Apple Macintosh LC 580 vs Apple Macintosh Performa 6400/180

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Macintosh LC 580 compared with Macintosh Performa 6400/180

	AppleMacintosh LC 580	AppleMacintosh Performa 6400/180
Overview
Released
Released	1995	1996
Performance
Processor
Processor	Motorola 68LC040 33 MHz (Macintosh LC 575)	PowerPC 603e 180 MHz (Performa 6400)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Memory
Memory	8 MB	16 MB (better)
Storage
Storage	500 MB	1.6 GB (better)
CPU
CPU	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	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	Built-in video uses 1 MB DRAM soldered to the logic board, displaying 32,768 colours at 640 × 480	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	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	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	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	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 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	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	14″	None built in
Resolution
Resolution	640 × 480	–
Panel
Panel	CRT	–
Refresh rate
Refresh rate	66.67 Hz	–
Display type
Display type	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	3.5 mm headphone output and volume buttons; optional infrared remote support.
Back ports
Back ports	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	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.
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 integrated speakers; 8-bit stereo playback and mono recording at 11 or 22 kHz. Optional CD-ROM supports audio-CD playback	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.
Microphones
Microphones	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	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
Weight
Weight	18.3 kg	–
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	343 × 419 × 455 mm	198 × 428 × 406 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	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	Automatically configured 100–240 V AC mains; service supply operating range 90–264 V rms, 50–60 Hz ±3 Hz	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.
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	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	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.