Apple Macintosh Performa 5400/160 vs Apple Macintosh Quadra 610 DOS Compatible

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

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

Macintosh Performa 5400/160 compared with Macintosh Quadra 610 DOS Compatible

	AppleMacintosh Performa 5400/160	AppleMacintosh Quadra 610 DOS Compatible
Overview
Released
Released	1996	March 1994
Performance
Processor
Processor	PowerPC 603e (160 MHz, Macintosh Performa 5400/160)	Motorola 68LC040 25 MHz (Macintosh Quadra 610 DOS Compatible)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Memory
Memory	16 MB (better)	8 MB
Storage
Storage	1.6 GB (better)	160 MB
CPU
CPU	160 MHz PowerPC 603e with integrated floating-point and memory management units, 32 KB L1 cache and 64-bit memory bus. Optional High Performance Module adds 256 KB L2 cache; it is not standard. Current Apple support gives a 40 MHz data path clock.	Original Apple TIL 14670, 13884 and shared Service Source identify a 25 MHz Motorola 68LC040 for Macintosh applications and a separate 25 MHz Intel 486SX on the DOS card, both with 32-bit data paths. The 68LC040 has a built-in memory management unit and no FPU; neither processor is the full-FPU 68040 or 486DX. Current support uses generic 68040/optional-FPU wording; this factory configuration follows the exact original documentation. Main processor comparisons describe the Macintosh CPU, not two identical processors.
GPU
GPU	1 MB DRAM framebuffer independent of system RAM. Shared Service Source explicitly supports 640 × 480 at 60 or 67 Hz and 800 × 600 at 60 or 72 Hz with 16-bit colour; 832 × 624 at 75 Hz uses 8-bit colour and does not support video input. Current support additionally lists 1024 × 768, but the exact technical specification and shared service manual restrict the built-in CRT to 832 × 624; the higher database row is not adopted as the built-in display resolution.	Macintosh video has 512 KB VRAM expandable to 1 MB; the DOS card has separate 512 KB video memory. At Macintosh 640 × 480, base VRAM gives 8-bit colour and expanded VRAM 16-bit; at 1152 × 870 these are 4-bit and 8-bit respectively. PC video supports compatible VGA/SVGA and Apple displays with its cable.
Memory type
Memory type	16 MB standard, comprising 8 MB soldered RAM and one 8 MB DIMM. Two 168-pin 64-bit DIMM slots allow expansion to 136 MB with two 64 MB modules. Use 70 ns or faster fast-paged-mode DIMMs with 1K or 2K refresh. Modules can be installed individually. 4 MB ROM.	Factory 8 MB Macintosh RAM, with 4 MB on the logic board and two 72-pin SIMM sockets; maximum supported Macintosh RAM 68 MB. DOS card can use shared Macintosh memory up to 64 MB or one 80 ns 72-pin SIMM up to 32 MB of PC-local memory. Current support and corrected TIL 14670 agree on 32 MB local maximum; the shared service manual says 64 MB and earlier descriptive TIL 13884 says 100 MB total, so those conflicting claims are not used as headline Macintosh capacity.
Storage type
Storage type	Exact 160 MHz maker specification, ordering description and Service Source configuration agree on a 1.6 GB IDE hard drive, Apple SuperDrive 1.44 MB floppy drive and internal 8× AppleCD CD-ROM drive. November 1996 Apple Facts gives a 1.2 GB drive for the broader 160/180 Performa family; that unqualified family figure is not transferred to the exact configuration.	The May 1994 Apple Directions factory offering is 8 MB RAM and 160 MB internal hard disk; the generic current support range 160–230 MB does not establish another exact factory memory/storage pair. Built-in 1.44 MB Apple SuperDrive floppy and optional double-speed internal CD-ROM support Macintosh and DOS discs. The optional CD is shown in the shared-family maker photograph.
Expansion slots
Expansion slots	One PCI slot for a 6.88-inch, 15 W card; communications slot occupied by the supplied modem; optional video-input card and TV/FM tuner bay. Optional Apple External Video Connector enables mirroring; optional Apple Presentation System provides NTSC/PAL output. NuBus cards cannot be used in the PCI slot.	Processor-direct slot occupied by DOS Compatibility Card, leaving no free PDS or NuBus position while retaining it. The card is also sold as an internal upgrade for existing Macintosh Quadra 610 and Centris 610 computers; it is distinct from the faster Power Macintosh 6100 DOS card.
Display
Screen size
Screen size	12.8″	None built in
Resolution
Resolution	832 × 624	–
Panel
Panel	CRT	–
Refresh rate
Refresh rate	75 Hz	–
Display type
Display type	15-inch nominal RGB CRT with 12.8-inch viewable diagonal and 0.28 mm dot pitch. Noninterlaced flat square tube. Base tilts from −5° to +15° and swivels 360°. Resolution can be changed without restarting.	–
Connections
Ports
Ports	2 × headphone jack	Ethernet, headphone jack
External displays
External displays	–	Up to 2
Front ports
Front ports	Headphone output and volume controls; built-in infrared remote capability. Remote-control inclusion varies with regional configuration.	–
Back ports
Back ports	One ADB port; two GeoPort-compatible RS-232/422 serial ports, including LocalTalk support; DB-25 SCSI; stereo sound input and rear stereo sound output. Optional DB-15 external-video connector, not a standard fitted port. Built-in 28.8 Kbit/s V.34 data/fax/voice modem supports MNP4, V.42, MNP5 and V.42bis; optional Ethernet replaces the communications-slot modem. No USB or FireWire.	Two ADB ports, DB-15 Macintosh video, DB-25 external SCSI supporting up to six peripherals, two RS-232/RS-422 serial mini-DIN-8 connections, AAUI Ethernet, monaural microphone input and stereo-capable sound output. PC game port also available through DOS hardware.
External displays
External displays	Optional external-video connector provides mirroring of the built-in screen. Connector kit, suitable cable and external display required; external video does not establish an independent second desktop.	One shared display switched between environments, or separate Macintosh and PC displays showing both simultaneously. The second display serves the PC environment; do not imply a two-screen Macintosh desktop. Compatible Apple 13-, 14- and 16-inch monitors and VGA/SVGA displays in DOS; Macintosh supports its own wider display list. Adapters may be required.
Speakers
Speakers	Built-in stereo speakers and 16-bit stereo sound with SRS 3D surround enhancement. Shared service manual identifies separate front and rear stereo output jacks. Headline jack count excludes the sound-input port.	Built-in speaker with Macintosh stereo eight-bit output through the sound jack and eight-bit monophonic input at 11 or 22 kHz. The later Power Macintosh DOS card's Sound Blaster playback is not transferred to this earlier hardware.
Microphones
Microphones	Built-in microphone and stereo sound-input port; the input also supports an external Apple PlainTalk microphone. Shared manual explicitly excludes the earlier Apple Omni microphone from this input.	–
Keyboard and mouse
Keyboard and mouse	Exact maker ordering description includes keyboard, mouse and necessary cables; the CRT, microphone, speakers, modem, CD-ROM, floppy drive and hard drive are built into the computer. Optional TV/FM and video hardware varies by regional bundle.	Apple Directions states MS-DOS 6.2 and Apple PC Exchange are supplied. Separate monitor, keyboard and mouse in the shared-family catalogue photograph are labelled as illustrated accessories rather than a universal bundle. Original Windows software capability does not establish a bundled Windows licence.
Design and power
Type
Type	All-in-one	Compact
Weight
Weight	21 kg	–
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	383 × 406 × 445 mm	414 × 396 × 86 mm
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Size and weight detail
Size and weight detail	Exact maker specification gives 445 × 383 × 406 mm (height × width × depth) and 21 kg. Its 17.5 × 15.1 × 16 inches and 47 lb are retained as maker-rounded equivalents. Apple Facts notes weight varies with installed internal devices; no shipping-package mass is used.	Exact original DOS-compatible TIL gives 86 × 414 × 396 mm (height × width × depth), used here, and 7.4 kg varying with installed devices. Current support gives 14 lb, and shared Service Source 6.4 kg; weight is omitted because this conflict is unresolved. Shared service depth 107 mm is inconsistent with the exact original 396 mm and current 15.6-inch depth.
Power supply
Power supply	220 W maximum continuous input, nominal 110–240 V AC at 50–60 Hz, single phase. Low-power sleep mode supported. Current maker table gives a 4.5 V alkaline clock battery; maximum input is not normal operating consumption.	Exact DOS specification gives automatically configured 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz and 210 W maximum excluding display power. Current support allows 47–63 Hz; shared-family Service Source gives 112 W excluding monitor. Conditions and maker disagreement remain qualified; neither is a measured normal consumption claim. 3.6 V lithium clock battery.
In the box
In the box	System 7.5.3 with System Enabler 410, Apple Guide, QuickTime, Macintosh PC Exchange and QuickDraw 3D. Exact October 1996 ordering description and November Apple Facts dealer catalogue establish retail offering in 1996; precise first-sale month or day remains unestablished. Apple's recorded introduction is 5 August 1996. Service Source identifies sale in Japan, Australia and Europe; not sold in the US. This 160 MHz configuration is distinct from the existing Power Macintosh 5400/120, 5400/180 and 5400/200. No unsupported official predecessor link assigned.	System 7.1 with System Enabler 040 v1.1 and preinstalled MS-DOS 6.2. Current support records introduction on 28 February 1994; May 1994 Apple Directions explicitly says the computer shipped in March in the United States and selected international markets, supporting March 1994 release rather than substituting the introduction date. Apple later explicitly calls this the predecessor to Power Macintosh 6100 DOS Compatible.