Apple Macintosh Performa 5400/160 vs Apple Power Macintosh 5260/120
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleMacintosh Performa 5400/160 | ApplePower Macintosh 5260/120 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | 1996 | 1996 |
| Performance | ||
| Processor | PowerPC 603e (160 MHz, Macintosh Performa 5400/160) | PowerPC 603e 120 MHz (Power Macintosh 5260/120) |
| CPU cores | 1 | 1 |
| Memory | 16 MB | 16 MB |
| Storage | 1.6 GB (better) | 1.2 GB |
| 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. | 120 MHz PowerPC 603e with integrated floating-point unit and 32 KB L1 cache. Exact original brochure and Apple support specify a 64-bit processor data path at 40 MHz. Optional 256 KB L2 High Power Macintosh Module M4849LL/A; it is not included as standard. |
| 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. | 1 MB built-in DRAM framebuffer; exact support and shared service video-mode list support 640 × 480 with 16-bit colour. Other higher-resolution timing pages in the shared service do not establish those as supported modes for the built-in 14-inch display. |
| 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. | 16 MB standard, expandable to 64 MB using two 72-pin SIMM sockets; exact support and shared Service Source state no soldered RAM. Original exact brochure specifies 70 ns or faster noncomposite SIMMs, while current support and service specify 80 ns. The 5260-series user manual technical table and exact 5260/120 user-guide update instead state a 12 MB minimum in removable 70 ns fast-page SIMMs without an exact factory-order bundle. November 1996 Apple Facts claims 8 MB on board plus an 8 MB SIMM, contradicting exact support and service. No additional factory configuration is inferred from these disagreements. |
| 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. | 1.2 GB IDE hard drive and 1.44 MB Apple SuperDrive floppy. Exact current support, TIL 20413 description and original education bundle list an 8× CD-ROM drive; shared Service Source identifies AppleCD 1200i. The September 1996 exact brochure and November 1996 Apple Facts instead say 4× CD-ROM. The optical-drive difference remains source-qualified rather than adding an undocumented factory configuration. |
| 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. | LC-compatible PDS, 68040-bus communications slot for optional modem or Ethernet, optional video-input card and TV tuner bay. PDS is not a direct connection to the PowerPC processor; processor-dependent cache/FPU cards are not compatible. Optional MPEG Media System requires the video-input card. Video capture accepts NTSC, PAL and SECAM; tuner standard varies by region. |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 12.8″ | 12.3″ |
| Resolution | 832 × 624 (better) | 640 × 480 |
| Panel | CRT | CRT |
| Refresh rate | 75 Hz (better) | 66.67 Hz |
| 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. | Built-in 14-inch nominal shadow-mask colour CRT with 12.3-inch viewable diagonal in the exact original brochure and product description. Shared Service Source instead says 12.8-inch viewable; exact model wording is retained. Dot pitch 0.28 mm; tilt-and-swivel base. |
| Display features | – | 640 × 480 at 16-bit colour and 66.67 Hz in the exact original brochure. The shared service agrees on 66.7 Hz. This is a CRT raster mode, not an LCD fixed pixel grid. |
| Connections | ||
| Ports | 2 × headphone jack | Headphone jack |
| Front ports | Headphone output and volume controls; built-in infrared remote capability. Remote-control inclusion varies with regional configuration. | Headphone output, push-button volume and display brightness controls, infrared remote receiver. |
| 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. | ADB, external DB-25 SCSI, two RS-232/422 modem/printer serial ports with LocalTalk, PlainTalk-compatible sound input and stereo sound output. Ethernet requires an optional communications-slot card; no GeoPort. Original exact brochure and maker catalogue specify five external SCSI devices; the shared user manual gives six and shared service gives seven, so limits remain source-qualified. |
| 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. | Optional Apple External Video Connector provides DB-15 mirroring, with a compatible display. Optional Apple Presentation System converts the mirrored output for television/projector or VCR use; it is not an independent extended desktop. |
| 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. | Two built-in speakers and 16-bit stereo output. Shared service specifies 22 kHz playback and 11/22 kHz recording, with ordinary audio-CD playback. Stereo input connectors are combined to mono for recording/play-through; do not treat the connector as stereo capture. |
| 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. | Built-in microphone for mono recording; rear microphone/line input supports PlainTalk-compatible microphones. |
| 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. | Original exact brochure and product description include a matching keyboard, mouse and necessary cables. External speakers, optional cache, Ethernet, video input/output, TV tuner and MPEG expansion are separate. Photos show the exact 5260/120 with keyboard and mouse. |
| Design and power | ||
| Type | All-in-one | All-in-one |
| Weight | 21 kg | 20.5 kg (better) |
| Width × depth × height | 383 × 406 × 445 mm | 383 × 406 × 445 mm |
| Operating system | macOS | macOS |
| 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 brochure gives 44.5 × 38.3 × 40.6 cm (height × width × depth), 20.5 kg/45 lb; current Apple support agrees on 16-inch depth and 45 lb. November 1996 Apple Facts instead gives 41.4 cm depth, with the same 20.5 kg and variation for installed devices. Shared service swaps width/depth and has inconsistent weight units. Exact original brochure measurements are retained. The shared 5260-series user manual instead lists 21.15 kg/47 lb; it agrees with the retained dimensions but not the exact brochure weight. |
| 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 current support gives 125 W maximum, 110–240 V AC at 50–60 Hz. Exact original brochure instead gives 240 W maximum at the same voltage and frequency; shared service gives 100–240 V 47–63 Hz, 240 W maximum and a separate 220 W all-line/load maximum. Ratings remain source-qualified; no universal operating consumption is assigned. Shared user manual agrees on 125 W maximum, with 100–240 V at 50–60 Hz. |
| 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 7.5.3 and 4 MB ROM in exact Apple support; original brochure calls the supplied software System 7.5. Apple records introduction on 1 October 1996. Contemporary original education ordering bundle and current November 1996 maker catalogue establish sale during 1996 but not a first-sale month; release remains year precision. Shared service explicitly identifies this model as the 120 MHz, 16 MB and AppleCD 1200i update to the 5260/100. North American Power Macintosh is kept distinct from international Performa 5260/120 and 5280 bundles. |
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