Apple Macintosh SE vs Apple Macintosh SE/30
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleMacintosh SE | AppleMacintosh SE/30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | 1987 | 1989 |
| Performance | ||
| Processor | 68000 8 MHz (Macintosh SE) | 68030 16 MHz (Macintosh SE/30) |
| CPU cores | 1 | 1 |
| Memory | 1 MB | 1 MB or 4 MB (better) |
| Storage | 20 MB | 40 MB to 80 MB (better) |
| CPU | 8 MHz 68000 with 16-bit data path; no PMMU, FPU, cache or second processor | Nominal 16 MHz 68030 with 32-bit data path, integrated PMMU and 68882 FPU; 0.5K L1 cache, no L2 or second processor. Original owner manual specifies 15.6672 MHz exact clock; nominal support-sheet rating retained |
| Memory type | 1 MB standard, expandable to 4 MB using four 30-pin SIMM slots; 256K or 1 MB modules installed in pairs, minimum 150 ns; two-chip 1 MB SIMMs unsupported. 256K ROM; standard capacity confirmed by Apple's original product-line appendix | Eight 30-pin SIMM slots in groups of four, 120 ns or faster; support sheet certifies 1–32 MB and 256K, 1 MB or 4 MB modules. Original manual describes 8 MB with then-current modules and future 128 MB expansion; limits depend on installed modules and software. 256K ROM |
| Storage type | Two 800K removable floppy drives or one 800K drive plus a 20 MB SCSI hard drive in Apple's original advertisement. Apple support lists an internal range from none to 40 MB; no factory RAM/storage pair inferred for its upper limit. Capacities retained in original units | Factory choices from original Apple technical procedures are 1 MB RAM with floppy only, 1 MB with 40 MB SCSI disk, or 4 MB with 80 MB SCSI disk; all have an FDHD high-density floppy drive. Original capacity units retained; floppy capacity is removable storage |
| Expansion slots | One SE processor-direct slot (PDS) | One 120-pin 32-bit 030 Direct Slot; optional monitor connection requires a compatible video card |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 9″ | 9″ |
| Resolution | 512 × 342 | 512 × 342 |
| Panel | CRT | CRT |
| Refresh rate | – | 60.1 Hz |
| Display type | One-bit monochrome CRT; 9-inch diagonal confirmed in Apple's original SE/30 owner manual, Macintosh product-line appendix. Maker's explicit 512 × 342 note corrects generic 512 × 384 table | Built-in 9-inch one-bit monochrome CRT, 512 × 342 pixels. Maker's explicit note and owner manual correct generic support table's 512 × 384 |
| Display features | – | Original owner manual specifies exact 60.1 Hz refresh |
| Connections | ||
| Ports | Headphone jack | Headphone jack |
| Back ports | Two ADB ports, DB-25 SCSI, DB-19 external floppy, printer and modem serial ports, speaker/headphone output; no Ethernet or external video | Two ADB ports, DB-19 external floppy, DB-25 SCSI, two RS-232/RS-422 serial ports and stereo mini-phone audio output; no built-in Ethernet or external video socket |
| Speakers | – | Apple Sound Chip supports four-voice wavetable synthesis and stereo sampling; mixed stereo through a monophonic internal speaker, stereo through external sound port |
| Keyboard and mouse | Original Apple advertisement offers a choice of two keyboards | Choice of Apple Keyboard or Apple Extended Keyboard; ADB mouse, as described in original owner manual |
| Design and power | ||
| Type | All-in-one | All-in-one |
| Operating system | macOS | macOS |
| Size and weight detail | Maker 17 lb; 13.6 in height × 9.69 in width × 10.9 in depth, retained in original units | Maker 19.5 lb; 13.6 in height × 9.6 in width × 10.9 in depth, retained in original units |
| Power supply | Maximum 100 W, 90–270 V, 47–63 Hz, 0.83 A; backup-battery specification unpublished | Maximum 75 W, 120–240 V, 48–62 Hz, 0.63 A; 3.6 V lithium clock battery |
| In the box | Original system software 2.0 package; maker introduced 2 March 1987, discontinued 1 August 1989. Original Apple advertisement confirms retail offering by April 1987, without establishing earliest sale month; released year only | Original system software 6.0.3. Maker introduction 19 January 1989 is not treated as exact first sale; earliest actual-sale month unresolved in bounded search, released year only |
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