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Apple Macintosh LC vs Apple Macintosh LC III+

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

AppleMacintosh LCAppleMacintosh LC III+
Overview
ReleasedOctober 1990–
Performance
Processor68020 16 MHz (Macintosh LC)68030 33 MHz (Macintosh LC III+)
CPU cores11
Memory2 MB4 MB
Storage40 MB–
CPU16 MHz Motorola 68020 with a 16-bit data path and 0.25 KB L1 cache; no standard paged memory-management unit or floating-point coprocessorMotorola 68030 at 33 MHz with integrated memory management and 32-bit data path; optional socketed 68882, 0.5 KB first-level cache and no second-level cache. Apple Service Guide identifies the Performa 460, 466 and 467 as the 33 MHz LC III family; these aliases are not separate product records
GPUIntegrated video has 256 KB VRAM, supporting 8-bit colour at 512 × 384 or 4-bit at 640 × 480; 512 KB VRAM upgrade permits 16-bit colour at 512 × 384 or 8-bit at 640 × 480512 KB built-in VRAM, expandable to 768 KB with a 256 KB SIMM. A 512 KB VRAM SIMM may be fitted but only 256 KB is used. At 640 × 480 and 832 × 624, standard memory supports 8-bit colour; upgraded VRAM supports 16-bit colour
Memory type2 MB soldered to the logic board plus two 30-pin SIMM slots, populated as a matched pair; 100 ns memory and 2–10 MB total supported by Apple; 512 KB ROM4 MB soldered RAM plus one 72-pin SIMM socket, maximum 36 MB. Apple specifies 80 ns minimum memory speed and SIMM capacities 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 or 32 MB. 1 MB ROM
Storage type40 MB internal SCSI hard drive and 1.44 MB floppy in the standard configuration reported by Low End Mac; a dual-floppy education version was also offeredApple LC III+ support lists 80–160 MB internal SCSI hard disks and an automatic-inject 1.44 MB floppy drive. Exact original RAM/drive configuration pairing is unresolved, so structured storage capacity is omitted. Apple July 1994 Service Guide gives conflicting 80 MB and 180 MB values for Performa 460 in different tables; those are not silently assigned to this model. Performa 460-series bundles use a manual-insert SuperDrive
Expansion slotsOne LC processor-direct slot; optional 68881 floating-point card occupies itOne LC III processor-direct expansion slot. Ethernet requires an expansion card; no built-in Ethernet
Display
ScreenNone built inNone built in
Connections
PortsHeadphone jackHeadphone jack
Back portsApple Desktop Bus, DB-15 video, DB-25 SCSI, printer and modem serial ports, microphone input and sound output; no built-in Ethernet or external floppy portOne ADB, DB-15 video, DB-25 SCSI, printer and modem serial ports, omnidirectional microphone input and speaker output. No external floppy connector
External displaysBuilt-in video supports 512 × 384 and 640 × 480 Apple displays; colour depth depends on fitted VRAMSeparate monitor required. Apple specifies 512 × 384 and 640 × 400 at 16-bit colour, plus 640 × 480 and 832 × 624 with colour depth depending on VRAM capacity
Keyboard and mouse–Performa 460-series bundles include an ADB keyboard and mouse and may include a monitor and modem; the museum photo shows the Performa 460-labelled computer alone. Exact LC III+ supplied-accessory bundle is unpublished in the recovered support record
SpeakersInternal speaker with mono audio input and output–
Design and power
TypeCompactCompact
Weight4 kg–
Width × depth × height310 × 389 × 74 mm–
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Size and weight detailApple's 2.9 × 12.2 × 15.3 inch and 8.8 lb reference dimensions; metric fields are rounded conversionsApple LC III+ record publishes 8.8 lb and 2.9 inches high × 12.2 inches wide × 15.3 inches deep. Unpublished metric measurements are omitted
Power supplyMaximum 50 W; 90–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz; 3.6 V lithium clock batteryApple LC III+ support lists 100–240 V, 47–63 Hz, 50 W maximum, 0.42 A and 171 BTU/hour. These are maker ratings, not measured consumption. 3.6 V lithium clock battery
In the boxOriginal System Software 6.0.7. Apple lists 15 October 1990 as introduction; Low End Mac also dates release to October 1990Original System 7.1 with System Enabler 003 v1.1. Apple introduction date 18 October 1993 is not established as an actual first retail sale, so released is omitted

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