Apple Macintosh 512K vs Apple Macintosh XL

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Macintosh 512K compared with Macintosh XL

	AppleMacintosh 512K	AppleMacintosh XL
Overview
Released
Released	September 1984	1985
Performance
Processor
Processor	68000 8 MHz (Macintosh 512K)	68000 5 MHz (Macintosh XL)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Memory
Memory	512 KB	512 KB or 1 MB (better)
Storage
Storage	–	10 MB
CPU
CPU	8 MHz 68000 with a 16-bit data path; no PMMU, FPU, cache or second processor	5 MHz Motorola 68000 with a 16-bit, 5 MHz data path; no PMMU, FPU, cache or second processor
Memory type
Memory type	Fixed 0.5 MB onboard RAM, 64K ROM; no RAM slots or built-in memory expansion	Factory 512 KB, expandable to 1 MB in Apple's January 1985 announcement; two Lisa memory-card slots using 512K boards. Current support lists a 0.5–2 MB range; configurations retain the original Apple memory options rather than later third-party upgrades. 16K ROM
Storage type
Storage type	400K removable floppy drive with manual loading; no internal hard drive, hard-drive interface or internal CD drive	Built-in 10 MB hard disk and manually loaded 400K floppy drive; no internal CD drive. MacWorks versions differ in hard-disk access and startup support; the original revision cannot access a hard disk, while later revisions add hard-disk installation and direct startup
Expansion slots
Expansion slots	None	Three Lisa expansion slots
Display
Screen size
Screen size	9″	12″
Resolution
Resolution	512 × 342	720 × 364 (better)
Panel
Panel	CRT	CRT
Display type
Display type	Built-in monochrome CRT with one-bit bitmap; 9-inch diagonal confirmed in Apple's original SE/30 owner manual, Macintosh product-line appendix. Apple explicitly notes 512 × 342 pixels, correcting its generic table's 512 × 384	12-inch monochrome CRT; Apple's model-specific note gives 720 × 364 pixels and overrides the generic resolution matrix. Original pixels are rectangular
Display features
Display features	–	Optional Macintosh XL Screen Kit modifies the screen to show Macintosh text and graphics with the correct proportions. Apple's current support note states 608 × 431 pixels with the kit. The kit requires updated MacWorks XL and a Macintosh-only hard disk, excluding a disk shared with Lisa 7/7 or Workshop
Connections
Ports
Ports	Headphone jack	–
Back ports
Back ports	External floppy DB-19, printer and modem serial ports and speaker/headphone output; no SCSI, Ethernet or external video. Serial ports do not support handshaking or synchronous modems	RCA video, printer and modem ports; no SCSI or Ethernet. Legacy ports are retained here because the comparison table does not represent their connector types
Design and power
Type
Type	All-in-one	All-in-one
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Size and weight detail
Size and weight detail	Maker 16.5 lb; 13.6 in height × 9.6 in width × 10.9 in depth, retained in original units	Apple publishes 48 lb and 15.2 in height × 18.7 in width × 13.8 in depth; original units retained
Power supply
Power supply	Maximum 60 W, 105–125 V, 50–60 Hz, 0.5 A; 4.5 V alkaline	US specification maximum 150 W, 120 V AC, 50–60 Hz and 1.25 A; no backup battery listed
In the box
In the box	Original system software 0.7; maker introduction 10 September 1984 and discontinuation 14 April 1986. Actual shipping month September 1984 comes from Macworld's historical timeline; no exact first-sale day adopted	MacWorks provides the Macintosh software environment on Lisa hardware. Apple announced the Lisa 2/10 rename on 23 January 1985; the original 1985 Macintosh Office brochure offers the XL through authorised dealers. First-sale year retained because no exact first-sale day or month is established; Apple's support introduction date is not adopted as retail sale