Apple Macintosh Performa 600 vs Apple Macintosh Performa 6400/180

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Macintosh Performa 600 compared with Macintosh Performa 6400/180

	AppleMacintosh Performa 600	AppleMacintosh Performa 6400/180
Overview
Released
Released	–	1996
Performance
Processor
Processor	68030 32 MHz (Macintosh Performa 600)	PowerPC 603e 180 MHz (Performa 6400)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Memory
Memory	4 MB or 5 MB	16 MB (better)
Storage
Storage	160 MB	1.6 GB (better)
CPU
CPU	Motorola 68030 advertised as 32 MHz; Apple TIL 10681 gives the exact 31.3344 MHz clock. Integrated paged memory management, optional socketed 68882 at the same clock, and no external RAM cache. This is distinct from the 16 MHz IIvi and the IIvx with its standard FPU and 32 KB cache	180 MHz PowerPC 603e with integrated floating-point unit, 32 KB L1 cache and a 64-bit 40 MHz bus. The 256 KB Apple High Performance Module L2 cache is optional, unlike the standard cache of the 6400/200. The shared Service Source calls the processor 603ev; the exact specification page and original brochure use 603e.
GPU
GPU	Performa 600 has 512 KB VRAM; 600CD includes 1 MB. Supports 640 × 480 at 8-bit colour with 512 KB, or 16-bit colour with 1 MB; 512 × 384 RGB supports 16-bit colour with either capacity. Optional NuBus display cards support other monitors	1 MB built-in video DRAM, not expandable; 640 × 480 and 800 × 600 at 16-bit colour, 832 × 624 and 1024 × 768 at 8-bit colour. A separate PCI graphics card is needed for additional capabilities.
Memory type
Memory type	4 MB soldered DRAM and four 30-pin SIMM slots, expandable to 68 MB with 80 ns or faster fast-page-mode memory. All four expansion SIMMs must have matching capacity and speed. 1 MB ROM and 256-byte parameter RAM	8 MB soldered to the logic board and an 8 MB DIMM supplied; two 168-pin 64-bit fast-page-mode DIMM sockets support up to 136 MB total, with 70 ns or faster memory.
Storage type
Storage type	Both original brochure configurations include a 160 MB internal SCSI hard disk and 1.4 MB SuperDrive. 600CD adds an AppleCD 300i double-speed CD-ROM drive with multisession Photo CD support; standard 600 leaves its half-height 5.25-inch bay free. Apple supports 80–400 MB internal hard drives; this supported range is not presented as extra factory configurations	1.6 GB internal IDE hard drive, 1.44 MB SuperDrive floppy drive and tray-loading 8× CD-ROM. The shared service manual lists a 1.2 GB drive and AppleCD 600i for generic 6400 configurations; the exact 180 MHz support page and ordering brochure agree on 1.6 GB and 8×.
Expansion slots
Expansion slots	Three NuBus slots and a separate processor-direct accelerator slot. No built-in Ethernet; LocalTalk uses the serial ports. Internal SCSI expansion bay and support for up to six external SCSI devices	Two PCI 2.0 slots for 6.88-inch cards with Mac drivers; Communications Slot II occupied by the supplied modem, plus positions for optional video input and TV/FM tuner cards. One pre-cabled 5.25-inch internal SCSI bay. Optional Avid Cinema requires the Apple Video System and occupies one PCI slot; it is not supplied with the standard 180 MHz configuration.
Display
Screen
Screen	None built in	None built in
Connections
Ports
Ports	Headphone jack	Headphone jack
Front ports
Front ports	–	3.5 mm headphone output and volume buttons; optional infrared remote support.
Back ports
Back ports	Two ADB ports, DB-15 video, DB-25 SCSI, two mini-DIN-8 RS-232/RS-422 serial ports, mono sound input and sound output. Serial maximum 230.4 kbit/s, or 0.920 Mbit/s with an external clock	DB-15 monitor output, ADB, DB-25 external SCSI, two GeoPort-compatible serial ports, 3.5 mm sound input compatible with PlainTalk microphones and line-level 3.5 mm speaker output. The supplied modem provides 28.8 Kbit/s data and 14.4 Kbit/s fax; replacing it with an Ethernet card provides wired networking. Optional video input handles composite and S-video NTSC, PAL or SECAM.
External displays
External displays	Separate display required; the original brochure shows an optional 14-inch Performa Plus Display. Built-in video also supports the published Apple 12-inch monochrome/RGB, AppleColor High-Resolution RGB and Macintosh Color displays, plus 640 × 480 VGA with an appropriate adaptor	–
Speakers
Speakers	Computer-generated audio is mono, sent to both channels of a stereo output device. Audio CDs provide stereo at the sound-output socket, or mono through the built-in speaker. Electret omnidirectional microphone supplied	Built-in full-range monophonic speaker switches to subwoofer operation when external speakers are connected. 16-bit stereo input/output at 11.025, 22.05 or 44.1 kHz; SRS surround processing applies to rear sound output, not the front headphone jack.
Keyboard and mouse
Keyboard and mouse	Apple Extended Keyboard II, ADB mouse and microphone. Display sold separately; original Apple brochure photographs show the optional display with each configuration	Keyboard, mouse, cables and bundled applications listed for US order M5167LL/A; display, TV/FM tuner, Apple Video System, Avid Cinema and PC Compatibility Card are optional. Gallery image includes an optional monitor.
Design and power
Type
Type	Compact	Tower
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	–	198 × 428 × 406 mm
Weight
Weight	11.3 kg	–
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Size and weight detail
Size and weight detail	Apple specifies 25 lb (11.3 kg), 6 inches high, 13 inches wide and 16.5 inches deep. TIL 10681 prints an inconsistent metric height of 152 cm beside 6 inches; dimensions_mm is omitted rather than silently correcting that source	Original brochure lists 40.6 × 19.8 × 42.8 cm (height × width × depth), matching the service manual. Weight is 20.18 kg without the monitor and varies with installed devices; the service manual explicitly excludes the CD-ROM drive. The technical booklet transposes depth and height labels.
Power supply
Power supply	Apple TIL 10681 states 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz and 112 W maximum excluding monitor; it also gives 112 W maximum DC output. Current archived support lists 230 W maximum and shared Service Source gives 200 W AC and 112 W DC. These differing ratings are retained without selecting a single headline consumption figure	Exact specification page and ordering brochure list 220 W maximum, 100–125 or 200–240 V AC at 47–63 Hz. The shared service manual agrees on 220 W maximum continuous but gives wider voltage bands; the original technical booklet instead states 140 W input and 98 W DC output. These conflicting ratings are retained rather than treated as measured consumption.
In the box
In the box	System 7.1P for the Performa 600, At Ease, Macintosh PC Exchange and application software varying by retailer. Apple introduced it on 14 September 1992; the original launch planned later availability, and an actual first retail date has not been independently established, so released is omitted	Original System Software 7.5.3 with System Enabler 410 v1.1. Apple lists 5 August 1996 as introduction; the original 1996 ordering brochure and contemporary MacUser review establish sale in 1996, but a distinct first-sale month remains unresolved.