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Apple Power Macintosh 5260/100 vs Apple Power Macintosh 5400/120

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

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ApplePower Macintosh 5260/100ApplePower Macintosh 5400/120
Overview
Released19961996
Performance
ProcessorPowerPC 603e 100 MHz (Power Macintosh 5260/100)PowerPC 603e 120 MHz (Power Macintosh 5400)
CPU cores11
Memory16 MB16 MB
Storage800 MB1.6 GB
CPU100 MHz PowerPC 603e with integrated floating-point unit. Exact Apple support lists 32 KB L1 cache and a 64-bit processor data path at 40 MHz; Original exact Apple TIL 19602 and May 1996 Apple Facts instead say 16 KB L1, an unresolved maker conflict. Apple's separate comparison table gives the narrower memory bus as 32-bit at 37.5 MHz, not the same path. Optional 256 KB L2 High Performance Module M4849LL/A is a 160-pin SIMM, not interchangeable with the later 5400/6400 DIMM. Original ordering description and cache note establish it as optional despite the support/service tables listing 256 KB without that qualification.120 MHz PowerPC 603e with integrated floating-point unit, 32 KB L1 cache and 64-bit 40 MHz bus; optional 256 KB L2 High Performance Module M4505LL/A. Optional PC Compatibility Card with a 100 MHz 586 processor is separate hardware.
GPU1 MB built-in DRAM framebuffer; exact support and shared service video-mode list support 640 × 480 with 16-bit colour. Other higher-resolution timing pages in the shared service do not establish those as supported modes for the built-in 14-inch display.1 MB built-in DRAM framebuffer separate from system RAM, not expandable. Apple's shared Service Source supports 640 × 480 at 60 or 67 Hz and 800 × 600 at 60 or 72 Hz with 16-bit colour, and 832 × 624 at 75 Hz with 8-bit colour; video input is unavailable at 832 × 624. Exact support lists only 8-bit colour at 800 × 600; this conflicts with the shared service table and contemporary MacUser test, so both claims remain qualified.
Memory type16 MB standard in one 72-pin SIMM, with a second socket for expansion to 64 MB. No memory soldered on board; SIMMs can be installed individually. Exact original TIL 19602 specifies 70 ns, while exact current support and shared service specify 80 ns or faster. The timing difference remains qualified. Shared comparison lists an 8 MB minimum, without an exact factory bundle.16 MB standard, consisting of 8 MB soldered on the logic board and one 8 MB DIMM; two 168-pin sockets accept independently installed 70 ns or faster DIMMs, expandable to 136 MB. Optional L2 cache is separate from this memory.
Storage type800 MB IDE hard drive, 1.44 MB Apple SuperDrive floppy and quadruple-speed AppleCD 600i in original M4982LL/A ordering information. May 1996 Apple Facts says CD-ROM is present in most configurations; no undocumented drive-free factory combination is added. Shared service lists larger family drives without coupling them to an exact 5260/100 bundle.1.6 GB IDE hard drive and 1.44 MB Apple SuperDrive floppy. The original May 1996 Apple Facts configuration includes a quadruple-speed CD-ROM; original Apple TIL 19886 identifies B2765LL/A with AppleCD 600i Plus and a later higher-education-only M5184LL/B bundle with an 8× CD-ROM. The shared Service Source confirms the education 8× configuration otherwise has the same hardware. These optical-drive bundles share the same RAM/storage configuration.
Expansion slotsLC-compatible PDS, 68040-bus communications slot for optional modem or Ethernet, optional video-input card and TV tuner bay. PDS is not a direct connection to the PowerPC processor; processor-dependent cache/FPU cards are not compatible. Optional MPEG Media System requires the video-input card. Video capture accepts NTSC, PAL and SECAM; tuner standard varies by region.One 32-bit PCI 2.0 slot for a card up to 7 inches long, PCI-based Communications Slot II, optional video-input card and TV/FM tuner bay. Apple Video System supports NTSC, PAL and SECAM; original Apple TIL says video capture is included in some configurations and optional in others. Earlier Ethernet cards for non-PCI communications slots do not establish compatibility.
Display
Screen size12.3″12.8″
Resolution640 × 480832 × 624
PanelCRTCRT
Refresh rate66.67 Hz75 Hz
Display typeBuilt-in 14-inch nominal shadow-mask colour CRT with 12.3-inch viewable diagonal in the exact original ordering description and technical sheet. Shared Service Source instead says 12.8-inch viewable; exact model wording is retained. Dot pitch 0.28 mm; tilt-and-swivel base. A CRT has selectable raster modes rather than a fixed LCD pixel grid.Multiple-scan flat-square shadow-mask CRT, 15-inch nominal tube with a 12.8-inch diagonal viewable image and 0.28 mm dot pitch. Tilt-and-swivel base tilts from −5° to +15° and swivels 360°.
Display features640 × 480 at 16-bit colour and 66.67 Hz in the exact original TIL 19602 technical sheet. Shared service agrees on 66.7 Hz; a separate service timing table headed 60 Hz instead gives 15 ms, so no second 60 Hz mode is inferred.–
Connections
PortsHeadphone jackHeadphone jack
Front portsHeadphone output, push-button volume and display brightness controls, infrared remote receiver.Headphone output, sound-volume and display controls; infrared receiver for the optional TV/FM remote.
Back portsADB, external DB-25 SCSI, two RS-232/422 modem/printer serial ports with LocalTalk, PlainTalk-compatible sound input and stereo sound output. Ethernet requires an optional communications-slot card; no GeoPort inferred from a similar-looking serial connector. Exact original TIL gives six external SCSI devices in its ports section but five in expansion; maker catalogue says five and shared service seven. Limits remain source-qualified.ADB, external DB-25 SCSI, two LocalTalk/GeoPort-compatible serial ports, PlainTalk-compatible sound input and stereo speaker output. Exact Apple support and original TIL describe 10Base-T through a Communications Slot II card; May 1996 Apple Facts calls Ethernet optional. No universally supplied Ethernet headline is assumed. TIL lists optional thin-coax and AAUI Ethernet cards. Apple Facts specifies six external SCSI devices; the shared service says seven without the same external qualification.
External displaysOptional Apple External Video Connector provides DB-15 mirroring, with a compatible display. Optional Apple Presentation System converts the mirrored output for television/projector or VCR use; it is not an independent extended desktop.Optional Apple External Video Connector enables video mirroring to a compatible display; the shared service lists 640 × 480, 800 × 600 and 832 × 624 external modes. Optional Apple Presentation System converts output to NTSC or PAL. A connector and compatible display are required.
SpeakersTwo built-in speakers and 16-bit stereo output. Shared service specifies 22 kHz playback and 11/22 kHz recording, with ordinary audio-CD playback. Stereo input connectors are combined to mono for recording/play-through; do not treat the connector as stereo capture.Built-in stereo speakers, 16-bit stereo sound input/output and SRS 3D surround processing, with rear stereo speaker output.
MicrophonesBuilt-in microphone for mono recording; rear microphone/line input supports PlainTalk-compatible microphones.Built-in microphone; PlainTalk-compatible external sound input.
Keyboard and mouseOriginal M4982LL/A ordering description includes matching keyboard, mouse and necessary cables. External speakers, optional cache, Ethernet, video input/output, TV tuner and MPEG expansion are separate. Maker photograph shows the exact 5260/100 with keyboard and mouse.AppleDesign Keyboard, ADB mouse and preinstalled software in the exact original ordering information. Ethernet, video input, video output, TV/FM tuner and PC Compatibility Card vary by bundle or are optional. Maker gallery shows the beige shared 5400 housing with keyboard and mouse; it is not the graphite Performa 5420.
Design and power
TypeAll-in-oneAll-in-one
Weight20.5 kg21.2 kg
Width × depth × height383 × 406 × 445 mm383 × 406 × 445 mm
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Size and weight detailExact original TIL 19602 technical sheet gives 44.5 × 38.3 × 40.6 cm (height × width × depth), 20.5 kg/45 lb; exact current support agrees on 16-inch depth and 45 lb. May 1996 Apple Facts instead gives 41.4 cm depth, 20.2 kg/44.9 lb, varying with installed devices. Shared service swaps width/depth and has inconsistent weight units. Exact original technical-sheet dimensions and complete-unit kg figure are used; disagreement remains explicit.Exact May 1996 Apple Facts gives 44.5 × 38.3 × 40.6 cm (height × width × depth) and 21.2 kg / 47 lb, varying with installed devices. Exact support agrees on inch dimensions and pounds. The shared service physical table swaps width/depth and prints inconsistent pound/kilogram weights; the exact model catalogue measurements are used.
Power supplyExact current support lists 125 W maximum , 110–240 V AC at 50–60 Hz. Exact original TIL 19602 instead gives 240 W maximum at 110–240 V AC 50–60 Hz; shared service gives 100–240 V 47–63 Hz, 240 W maximum and a separate 220 W all-line/load maximum. Conflicting ratings remain qualified; no universal headline operating consumption is assigned.Exact support specifies 220 W maximum, 110–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz. Shared Service Source gives 100–240 V at 47–63 Hz, a separate 125 W entry and 220 W maximum for all line/load conditions. These are electrical ratings rather than measured operating consumption.
In the boxSystem 7.5.3 and 4 MB ROM in exact Apple support; original ordering description calls it System 7.5. Apple records introduction on 15 April 1996; current May 1996 maker education catalogue establishes sale in 1996, not a first-sale month. Release remains year precision. North American education 5260/100 is separate from later 5260/120 and international Performa bundles.Original System 7.5.3 with System Enabler 410 and 4 MB ROM. Apple records introduction on 15 April 1996; its May 1996 current education catalogue and October 1996 ordering description establish sale in 1996. The actual first-sale month remains unresolved, so release is year precision. North American Power Macintosh 5400/120 was education-channel hardware; international Performa names and faster CPU variants are separate models.

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