Apple Macintosh Performa 6300CD vs Apple Power Macintosh 6100/66 DOS Compatible

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Macintosh Performa 6300CD compared with Power Macintosh 6100/66 DOS Compatible

	AppleMacintosh Performa 6300CD	ApplePower Macintosh 6100/66 DOS Compatible
Overview
Released
Released	1995	1995
Performance
Processor
Processor	PowerPC 603e 100 MHz (Macintosh Performa 6300CD)	PowerPC 601 66 MHz (Power Macintosh 6100/66)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Memory
Memory	16 MB	16 MB
Storage
Storage	1.2 GB (better)	500 MB
CPU
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	Macintosh side uses a 66 MHz PowerPC 601 with integrated FPU and PMMU, 32 KB L1 cache, 256 KB L2 cache and a 64-bit data path at 33 MHz. The separate Intel 80486DX2-66 on the DOS Compatibility Card runs at 66 MHz with a 33 MHz bus and 8 KB internal cache; it runs PC applications independently, rather than adding a second PowerPC core. The main processor comparison describes the Macintosh processor only.
GPU
GPU	Integrated 1 MB DRAM video supports 640 × 480 at 16-bit colour or 832 × 624 at 8-bit colour through the DB-15 monitor port	Macintosh HDI-45 video uses system DRAM. The DOS card has separate 512 KB video RAM and a VGA controller; Sound Blaster-compatible 16-bit stereo playback is mixed with Macintosh and CD audio. PC sound hardware provides output only, while Macintosh audio has input and output.
Memory type
Memory type	Two 72-pin SIMM slots; 16 MB minimum and 64 MB maximum with 80 ns memory	8 MB on the Macintosh logic board and two 72-pin SIMM slots installed in pairs; maximum supported Macintosh RAM 72 MB. The DOS card can share selected Macintosh memory or use its own single 72-pin SIMM up to 32 MB; PC-local memory is not additional Macintosh RAM. AppleFacts also lists 8 MB system memory, but the shown 16 MB/500 MB factory configuration is explicitly ordered as M3972LL/A in Apple's TIL 16756.
Storage type
Storage type	1.2 GB internal IDE hard drive, 1.44 MB floppy drive and 4× CD-ROM drive	M3972LL/A has a 500 MB internal hard drive, plus built-in 1.44 MB Apple SuperDrive floppy; optional double-speed CD-ROM reads Macintosh and DOS discs. Exact current support gives a broader 350–500 MB range; the initial January newsletter anticipated 16 MB/350 MB before final availability, so that prospective configuration is not added. DOS drive files reside on the Macintosh hard drive.
Expansion slots
Expansion slots	Macintosh LC processor-direct slot, communications slot, TV-tuner bay and video input/output slot	The sole processor-direct expansion position is occupied by the DOS Compatibility Card and its adapter; AV and NuBus expansion cannot coexist in that position. The PC processor card has a local-memory SIMM socket and sound expansion card.
Display
Screen
Screen	None built in	None built in
Connections
Ports
Ports	Headphone jack	Ethernet
External displays
External displays	–	Up to 2
Back ports
Back ports	DB-15 monitor output, Apple Desktop Bus, external DB-25 SCSI, two serial connectors, microphone input and stereo sound output	ADB, HDI-45 Macintosh display output, DB-25 external SCSI, two GeoPort serial ports, AAUI Ethernet, microphone input and speaker output. The DOS card's 26-pin connection uses a monitor adapter cable with display and PC joystick connectors. Macintosh serial and printer interfaces can emulate PC connections, with compatibility limits in the developer guide.
External displays
External displays	–	One shared display or two separate simultaneous Macintosh and PC displays; only one environment receives keyboard and mouse input at a time. Macintosh video supports 512 × 384 and 640 × 480 at 16-bit colour, or 832 × 624 at 8-bit. DOS card supports VGA/SVGA displays; the developer note lists shared VGA 640 × 480 and SVGA 800 × 600 monitors. Depth and supported modes depend on environment and driver.
Keyboard and mouse
Keyboard and mouse	–	Apple's DOS-card specification lists the compatibility card, MS-DOS 6.22 manual and disks, Windows 3.1, Macintosh PC Exchange User's Guide and monitor cable. Gallery monitor, keyboard and mouse illustrate the original maker setup and do not establish a universal factory bundle.
Design and power
Type
Type	Compact	Compact
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	–	414 × 396 × 86 mm
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Size and weight detail
Size and weight detail	Apple lists 4.3 × 12.6 × 16.5 inches and 19 lb for the Quadra 630 form factor	Original AppleFacts gives 86 × 414 × 396 mm (height × width × depth), used here. Exact support gives 3.4 × 16.3 × 15.6 inches and 14 lb; shared service manual gives 85 × 415 × 399 mm and 6.4 kg depending on installed devices. AppleFacts prints inconsistent 16.2 lb and 3.3 kg; headline weight omitted rather than resolving that conflict by guessing.
Power supply
Power supply	Maximum 55 W; 110–240 V AC at 50–60 Hz; 4.5 V alkaline clock battery	Exact support lists 210 W maximum and automatically configured 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz. Shared-family Service Source separately gives 132 W maximum continuous AC input, 201 W peak input excluding monitor power, and 86 W continuous DC output; these ratings retain their different conditions.
In the box
In the box	Original System Software 7.5.1. Apple lists 16 October 1995 as introduction; a separate first-sale date was not established.	Original System 7.5 with PowerPC Enabler 1.1.1, MS-DOS 6.22 and Windows 3.1. Apple support records introduction on 3 January 1995; January Apple Directions only promises first-quarter shipments. April 1995 AppleFacts lists the current product and the contemporary June TidBITS review describes a purchased unit, establishing sale in 1995 without proving the first-sale month. Apple explicitly calls the earlier Quadra 610 DOS Compatible its predecessor.