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Apple Macintosh LC 580 vs Apple Macintosh SE/30

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

AppleMacintosh LC 580AppleMacintosh SE/30
Overview
Released19951989
Performance
ProcessorMotorola 68LC040 33 MHz (Macintosh LC 575)68030 16 MHz (Macintosh SE/30)
CPU cores11
Memory8 MB1 MB or 4 MB
Storage500 MB40 MB to 80 MB
CPUOriginal 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 575Nominal 16 MHz 68030 with 32-bit data path, integrated PMMU and 68882 FPU; 0.5K L1 cache, no L2 or second processor. Original owner manual specifies 15.6672 MHz exact clock; nominal support-sheet rating retained
GPUBuilt-in video uses 1 MB DRAM soldered to the logic board, displaying 32,768 colours at 640 × 480–
Memory type8 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 specificationsEight 30-pin SIMM slots in groups of four, 120 ns or faster; support sheet certifies 1–32 MB and 256K, 1 MB or 4 MB modules. Original manual describes 8 MB with then-current modules and future 128 MB expansion; limits depend on installed modules and software. 256K ROM
Storage type500 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 bundleFactory choices from original Apple technical procedures are 1 MB RAM with floppy only, 1 MB with 40 MB SCSI disk, or 4 MB with 80 MB SCSI disk; all have an FDHD high-density floppy drive. Original capacity units retained; floppy capacity is removable storage
Expansion slotsOne 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 videoOne 120-pin 32-bit 030 Direct Slot; optional monitor connection requires a compatible video card
Display
Screen size14″9″
Resolution640 × 480512 × 342
PanelCRTCRT
Refresh rate66.67 Hz60.1 Hz
Display typeBuilt-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 separatelyBuilt-in 9-inch one-bit monochrome CRT, 512 × 342 pixels. Maker's explicit note and owner manual correct generic support table's 512 × 384
Display features640 × 480 at 66.67 Hz in the exact timing table (66.7 Hz rounded elsewhere in the same manual); 16-bit colourOriginal owner manual specifies exact 60.1 Hz refresh
Connections
PortsHeadphone jackHeadphone jack
Front portsStereo headphone socket; front brightness and contrast controls–
Back portsOne 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 outputTwo ADB ports, DB-19 external floppy, DB-25 SCSI, two RS-232/RS-422 serial ports and stereo mini-phone audio output; no built-in Ethernet or external video socket
External displaysOptional 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–
SpeakersTwo integrated speakers; 8-bit stereo playback and mono recording at 11 or 22 kHz. Optional CD-ROM supports audio-CD playbackApple Sound Chip supports four-voice wavetable synthesis and stereo sampling; mixed stereo through a monophonic internal speaker, stereo through external sound port
MicrophonesIntegrated microphone for monaural sound input–
Keyboard and mouseSupports Apple Desktop Bus keyboards and the ADB Mouse II. Maker photograph shows a keyboard and mouse; regional education bundles varyChoice of Apple Keyboard or Apple Extended Keyboard; ADB mouse, as described in original owner manual
Design and power
TypeAll-in-oneAll-in-one
Weight18.3 kg–
Width × depth × height343 × 419 × 455 mm–
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Size and weight detailApple 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 valuesMaker 19.5 lb; 13.6 in height × 9.6 in width × 10.9 in depth, retained in original units
Power supplyAutomatically configured 100–240 V AC mains; service supply operating range 90–264 V rms, 50–60 Hz ±3 HzMaximum 75 W, 120–240 V, 48–62 Hz, 0.63 A; 3.6 V lithium clock battery
Power useService 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 boxOriginal 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 precisionOriginal system software 6.0.3. Maker introduction 19 January 1989 is not treated as exact first sale; earliest actual-sale month unresolved in bounded search, released year only

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