replaced). Like the 630, the x200
series (the 5200, 5300, 6200, and 6300 will be referred to as the
x200 series when talking about all of them) uses a communications
slot (or "comm slot") to hold either a modem or an ethernet card.
The x200 series also had one LC PDS slot in which a video card,
ethernet card, or several other things could be installed. These
machines were hybrids: half Quadra, half Power Mac.
The other unique "feature" that these PowerMacs have is the
ability to not have to use paired SIMMs. However, this is a
disadvantage more than it is an advantage, because it slowed down
the system. And RAM wasn't the only thing that slowed down the x200
series. The internal modem actually slowed down the computer! The
Global Village modems that shipped with the x200 series used the
already crippled (by the system bus) 603 processor to operate the
modem. This means that the processor is trying to process the
information being sent to the computer, as well as trying to keep
an internet connection established and transfer files via the
modem. My suggestion: unless you have a thing about internal modems
(and there are people who really like them), tear it out and use an
external 28.8-56K modem (even though the speeds may not be top on a
56K modem because of the motherboard [see the 56K modem page], it still manages to be much
faster than the internal 14.4 or 28.8).
The 603 and 603e processors are not bad processors. In fact they
are much more productive than the earlier 601, it's just that the
x200 series gave them a bad name by using the same bus speed that
the Quadra 605 used. While that was fine on a Quadra, it was not
fine on a PowerPC-based Mac.
You can pick up 6200s for as little as $50 these days if you
look around, and 5200s for around $200-$400 (the built in features
- monitor, stereo speakers, etc. - make it much more desirable than
the 6200).
What would make you want an x200 machine?
First, it is a PowerPC. You can run MS Office 98, as well as
play MP3s (they won't play as well as they would on a G3, or even a
later 603e PowerMac such as the 6400.) [If you want to play an MP3,
use SoundApp PPC. Works great for me all the time.]
Second, these Macs are great for sending email, playing games,
or using AOL, especially with an external modem. These are truly
beginners computers, and if your child, your parents, or your
grandparents want to learn the computer and need a PowerPC
processor for a program they might want to run (examples: AOL 5,
Outlook Express 5, Internet Explorer 4.5/5.0, most Mattel kids
games- almost anything with animation recommends a PowerPC), a
PowerMac or PowerMac Performa from this series is a reasonable
choice. With an x200, you basically get a Quadra 630 with the
ability to run many more programs because of the PowerPC
processor
Don't confuse the Performa 6205CD-6290CD and the 6300-6320 with
the Power Mac or Performa 6360. The
6360 uses a motherboard similar to that of the 6400; it is not the
same crippled design as the x200 series. It uses more modern DIMMs,
PCI slots, and a faster 160 MHz PowerPC 603e processor. This
computer is not crippled, and if you can find one (working, and
with a decent amount of RAM, that is) for under $200, you are
getting a good deal. These are not all that easy to come by.
Next week we will discuss what to do if your x200 Mac has a
problem running OS 8.5 or higher or has a major crashing problem.
We will also discuss what OS to install on your x200, what upgrades
to perform, and what not to do with your Mac.
I will also throw in a some "purchase hints" and "help my Mac's
faceplate fell off and won't stay back on"Ö all for no extra
charge.
Further Reading
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