Apple Macintosh LC 550 vs Apple Macintosh LC 580

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

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

Macintosh LC 550 compared with Macintosh LC 580

	AppleMacintosh LC 550	AppleMacintosh LC 580
Overview
Released
Released	1994	1995
Performance
Processor
Processor	Motorola 68030 33 MHz (Macintosh LC 550)	Motorola 68LC040 33 MHz (Macintosh LC 575)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Memory
Memory	4 MB	8 MB (better)
Storage
Storage	160 MB	500 MB (better)
CPU
CPU	33 MHz Motorola 68030 with built-in memory management unit and socket for an optional 68882 floating-point unit	Original Motorola 68LC040 at 33 MHz, without an integrated floating-point unit. Apple catalogue gives 66/33 MHz internal/bus clock; optional PowerPC upgrade is excluded from this configuration. Shared Service Source describes it as an updated LC 575
GPU
GPU	512 KB video RAM displays 8-bit colour at 640 × 480; an upgrade to 768 KB enables 16-bit colour	Built-in video uses 1 MB DRAM soldered to the logic board, displaying 32,768 colours at 640 × 480
Memory type
Memory type	4 MB on the logic board with one 72-pin SIMM socket, expandable to 36 MB	8 MB standard in the maker catalogue: 4 MB soldered plus one 4 MB SIMM, with a second socket free. Two 72-pin 80 ns SIMM sockets, expandable to 52 MB; the single-bank socket accepts only 1, 4 or 16 MB modules. 1 MB ROM in original service specifications
Storage type
Storage type	160 MB internal SCSI hard drive configuration, 1.44 MB floppy drive and optional internal 2× CD-ROM. Apple's 1994 technical booklet also lists 40 and 80 MB drives; its later support sheet lists 160 MB minimum.	500 MB internal IDE hard disk in the catalogue configuration, plus manual-inject Apple SuperDrive floppy. Double-speed tray-loading internal CD-ROM is optional or included in some regional configurations; the separately marketed Performa 580CD has its own software and hardware bundle
Expansion slots
Expansion slots	One LC processor-direct slot	One 114-pin LC processor-direct slot, one communications slot for optional Ethernet or fax modem, one video-input slot for optional capture hardware and an internal connector for optional external video
Display
Screen size
Screen size	14″	14″
Resolution
Resolution	640 × 480	640 × 480
Panel
Panel	CRT	CRT
Refresh rate
Refresh rate	–	66.67 Hz
Display type
Display type	Built-in 14-inch Trinitron colour CRT with 640 × 480 pixels	Built-in 14-inch diagonal shadow-mask colour CRT, 0.28 mm dot pitch. The exact service manual calls the viewable image 11.5 inches and gives a nominal 240 × 180 mm active raster; these maker descriptions are retained separately
Display features
Display features	–	640 × 480 at 66.67 Hz in the exact timing table (66.7 Hz rounded elsewhere in the same manual); 16-bit colour
Connections
Ports
Ports	Headphone jack	Headphone jack
Front ports
Front ports	–	Stereo headphone socket; front brightness and contrast controls
Back ports
Back ports	Two Apple Desktop Bus ports, two serial ports, external SCSI, audio input and stereo output; front headphone jack	One ADB port; one DB-25 SCSI port supporting six external devices; two RS-232/RS-422 serial ports, with 9-pin mini-DIN modem and 8-pin mini-DIN printer connectors; mono sound input and stereo sound output
External displays
External displays	–	Optional external video connector supports mirroring on compatible 640 × 480 and 800 × 600 monitors, as listed in the shared service manual; no external video socket as standard
Speakers
Speakers	Two built-in stereo speakers	Two integrated speakers; 8-bit stereo playback and mono recording at 11 or 22 kHz. Optional CD-ROM supports audio-CD playback
Microphones
Microphones	Built-in microphone	Integrated microphone for monaural sound input
Keyboard and mouse
Keyboard and mouse	–	Supports Apple Desktop Bus keyboards and the ADB Mouse II. Maker photograph shows a keyboard and mouse; regional education bundles vary
Design and power
Type
Type	All-in-one	All-in-one
Weight
Weight	18.4 kg	18.3 kg (better)
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	344 × 419.8 × 443.4 mm	343 × 419 × 455 mm
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Size and weight detail
Size and weight detail	–	Apple catalogue: 455 × 343 × 419 mm (height × width × depth), 18.3 kg, varying with installed devices. Service Source rounds the same 17.9 × 13.5 × 16.5 inch case to 455 × 344 × 420 mm and 18.4 kg; headline follows the catalogue’s published metric values
Power supply
Power supply	–	Automatically configured 100–240 V AC mains; service supply operating range 90–264 V rms, 50–60 Hz ±3 Hz
Power use
Power use	–	Service Source: 120 W maximum for all line and load conditions. Current support article describes a PowerPC-upgraded configuration and lists 60 W, so that figure is not transferred to the original model
In the box
In the box	Apple's support sheet lists 2 February 1994 as introduction, but a distinct first-sale date was not established. Its support sheet says 40 W maximum whereas its 1994 technical booklet says 120 W; power is therefore omitted.	Original 68LC040 model is offered in Apple’s April and October 1995 catalogues; the latter identifies US education-only sales and varying worldwide configurations. Current Apple support article describes an installed PowerPC 601 upgrade card. It records introduction on 3 April 1995, while contemporary Macworld says education shipping was planned for that day; exact actual first retail delivery is unconfirmed, so release retains supported year precision