Apple Macintosh LC 630 vs Apple Macintosh LC 630 DOS Compatible
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleMacintosh LC 630 | AppleMacintosh LC 630 DOS Compatible | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | 1994 | – |
| Performance | ||
| Processor | Motorola 68LC040 33 MHz (Macintosh LC 575) | 68LC040 33 MHz (Macintosh LC 630 DOS Compatible) |
| CPU cores | 1 | 1 |
| Memory | 4 MB or 8 MB | 8 MB |
| Storage | 250 MB | 500 MB (better) |
| CPU | Motorola MC68LC040 without an integrated floating-point unit; paged memory management and 8 KB cache. Nominal 33 MHz bus clock and 66 MHz internal clock, as Apple explains in its exact Japanese specifications and developer note. Optional PowerPC processor upgrade is separate from this original model | Macintosh 68LC040, with 66/33 MHz clock notation: CPU execution and bus at 33 MHz, doubled internal clock at 66 MHz. AppleFacts April 1995 and the later Apple Memory Guide identify 68LC040; the LC 630 DOS technical booklet and shared Service Source instead print 68040 and the booklet claims an FPU. That disagreement is retained rather than assuming a standard Macintosh FPU. The separate DOS card contains a 66 MHz Cyrix Cx486DX2 or Intel 80486DX2, both explicitly supported by the exact developer note; this is not a pair of matching Macintosh CPUs |
| GPU | Built-in video with 1 MB dedicated DRAM, 16-bit colour at 640 × 480 or 512 × 384 and 8-bit at 800 × 600 or 832 × 624; video capture not supported at 832 × 624 | Macintosh video uses a fixed 1 MB DRAM frame buffer with no video-memory expansion. DOS card has separate 512 KB DRAM and VGA controller. PC environment supports VGA 640 × 480 and SVGA 800 × 600 plus legacy EGA/CGA/MDA. Shared-display colour modes and resolution depend on environment and driver |
| Memory type | Original model has 4 MB soldered RAM and one 72-pin SIMM slot, expandable to 36 MB; 4 MB and 8 MB configurations in the October 1994 catalogue. Japanese configurations have 8 MB. 80 ns or faster SIMMs and 1 MB ROM. Later shared service-manual boards and DOS Compatible variants have different memory arrangements | 8 MB Macintosh RAM: 4 MB soldered and a 4 MB SIMM, with two 72-pin 80 ns SIMM sockets. Maximum 52 MB on the main logic board using 32 MB and 16 MB SIMMs; the second socket accepts 1, 4 or 16 MB. PC card has its own 4 MB 72-pin SIMM, expandable to 32 MB, or can use a selected portion of Macintosh RAM; those independent pools are not added to the headline Macintosh RAM |
| Storage type | 250 MB internal IDE hard disk in the original configurations, plus 1.44 MB SuperDrive floppy. Japanese maker lists 8 MB/250 MB versions with or without the double-speed AppleCD 300i Plus internal SCSI CD-ROM. April 1995 catalogue adds 350 MB disks without establishing exact RAM/CD pairings, so those configurations are not inferred. LC 630 DOS Compatible is a different dual-processor model | Original AppleFacts configuration includes 500 MB IDE hard disk, manual-insert 1.4 MB SuperDrive and internal CD-ROM. Shared Service Source identifies double-speed AppleCD 300i Plus; the exact technical booklet also permits a configuration without the CD-ROM drive. Internal IDE and external SCSI are separate interfaces; no internal SCSI drive inferred |
| Expansion slots | LC-compatible processor-direct slot, communications slot for either Ethernet or modem, video-input slot and optional TV tuner. Apple Video and TV/Video kits add capture and television features; they are not built into the base configuration. Optional PowerPC processor upgrade | DOS hardware occupies the Macintosh processor socket and LC-compatible PDS. Separate communications slot accepts optional modem or Ethernet; video-input slot and TV-tuner connector remain available. Original main DOS board, sound daughterboard and game-adaptor board are distinct components. Performa 630/640 DOS Compatible bundles use this family design; ordinary LC 630 and Quadra 630 are separate records |
| Display | ||
| Screen | None built in | None built in |
| Connections | ||
| Ports | 2 × headphone jack | 2 × headphone jack |
| Front ports | – | Stereo headphone jack and volume push buttons; optional infrared remote control. Keyboard soft power supported |
| Back ports | DB-15 video, DB-25 external SCSI, one ADB, two serial ports with LocalTalk, sound input and rear sound output. Front headphone jack and infrared receiver; no USB. Ethernet uses an optional communications card | One ADB, DB-15 monitor, DB-25 external SCSI, two mini-DIN-8 RS-232/RS-422 serial ports, sound input and rear sound output. DOS adaptor adds a DB-15 PC game-controller connector. Supports up to six external SCSI devices; no built-in Ethernet |
| External displays | Requires a separate monitor; Apple lists Color Plus 14-inch, Macintosh Color Display, AudioVision 14 and Multiple Scan 15 plus compatible VGA/SVGA displays. The maker catalogue photo includes an external monitor, keyboard and mouse | Separate compatible display needed. Macintosh output supports 640 × 480 at 16-bit colour and 800 × 600 at 8-bit; exact developer note describes a single shared monitor and environment switching. Original AppleFacts staged setup photographs include an external Apple monitor and keyboard/mouse; pictured accessories are not included in the computer dimensions or weight |
| Speakers | Single internal speaker; 8-bit stereo sound output and monophonic recording, with 16-bit stereo CD playback. Front and rear headphone outputs cannot be used simultaneously. The Japanese specifications and shared service manual distinguish CD playback from ordinary sound output | Macintosh sound input is 8-bit mono; output 8-bit stereo or 16-bit stereo CD playback. Built-in speaker is muted by either sound-output jack. Included Sound Blaster 16-compatible PC sound card outputs through Macintosh speaker/headphones; the PC environment cannot send or receive serial MIDI according to the exact Apple Read Me |
| Keyboard and mouse | – | ADB keyboard and mouse supported; original staged photographs show an external monitor, keyboard and mouse. Performa bundles may include these accessories and software according to their regional configuration; exact LC 630 DOS supplied bundle is not established by the recovered worldwide AppleFacts entry |
| Design and power | ||
| Type | Compact | Compact |
| Weight | 7.7 kg (better) | 8.6 kg |
| Width × depth × height | 320 × 419.5 × 109.5 mm | 320 × 419.5 × 109.5 mm |
| Operating system | macOS | macOS |
| Size and weight detail | Original Japanese Apple specifications give 109.5 mm high, 320 mm wide and 419.5 mm deep; these exact metric values retained. October 1994 catalogue rounds these to 109/320/419 mm. Shared Service Source reverses width and depth, an unresolved documentation error. Shared maker service table gives 7.7 kg without CD-ROM and 8.6 kg with CD-ROM; weight varies with installed devices | Exact Apple technical booklet publishes 320 mm wide × 419.5 mm deep × 109.5 mm high. 8.6 kg with CD-ROM, 7.7 kg without; weight varies with installed options. Shared Service Source swaps width/depth labels, so the exact technical booklet dimensions are retained |
| Power supply | 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz; 45 W maximum excluding monitor, according to Service Source. 4.5 V alkaline clock battery | 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz; 45 W maximum excluding monitor, as published in exact technical booklet and shared Service Source. DOS card 10 W maximum is a subsystem rating, not added to the 45 W headline. Macintosh clock/calendar has a battery |
| In the box | System 7.1.2 with the dedicated System Enabler; Japanese versions use KanjiTalk 7.1.2 and include an ADB Mouse II, with keyboard sold separately. Education and regional monitor/software bundles vary. Announced July 1994, with 2 August shipping planned in contemporary TidBITS; October 1994 maker buying catalogue lists the LC 630, so release uses supported year precision. Exact first retail delivery remains unconfirmed | Mac OS and PC environment operate concurrently, with only the active environment receiving input. PC Setup switches environments, shares folders and configures drive-container files. Original AppleFacts identifies MS-DOS 6.2 and Windows 3.1 support. First actual retail sale has not been established from the recovered maker records, so released is omitted |
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