Apple Macintosh Performa 5300CD vs Apple Macintosh Quadra 900
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleMacintosh Performa 5300CD | AppleMacintosh Quadra 900 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | 1995 | October 1991 |
| Performance | ||
| Processor | PowerPC 603e 100 MHz (Macintosh Performa 5300CD) | 68040 25 MHz (Macintosh Quadra 900) |
| CPU cores | 1 | 1 |
| Memory | 16 MB (better) | 4 MB |
| Storage | 1.2 GB (better) | 160 MB to 400 MB |
| CPU | 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 | 25 MHz Motorola 68040 with integrated memory-management and floating-point units and 8 KB on-chip cache; no standard L2 cache |
| GPU | Integrated 1 MB DRAM video; 640 × 480 at 16-bit colour or 832 × 624 at 8-bit colour | Built-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 type | Two 72-pin SIMM slots; 16 MB in Apple's listed configuration and 64 MB maximum with 80 ns memory | Sixteen 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 type | 1.2 GB internal IDE hard drive, 1.44 MB floppy drive and 4× CD-ROM drive | Internal 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 slots | Macintosh LC processor-direct slot, communications slot, TV-tuner bay and video input/output slot | Five NuBus '90 slots and one processor-direct slot |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 15″ | None built in |
| Resolution | 832 × 624 | – |
| Panel | CRT | – |
| 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 | Maximum listed pixel mode 832 × 624 at 8-bit colour; 640 × 480 supports 16-bit colour | – |
| Connections | ||
| Ports | Headphone jack | Ethernet, headphone jack |
| Back ports | Apple Desktop Bus, external DB-25 SCSI, two serial connectors, microphone input and stereo sound output; optional DB-15 video-mirroring port | Apple 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 |
| Speakers | Built-in stereo speakers and microphone | Internal speaker, mono audio input and stereo sound output; Apple supplied a microphone |
| Design and power | ||
| Type | All-in-one | Tower |
| Weight | – | 16.7 kg |
| Width × depth × height | – | 226 × 523 × 473 mm |
| Operating system | macOS | macOS |
| Size and weight detail | Apple lists 17.5 × 15.1 × 16 inches and 47 lb for the 5200 form factor | Apple'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 supply | Maximum 125 W; 110–240 V AC at 50–60 Hz; 4.5 V alkaline clock battery | Maximum 303 W, 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz; 3.6 V lithium clock battery and keyboard soft power |
| In the box | Original System Software 7.5.1. Apple lists 17 October 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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