Apple Macintosh Color Classic II vs Apple Macintosh Performa 6400/180

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

Macintosh Color Classic II compared with Macintosh Performa 6400/180

	AppleMacintosh Color Classic II	AppleMacintosh Performa 6400/180
Overview
Released
Released	–	1996
Performance
Processor
Processor	68030 33 MHz (Macintosh Color Classic II)	PowerPC 603e 180 MHz (Performa 6400)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Memory
Memory	8 MB	16 MB (better)
Storage
Storage	160 MB	1.6 GB (better)
CPU
CPU	33 MHz Motorola 68030 with integrated PMMU, 32-bit data path at 33 MHz and 0.5K L1 cache; no L2 cache. Optional Motorola 68882 maths coprocessor, not supplied as standard. Exact current Apple specifications override the archived Service Source table, which incorrectly retains a 16-bit bus and 16-bit registers from the original Color Classic.	180 MHz PowerPC 603e with integrated floating-point unit, 32 KB L1 cache and a 64-bit 40 MHz bus. The 256 KB Apple High Performance Module L2 cache is optional, unlike the standard cache of the 6400/200. The shared Service Source calls the processor 603ev; the exact specification page and original brochure use 603e.
GPU
GPU	–	1 MB built-in video DRAM, not expandable; 640 × 480 and 800 × 600 at 16-bit colour, 832 × 624 and 1024 × 768 at 8-bit colour. A separate PCI graphics card is needed for additional capabilities.
Memory type
Memory type	4 MB soldered memory, one 72-pin SIMM slot and 36 MB maximum; minimum 80 ns, supported module capacities 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 MB. 1 MB ROM. Exact current maker table overrides the shared service manual’s conflicting two 30-pin SIMMs and 10 MB limit.	8 MB soldered to the logic board and an 8 MB DIMM supplied; two 168-pin 64-bit fast-page-mode DIMM sockets support up to 136 MB total, with 70 ns or faster memory.
Storage type
Storage type	Apple’s exact Japanese Performa 275 bundle has 8 MB RAM and a 160 MB SCSI hard drive, retained in configurations. Color Classic II support lists 80–160 MB internal disks but does not establish each factory RAM/disk pairing; no guessed combinations added. Internal 1.44 MB SuperDrive floppy, optional external CD-ROM. Original capacity units retained.	1.6 GB internal IDE hard drive, 1.44 MB SuperDrive floppy drive and tray-loading 8× CD-ROM. The shared service manual lists a 1.2 GB drive and AppleCD 600i for generic 6400 configurations; the exact 180 MHz support page and ordering brochure agree on 1.6 GB and 8×.
Expansion slots
Expansion slots	One LC-compatible processor-direct slot; optional Ethernet expansion card and optional 68882 coprocessor. User-removable logic board. No standard Ethernet adapter.	Two PCI 2.0 slots for 6.88-inch cards with Mac drivers; Communications Slot II occupied by the supplied modem, plus positions for optional video input and TV/FM tuner cards. One pre-cabled 5.25-inch internal SCSI bay. Optional Avid Cinema requires the Apple Video System and occupies one PCI slot; it is not supplied with the standard 180 MHz configuration.
Display
Screen size
Screen size	10″	None built in
Resolution
Resolution	512 × 384	–
Panel
Panel	CRT	–
Display type
Display type	Built-in 10-inch colour CRT tube with 512 × 384 Macintosh resolution. Exact current maker support does not identify a separate viewable diagonal or refresh rate; the archived service manual conflicts over display size, so neither a viewable-area measurement nor refresh rate is inferred.	–
Display features
Display features	256K built-in VRAM supplies 256 colours; optional additional 256K VRAM supports 32,768 colours. The Japanese Performa 275 specification confirms both modes.	–
Connections
Ports
Ports	Headphone jack	Headphone jack
Front ports
Front ports	–	3.5 mm headphone output and volume buttons; optional infrared remote support.
Back ports
Back ports	Two ADB ports, DB-25 SCSI, printer and modem serial connections, and audio connections; no external video or floppy connector, USB or FireWire. Ethernet is optional through expansion.	DB-15 monitor output, ADB, DB-25 external SCSI, two GeoPort-compatible serial ports, 3.5 mm sound input compatible with PlainTalk microphones and line-level 3.5 mm speaker output. The supplied modem provides 28.8 Kbit/s data and 14.4 Kbit/s fax; replacing it with an Ethernet card provides wired networking. Optional video input handles composite and S-video NTSC, PAL or SECAM.
Speakers
Speakers	Built-in speaker and omnidirectional microphone. Exact Japanese Performa 275 table calls the internal speaker system stereo; the archived service manual describes monophonic audio. This unresolved wording is retained without asserting stereo playback for every regional configuration.	Built-in full-range monophonic speaker switches to subwoofer operation when external speakers are connected. 16-bit stereo input/output at 11.025, 22.05 or 44.1 kHz; SRS surround processing applies to rear sound output, not the front headphone jack.
Keyboard and mouse
Keyboard and mouse	Archived shared Service Source lists a keyboard, ADB Mouse II, ADB and power cables. The exact Japanese Performa 275 bundle includes an Apple Keyboard II and bundled Japanese At Ease, ClarisWorks, HyperCard Lite and Photo CD Sampler software; regional software and keyboards can differ.	Keyboard, mouse, cables and bundled applications listed for US order M5167LL/A; display, TV/FM tuner, Apple Video System, Avid Cinema and PC Compatibility Card are optional. Gallery image includes an optional monitor.
Design and power
Type
Type	All-in-one	Tower
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	–	198 × 428 × 406 mm
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Size and weight detail
Size and weight detail	Exact current Apple support publishes 14.5 inches high × 9.9 inches wide × 12.6 inches deep and 22.5 lb weight. The archived shared manual instead provides differently rounded metric dimensions and a 22.5–23.2 lb configuration range; those values are not silently substituted for the exact current figures.	Original brochure lists 40.6 × 19.8 × 42.8 cm (height × width × depth), matching the service manual. Weight is 20.18 kg without the monitor and varies with installed devices; the service manual explicitly excludes the CD-ROM drive. The technical booklet transposes depth and height labels.
Power supply
Power supply	Maximum 100 W; automatic 90–240 V AC, 47–63 Hz. Apple lists 0.83 A and a 3.6 V lithium clock battery. Keyboard soft-power control.	Exact specification page and ordering brochure list 220 W maximum, 100–125 or 200–240 V AC at 47–63 Hz. The shared service manual agrees on 220 W maximum continuous but gives wider voltage bands; the original technical booklet instead states 140 W input and 98 W DC output. These conflicting ratings are retained rather than treated as measured consumption.
In the box
In the box	Original Japanese system software 7.1 with System Enabler 403; Apple lists support through Mac OS 7.6.1. Current maker support gives 21 October 1993 as introduction, which does not establish first retail sale; released omitted. Apple states this system was not sold in the US. Performa 275 is a Japanese consumer bundle of this hardware, not a separate generation. The main image and additional views are original maker service illustrations, not press photographs; exact-model photographic coverage remains unresolved.	Original System Software 7.5.3 with System Enabler 410 v1.1. Apple lists 5 August 1996 as introduction; the original 1996 ordering brochure and contemporary MacUser review establish sale in 1996, but a distinct first-sale month remains unresolved.