Power Macintosh

Power Mac 4400

Power Macintosh 4400

Power Mac 7220 in some markets

A Compromised Mac

Got a PCI Power Mac? Join our PCI PowerMacs Group.
Our Mac OS 9 Group is for anyoneusing Mac OS 9, either natively or in Classic Mode.

The 4400 was Apple's attempt to build an inexpensive Mac using moreindustry standard components, such as a chunky DOS-like case. Itwas also available in a PC Compatible system with a 166 MHz DOScard (brand and model of CPU not mentioned on Apple's site)containing 16 MB RAM.

The 4400 was Apple's only computer designed around a modified Tanzania motherboard. The 4400and other Tanzania-based clones will not boot with a dead PRAMbattery. Try replacing the battery before attempting to replace thepower supply on a "dead" 4400.

Note that there are some significant differences between the 160MHz and 200 MHz models in terms of memory capacity and expansionslots.

The Upgrade Box

Details

160 MHz model introduced 1996.11.07, discontinued
200 MHz model introduced 1997.02.17, discontinued
DOS compatible model introduced 1997.04.04, discontinued
requires System 7.5.3 (with System Enabler 827) through 9.1,excluding 7.5.5
CPU: 160 MHz or 200 MHz PPC 603e
bus: 40 MHz
performance: XXX (relative to SE)
ROM: 4 MB
RAM: 32 MB, expandable to 96 MB (160 MHz version) or 160 MB(200 MHz model) using 3.3V unbuffered EDO RAM (three DIMM sockets,each supports an 8, 16, or 32 MB SIMM in 160 MHz model; support 64MB DIMMs in 200 MHz machines; slot 1 supports only single-bankDIMMs)
VRAM: 1 MB in 4400/160, 2 MB in 4400/200
Video, std, 4400/160: 16-bit to 832 x 624, 8-bit to1152-870
Video, std, 4400/200: 24-bit to 800 x 600, 16-bit to 1152 x870, 8-bit to 1280 x 1024
Video, 4 MB max: 24-bit to 1024 x 768, 16-bit to 1280 x1024
L2 cache: 256 KB (optional on 4400/160)
hard drive: 1.2GB IDE in 4400/160, 2GB IDE in 4400/200
CD-ROM: 8x (12x in DOS Compatible model)
ADB: 1 port for keyboard and mouse
serial: 2 DIN-8 RS-422 ports on back of computer
SCSI: DB-25 connector on back of computer
ethernet: standard on 4400/200 and 7220/200, but not on the4400/160.
three PCI slots in 4400/160, two plus a Comm II slot in4400/200

Accelerators & Upgrades

Guide to G3 Accelerators for Level 2Cache Slot
Vimage at one time announced a G3 upgrade for the 4400
Farallon 10/100 Comm Slot II ethernet card

Online Resources

Low End Mac's bestclassic Mac OS deals. Best online prices for System 6, 7.1, 7.5.x,Mac OS 7.6, 8.0, 8.1, 8.5, 9.0, 9.2.2, and other versions.
Low End Mac'sCompleat Guide to Mac OS 9, 2008 edition, Charles Moore,Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.05.12. Declared dead by Steve Jobs 6years ago, Mac OS 9 remains fast and stable, but Classic softwarehasn't kept up with Web changes. What Macs support OS 9, where to buyit, and how to update to version 9.2.2.
Environmentallyresponsible retirement for old Macs, Rick Lawson, Pioneers in MacDevelopment, 2008.06.13. After you've scavenged what useful parts youcan from your old Mac, what's the most environmentally friendly way todispose of the rest?
Know your Mac'supgrade options, Phil Herlihy, The Usefulness Equation, 2008.08.26.Any Mac can be upgraded, but it's a question of what can be upgraded -RAM, hard drive, video, CPU - and how far it can be upgraded.
Why youshould partition your Mac's hard drive, Dan Knight, Mac Musings,2008.12.11. "At the very least, it makes sense to have a secondpartition with a bootable version of the Mac OS, so if you haveproblems with your work partition, you can boot from the 'emergency'partition to run Disk Utility and other diagnostics."
Attractive and ugly Macs,discontinued MacBook Pro value, and writing with TextEdit, CharlesMoore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.10.30. Readers weigh in on thegood, the bad, and the ugly of Macintosh design over the past 24years.
CreatingClassic Mac boot floppies in OS X, Paul Brierley, The 'Book Beat,2008.08.07. Yes, it is possible to create a boot floppy for the ClassicMac OS using an OS X Mac that doesn't have Classic. Here's how.
The compressed airkeyboard repair, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings,2008.07.24. If your keyboard isn't working as well as it once did,blasting under the keys with compressed air may be the cure.
Better and safer surfing withInternet Explorer and the Classic Mac OS, Max Wallgren, Mac Daniel,2007.11.06. Tips on which browsers work best with different Mac OSversions plus extra software to clean cookies and caches, detectviruses, handle downloads, etc.
Hacking Mac OS 7.6.1 so many MacOS 8 apps will run, Max Wallgren, Mac Daniel, 2007.10.30. With alittle ResEdit work and a second copy of your System Folder, you canrun a lot of OS 8 apps with Mac OS 7.6.1.
Interchangeabilty andcompatibility of Apple 1.4 MB SuperDrive floppy drives, SonicPurity, Mac Daniel, 2007.09.26. Apple used two kinds of high-densityfloppy drives on Macs, auto-inject and manual inject. Can they beswapped?
Appearance Manager allowsInternet Explorer 5.1.7 to work with Mac OS 7.6.1, MaxWallgren, Mac Daniel, 2007.05.23. Want a fairly modern browser withan old, fast operating system? Mac OS 7.6.1 plus the AppearanceManager and Internet Explorer may be just what you want.
Format any drive for older Macswith patched Apple tools, Tyler Sable, Classic Restorations,2007.04.25. Apple HD SC Setup and Drive Setup only work with Applebranded hard drives - until you apply the patches linked to thisarticle.
System 7 Today, advocates ofApple's 'orphan' Mac OS 7.6.1, Tommy Thomas, Welcome toMacintosh, 2006.10.26. Why Mac OS 7.6.1 is far better for 68040 andPowerPC Macs than System 7.5.x.
Mac OS 8 and 8.1: Maximum size,maximum convenience, Tyler Sable, Classic Restorations,2006.09.11. Mac OS 8 and 8.1 add some useful new features andtools, and it can even be practical on 68030-based Macs.
Installing Linux on a PCI PowerMac, Part 1, Larry Stotler, Linux on the Low End, 2006.09.05.Preparing your PCI Power Mac (or clone) for Linux and gettingopenSUSE Linux installed.
Preparing your Mac's hard drivefor Linux, Larry Stotler, Linux on the Low End, 2006.08.09.Before you install Linux, you have to partition your hard drive. Alook at three different hard drive strategies for Mac Linux.
Customizing Mac OS 9,Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 2006.08.01. Fiddling withthemes, picking a browser, and making the Classic Mac OS work justthe way you want it to.
The ins and outs of bootingLinux on the Mac, Larry Stotler, Linux on the Low End,2006.07.31. "Old World" Macs can't boot directly into Linux. Theyneed to boot the Classic Mac OS first, then pass control over toLinux.
Preparing your PCI Power Macfor Linux, Larry Stotler, Linux on the Low End, 2006.07.26. Howpowerful a CPU do you need? How much memory? Do you need a fasterdrive controller? Are some video cards better than others?
Floppy drive observations: Acompleat guide to Mac floppy drives and disk formats, ScottBaret, Online Tech Journal, 2006.06.29. A history of the Mac floppyfrom the 400K drive in the Mac 128K through the manual-inject 1.4MSuperDrives used in the late 1990s.
ATI Radeon7000 Driver for Mac OS 7.6.1, System 7 Today, 2006.05.29. ATI'sinstallers don't support System 7.6.1, but System 7 Today's does,making this the fastest video card to work with Mac OS 7.6.1
Getting the Mac digitaljukebox up and running, Nathan Thompson, EmbracingObsolescence, 2006.05.08. Connecting your PowerPC Mac to yourrstereo and remote control options for running a headless digitalaudio jukebox.
System 7.6.1 is perfect formany older Macs, John Martorana, That Old Mac Magic,2006.03.24. Want the best speed from your old Mac? System 7.6.1 cangive you that with a fairly small memory footprint - also helpfulon older Macs.
System 7.5 and Mac OS 7.6: Thebeginning and end of an era, Tyler Sable, Classic Restorations,2006.02.15. System 7.5 and Mac OS 7.6 introduced many new featuresand greater modernity while staying within reach of most earlyMacintosh models.
Web browser tips for theclassic Mac OS, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence,2006.01.03. Tips on getting the most out of WaMCom, Mozilla,Internet Explorer, iCab, Opera, and WannaBe using the classic MacOS.
The best browsers for PowerPCMacs and the classic Mac OS, Nathan Thompson, EmbracingObsolescence, 2005.12.16. Two browsers stand out from the pack:iCab 3 is modern and remains under development, and WaMCom bringsMozilla to older Macs.
Why you should use Mac OS 7.6 toget the most out of vintage Macs, Thomas Ahart, The ProductiveMac, 2005.12.12. Although you may be able to run OS 8 or 9 on yourold Mac, you'll generally find better performance using Mac OS7.6.
The4400, Eric Schwarz, SchwarzTech, 2005.06.21. "Fortunately, thismachine that was more of an experiment into the business marketdidn't last long enough for many to remember."
Sonata SD,Sonnet Tech, 2004.06.01. First new PCI video card for the Mac inages sells for just US$99, supports OS 7.5.3 and later plus OS X10.1.5 and later, works with VGA or old Mac monitors, 16 MBVRAM.
The 10 worstMacs ever built, Remy Davison, Insanely Great Mac,2001.08.06
Review: Sonnet Tempo Ultra ATA66Macintosh PCI Host Adapter, Dan Knight, 2000.07.28. The mosteconomical way to put IDE support in a PCI Power Mac.
Apple TIL 30720: Power Mac 4400 update 1.0
AppleSpec: 4400/160,4400/200,4400/200 PCCompatible.
Apple at one time released a patch for OS 8.1 specifically forthe Power Mac 4400, 7220, Motorola StarMax, and Umax Aegis (anAsia-only model). It fixes problems with the HFS+ driver (whichloads even when HFS+ volumes are not present) and the ATA Manager,which may result in your mouse click not registering or problemsswitching from a PC card. Read me and download.

Cautions

Will not work with System 7.5.5
DIMM slot 1 supports only single-bank DIMMs.
Macs with IDE hard drive do not provide SCSI termination power,depending on external SCSI devices to provide it. For more details,see SCSI TerminationPower.

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