Apple Macintosh Performa 6400/180 vs Apple Power Macintosh 8500/150

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Macintosh Performa 6400/180 compared with Power Macintosh 8500/150

	AppleMacintosh Performa 6400/180	ApplePower Macintosh 8500/150
Overview
Released
Released	1996	1996
Performance
Processor
Processor	PowerPC 603e 180 MHz (Performa 6400)	PowerPC 604 150 MHz (Power Macintosh 8500/150)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Memory
Memory	16 MB	16 MB
Storage
Storage	1.6 GB	2 GB (better)
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.	150 MHz PowerPC 604 with integrated floating-point unit, 32 KB L1 cache, 256 KB L2 cache and 64-bit data path at 50 MHz
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 2 MB VRAM supports 24-bit colour through 832 × 624; 4 MB VRAM raises 1152 × 870 to 24-bit colour and is required for video mirroring
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.	Eight 168-pin DIMM slots; Apple supports 16–512 MB total with 70 ns memory
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 floppy drive, 2 GB SCSI hard drive and 4× or 8× CD-ROM 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.	Three PCI slots; optional PC Compatibility Card
Display
Screen
Screen	None built in	None built in
Connections
Ports
Ports	Headphone jack	Ethernet
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 GeoPort serial connections, AAUI and 10BASE-T Ethernet, S-video and RCA video input and output, RCA audio input and output, microphone input and speaker output
External displays
External displays	–	Built-in video supports up to 1280 × 1024 pixels; available colour depth depends on VRAM
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.	–
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	–	11.34 kg
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	198 × 428 × 406 mm	196 × 400 × 356 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 14 × 7.7 × 15.75 inch and 25 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 225 W; 100–125 or 200–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz; 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.	Original System Software 7.5.3. Apple lists 22 April 1996 as introduction; a separate maker first-sale date was not established.