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. The 8500 also has audio, S-video, and […]

Power Mac 7200

The Power Mac 7200 was the entry level second-generation Power Mac, part of the first group of Macs to use the PCI bus instead of older, slower NuBus. Originally produced in 75 MHz and 90 MHz versions (a.k.a. Power Mac 7215/90), the slower model was phased out when the 120 MHz model was introduced in […]

Radius System 81/110

The System 81/110 was Radius’ second Macintosh clone. It was built around a slightly modified Power Mac 8100 motherboard. Like the System 100, the 81/110 was built like a tank with thick metal to provide substantial RFI shielding – and significant weight. Details introduced 1995.07.24; discontinued 1996.01.01 requires System 7.5.1 to 9.1, excluding 7.5.2 CPU: […]

PowerBook 550c

Blackbird was Apple’s code name for a line of PowerBooks based on Motorola’s 68LC040 and 68040 processors. (The LC version draws less power and has no FPU.) The PowerBook 550c was available only in Japan. Differences from the rest of the 500-series include use of regular 68040 (not the stripped down 68LC040), a 750 MB […]

Power Mac 9500

Using the same case as the 9150, the 9500 (a.k.a. 9515) was the first Power Mac tower with a replaceable CPU daughter cards. Unlike the first generations Power Macs, the 9500 had PCI slots and used the PowerPC 604 processor, a significantly improved, second-generation PPC design. BYTE magazine (October 1995, p. 123) notes that the […]

Power Computing Power 80, 100, and 120

The Power series was Power Computing’s first generation Mac compatible. As faster PowerPC 601 CPUs became available, Power bumped this model from 80 MHz to 100 MHz, and then to 120 MHz. The Power 80, 100, and 120 were among the few authorized Mac clones with NuBus slots. Got a Power Computing machine? Join LEM’s Powerlist […]

Radius System 100

The System 100 was the first authorized Macintosh clone. It was built around a slightly modified Power Mac 8100 motherboard: Radius used a standard Mac DA-15 video port instead of the 8100’s 45-pin AV port. The Radius Mac clones were probably the most heavy of the bunch, clad in thick metal to provide more RFI shielding […]

PowerBook 150

The 33 MHz PowerBook 150 replaced the 25 MHz PowerBook 145b in July 1994. It offered faster performance at a lower price and was the final model in the 140/145/145b/150 line of economical PowerBooks. The 150 was also the lightest of the line, and its battery was rated at 2.5 hours, about 30 minutes longer than […]

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. The 630 was the first desktop […]

Performa 630 and LC 630

This was the last Mac designed around the 68040 processor. The Quadra 630 was designed to replace the Quadra 610. The LC 630 and Performa 63x versions use the less expensive 68LC040, which doesn’t have an FPU, while the Quadra 630 sports a full 68040. The slide-out motherboard makes upgrades very easy. The Performa version […]

Blackbird: The PowerBook 500 Series

Blackbird was Apple’s code name for a new line of PowerBooks based on the 68LC040 processor. (The LC version of the 68040 draws less power but has no FPU.) These PowerBooks introduced a full-sized keyboard with 12 function keys, replaced the trackball with a trackpad, had a 640 x 480 screen, and even had built-in […]

PowerBook Duo 280c

Apple upped the ante by moving from the 68030 to the 68LC040 processor on the Duo 280 and 280c in May 1994. (The 68LC040 is a low power version of the 68040 with the internal FPU disabled.) Other than the CPU, this is essentially a Duo 270c. Like the 270c, the 280c supports 16-bit video […]

PowerBook Duo 280

Apple upped the ante by moving from the 68030 to the 68LC040 processor on the Duo 280 and 280c in May 1994. (The 68LC040 is a low power version of the 68040 with the internal FPU disabled.) Other than the CPU, this is essentially a Duo 250. Got a PowerBook Duo? Join our PowerBook Duo […]

PowerBook 540c

Blackbird was Apple’s code name for its first line of PowerBooks based on the 68LC040 processor. (The LC version of the 68040 draws less power and has no FPU.) The 500 series included several firsts: the first portable with a trackpad, the first with a PCMCIA (later PC Card) slot, the first with stereo speakers, […]

PowerBook 540

Blackbird was Apple’s code name for a new line of PowerBooks based on the 68LC040 processor. (The LC version of the 68040 draws less power and has no FPU.) The 500 series included several firsts: the first portable with a trackpad, the first with a PCMCIA (later PC Card) slot, the first with stereo speakers, […]

PowerBook 520c

Blackbird was Apple’s code name for its first line of PowerBooks based on the 68LC040 processor. (The LC version of the 68040 draws less power and has no FPU.) The 500 series included several firsts: the first portable with a trackpad, the first with a PCMCIA (later PC Card) slot, the first with stereo speakers, the […]

PowerBook 520

Blackbird was Apple’s code name for a new line of PowerBooks based on the 68LC040 processor. (The LC version of the 68040 draws less power and has no FPU.) The 500 series included several firsts: the first portable with a trackpad, the first with a PCMCIA (later PC Card) slot, the first with stereo speakers, the […]

Apple Workgroup Server 9150

The Workgroup Server 9150 is the only Workgroup Server for which an equivalent Power Mac model was never released. Mac IIci and Workgroup Server 9150 Built into a modified Quadra 950 case, the 9150 has four NuBus slots and a processor direct slot (PDS). Like first-generation Power Macs, the 9150 uses system memory for video […]

Power Mac 6100

The 60 MHz Power Mac 6100 was the entry-level Power Mac when Apple introduced its first PowerPC models in March 1994. Built into the Quadra 610 case, the 6100 contains a PDS (processor direct slot) that can be converted to a NuBus slot with an adapter. The Power Macintosh 6100 was also marketed under the […]

Power Mac 8100

The 80 MHz Power Mac 8100 was the fastest Power Mac when Apple introduced the line in March 1994, and it was the only model to ship from the factory with a 256 KB level 2 cache installed. Built into a Quadra 800 case, the 8100 (a.k.a. 8115 in Japan as well as Apple Workgroup […]

Power Mac 7100

The 66 MHz 7100 was the middle of the Power Mac line when Apple introduced its first PowerPC models in March 1994. Built into the Quadra 650 case, the 7100 has three NuBus slots and a PDS (processor direct slot). The 7100 uses system memory for motherboard video (up to 615 KB, depending on resolution […]

PowerBook Duo 270c

Introduced in October 1993, the Duo 270c added an active matrix 640 x 480 pixel 256-color screen to the Duo 230. With the improved battery, this color Duo could still run for two hours per charge. The 270c supports 16-bit video on its screen if you select the 640 x 400 pixel mode under Options […]

PowerBook Duo 250

Introduced in October 1993, the PowerBook Duo 250 added an active matrix screen to the Duo mix. This plus an improved battery (which lasts 2.5 hours) did a great deal to increase the popularity of the Duo line. Got a PowerBook Duo? Join our PowerBook Duo and PowerBook 2400c Club on Facebook. Details introduced 1993.10.21 […]

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. The floppy drive mounting sled used in the Mac IIvi, IIvx, Performa 600, Centris 650, Quadra […]

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. At the same time, the CPU in the Centris 610 was boosted from 20 MHz to 25 MHz. (The 8/160 version sold in the U.S. was based on the less expensive 68LC040 […]

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. Apple […]

Mac LC III+

At 33 MHz, the LC III+ (also known as the Performa 460) was the fastest 68030-based computer in the LC series. The 460/LC III+ was essentially an LC III running the motherboard and CPU at 33 MHz instead of 25 MHz. In fact, with a small modification to the motherboard, the LC III can run […]

PowerBook 165

The PowerBook 165 was a grayscale version of the PowerBook 165c with a 4-bit, 16-shade passive matrix display. The PB 165 has a 14 MB memory ceiling, although you can go beyond that by using Virtual Memory (slow and free) or RAM Doubler (faster, not free, and discontinued). Another option is RAM Charger 8.1, which offers […]

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. The 840av also runs a faster version of the AT&T DSP chip, one clocked at 66 MHz v. 55 MHz in the 660av. This and […]

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. In addition to a faster 25 MHz 68040 CPU, the 660av includes a 55 MHz AT&T digital signal processor, introduces the GeoPort high speed serial port, has a […]

Mac LC 520 (Performa 520)

Take an LC III and graft on a 14″ Trinitron monitor along with stereo speakers. That’s what Apple did to create the 520. With the all-in-one design, these were especially popular in schools. It even had a built-in microphone, just like the Color Classic. The Performa version was not sold in the US. The 520 […]