Apple Macintosh Performa 6400/180 vs Apple Macintosh Quadra 950

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 950

	AppleMacintosh Performa 6400/180	AppleMacintosh Quadra 950
Overview
Released
Released	1996	May 1992
Performance
Processor
Processor	PowerPC 603e 180 MHz (Performa 6400)	68040 33 MHz (Macintosh Quadra 950)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Memory
Memory	16 MB (better)	8 MB
Storage
Storage	1.6 GB (better)	230 MB to 400 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.	33 MHz Motorola 68040 with integrated memory-management and floating-point units and 8 KB on-chip cache; 25 MHz I/O clock, up from 16 MHz in the Quadra 900
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.	Built-in video with 1 MB VRAM, expandable to 2 MB; Apple lists 16-bit colour at 640 × 480 and 832 × 624 with standard VRAM and 24-bit at these resolutions with 2 MB
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.	Sixteen 30-pin 80 ns SIMM slots in banks of four, with 8 MB standard. Apple supported up to 64 MB using 4 MB SIMMs; its later support sheet lists a 256 MB technical maximum with larger modules that it does not support.
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×.	Internal 1.44 MB SuperDrive and 230 or 400 MB SCSI hard-drive configurations at introduction; the case supports up to four internal SCSI devices, including a CD-ROM or DAT drive
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.	Five NuBus slots and one processor-direct slot
Display
Screen
Screen	None built in	None built in
Connections
Ports
Ports	Headphone jack	Ethernet, headphone jack
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.	Apple Desktop Bus, DB-15 video, DB-25 SCSI, two serial ports, AAUI Ethernet, mono sound input and stereo sound output
External displays
External displays	–	Built-in video supports Apple's monitor range; colour depth depends on VRAM and resolution
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.	Internal speaker, mono audio input and stereo sound output
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.	–
Design and power
Type
Type	Tower	Tower
Weight
Weight	–	16.7 kg
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	198 × 428 × 406 mm	226 × 523 × 473 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.	Apple's 18.6 × 8.9 × 20.6 inch and 36.8 lb reference dimensions; metric fields are rounded conversions
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.	Maximum 303 W, 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz; 3.6 V lithium clock battery and keyboard soft power
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.	Original System Software 7.0.1. Apple's June 1992 catalogue states that the 950 was introduced the previous month and that existing Quadra 900 owners could upgrade through a logic-board replacement.