Apple Macintosh Performa 6400/180 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 6400/180 compared with Macintosh Quadra 610 DOS Compatible

	AppleMacintosh Performa 6400/180	AppleMacintosh Quadra 610 DOS Compatible
Overview
Released
Released	1996	March 1994
Performance
Processor
Processor	PowerPC 603e 180 MHz (Performa 6400)	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	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.	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 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.	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	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.	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	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×.	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	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.	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
Screen	None built in	None built in
Connections
Ports
Ports	Headphone jack	Ethernet, headphone jack
External displays
External displays	–	Up to 2
Front ports
Front ports	3.5 mm headphone output and volume buttons; optional infrared remote support.	–
Back ports
Back ports	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.	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	–	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 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.	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.
Keyboard and mouse
Keyboard and mouse	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.	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	Tower	Compact
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	198 × 428 × 406 mm	414 × 396 × 86 mm
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Size and weight detail
Size and weight detail	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.	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	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.	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	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.	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.