Apple Macintosh LC vs Apple Macintosh Performa 5300CD

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 compared with Macintosh Performa 5300CD

	AppleMacintosh LC	AppleMacintosh Performa 5300CD
Overview
Released
Released	October 1990	1995
Performance
Processor
Processor	68020 16 MHz (Macintosh LC)	PowerPC 603e 100 MHz (Macintosh Performa 5300CD)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Memory
Memory	2 MB	16 MB (better)
Storage
Storage	40 MB	1.2 GB (better)
CPU
CPU	16 MHz Motorola 68020 with a 16-bit data path and 0.25 KB L1 cache; no standard paged memory-management unit or floating-point coprocessor	100 MHz PowerPC 603e with integrated floating-point unit, 32 KB L1 cache, 256 KB L2 cache and 64-bit data path at 40 MHz
GPU
GPU	Integrated 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 × 480	Integrated 1 MB DRAM video; 640 × 480 at 16-bit colour or 832 × 624 at 8-bit colour
Memory type
Memory type	2 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 ROM	Two 72-pin SIMM slots; 16 MB in Apple's listed configuration and 64 MB maximum with 80 ns memory
Storage type
Storage type	40 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 offered	1.2 GB internal IDE hard drive, 1.44 MB floppy drive and 4× CD-ROM drive
Expansion slots
Expansion slots	One LC processor-direct slot; optional 68881 floating-point card occupies it	Macintosh LC processor-direct slot, communications slot, TV-tuner bay and video input/output slot
Display
Screen
Screen	None built in	15″
Resolution
Resolution	–	832 × 624
Panel
Panel	–	CRT
Display type
Display type	–	Built-in 15-inch colour CRT; Apple's Performa 5300CD manual gives a 0.28 mm dot pitch. A CRT has selectable pixel modes, not a fixed native LCD resolution.
Display features
Display features	–	Maximum listed pixel mode 832 × 624 at 8-bit colour; 640 × 480 supports 16-bit colour
Connections
Ports
Ports	Headphone jack	Headphone jack
Back ports
Back ports	Apple 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 port	Apple Desktop Bus, external DB-25 SCSI, two serial connectors, microphone input and stereo sound output; optional DB-15 video-mirroring port
External displays
External displays	Built-in video supports 512 × 384 and 640 × 480 Apple displays; colour depth depends on fitted VRAM	–
Speakers
Speakers	Internal speaker with mono audio input and output	Built-in stereo speakers and microphone
Design and power
Type
Type	Compact	All-in-one
Weight
Weight	4 kg	–
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	310 × 389 × 74 mm	–
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Size and weight detail
Size and weight detail	Apple's 2.9 × 12.2 × 15.3 inch and 8.8 lb reference dimensions; metric fields are rounded conversions	Apple lists 17.5 × 15.1 × 16 inches and 47 lb for the 5200 form factor
Power supply
Power supply	Maximum 50 W; 90–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz; 3.6 V lithium clock battery	Maximum 125 W; 110–240 V AC at 50–60 Hz; 4.5 V alkaline clock battery
In the box
In the box	Original System Software 6.0.7. Apple lists 15 October 1990 as introduction; Low End Mac also dates release to October 1990	Original System Software 7.5.1. Apple lists 17 October 1995 as introduction; a separate first-sale date was not established.