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Apple Macintosh Performa 5200CD vs Apple Macintosh Quadra 900

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

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AppleMacintosh Performa 5200CDAppleMacintosh Quadra 900
Overview
Released1995October 1991
Performance
ProcessorPowerPC 603 75 MHz (Macintosh Performa 5200CD)68040 25 MHz (Macintosh Quadra 900)
CPU cores11
Memory8 MB4 MB
Storage512 MB to 1 GB160 MB to 400 MB
CPU75 MHz PowerPC 603 with integrated floating-point unit, 16 KB L1 cache, 256 KB L2 cache and 64-bit data path at 37.5 MHz25 MHz Motorola 68040 with integrated memory-management and floating-point units and 8 KB on-chip cache; no standard L2 cache
GPUIntegrated 1 MB DRAM video; 640 × 480 at 16-bit colour or 832 × 624 at 8-bit colourBuilt-in video with 1 MB VRAM, expandable to 2 MB; Apple lists 8-bit colour at 640 × 480, 832 × 624 and 1152 × 870 with standard VRAM, and 24-bit at 640 × 480 and 832 × 624 with 2 MB
Memory typeTwo 72-pin SIMM slots; 8 MB standard and 64 MB maximum with 80 ns memorySixteen 30-pin 80 ns SIMM slots in banks of four, with 4 MB standard. Apple's October 1991 catalogue supported 64 MB using 4 MB SIMMs; its later support sheet lists a 256 MB technical maximum using larger modules but notes 8 MB and 16 MB SIMMs are not supported by Apple. Original UK maker brochure explicitly advertises 256 MB using 16 MB SIMMs; that original maker qualification differs from the later support sheet's unsupported-module note.
Storage typeApple lists 500 MB and 1 GB internal IDE hard-drive options, a 1.44 MB floppy drive and 2× or 4× CD-ROM drive optionsInternal 1.44 MB SuperDrive and optional 160 MB SCSI hard drive at launch; Apple listed a 400 MB version for January 1992. The case supports three further internal SCSI devices, including a removable-media device.
Expansion slotsMacintosh LC processor-direct slot, communications slot, TV-tuner bay and video input/output slotFive NuBus '90 slots and one processor-direct slot
Display
Screen size15″None built in
Resolution832 × 624–
PanelCRT–
Display typeBuilt-in 15-inch multiscan colour CRT with tilt and swivel; it has selectable pixel modes rather than a fixed native LCD resolution–
Display featuresMaximum listed pixel mode 832 × 624 at 8-bit colour; the developer note also lists 640 × 480 at 16-bit colour–
Connections
PortsHeadphone jackEthernet, headphone jack
Back portsApple Desktop Bus, external DB-25 SCSI, two serial connectors, microphone input and stereo sound output; optional DB-15 video-mirroring portApple Desktop Bus, DB-15 video, DB-25 SCSI, two serial ports, AAUI Ethernet, mono sound input and stereo sound output
External displays–Built-in video supports Apple's monitor range, with colour depth depending on VRAM and resolution; Apple's launch catalogue also names VGA, NTSC and PAL monitor support
SpeakersBuilt-in stereo speakers and microphoneInternal speaker, mono audio input and stereo sound output; Apple supplied a microphone
Design and power
TypeAll-in-oneTower
Weight–16.7 kg
Width × depth × height–226 × 523 × 473 mm
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Size and weight detailApple lists 17.5 × 15.1 × 16 inches and 47 lb for the 5200 form factorApple's 18.6 × 8.9 × 20.6 inch dimensions and 36.8 lb weight for the floppy-only model; metric fields are rounded conversions
Power supplyMaximum 125 W; 110–240 V AC at 50–60 Hz; 4.5 V alkaline clock batteryMaximum 303 W, 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz; 3.6 V lithium clock battery and keyboard soft power
In the boxOriginal System Software 7.5.1. Apple lists 1 May 1995 as introduction; a separate first-sale date was not established.Original System Software 7.0.1, microphone and ADB mouse; Apple's October 1991 catalogue says the keyboard was sold separately

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