Apple Power Macintosh 6500/300 vs Apple Power Macintosh 9600/300

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Power Macintosh 6500/300 compared with Power Macintosh 9600/300

	ApplePower Macintosh 6500/300	ApplePower Macintosh 9600/300
Overview
Released
Released	1997	August 1997
Performance
Processor
Processor	PowerPC 603e 300 MHz (Power Macintosh 6500)	PowerPC 604e 300 MHz (Power Macintosh 9600/300)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Graphics
Graphics	–	IXMICRO Twin Turbo 128M8 (8 MB VRAM)
Memory
Memory	64 MB	64 MB
Storage
Storage	4 GB to 6 GB (better)	4 GB
CPU
CPU	300 MHz PowerPC 603e with integrated floating-point unit, 32 KB L1 cache, 512 KB L2 cache and a 64-bit 50 MHz bus. The shared service specifications use the name 603ev; the exact support page and original brochure use 603e.	300 MHz PowerPC 604e with 64 KB L1 cache, 1 MB L2 cache, 100 MHz cache bus and 50 MHz system bus
GPU
GPU	ATI 3D RAGE II with 2 MB built-in SGRAM, supporting QuickDraw 2D/3D and QuickTime/MPEG-1 acceleration; Apple's exact support table gives 24-bit colour through 832 × 624, 16-bit through 1152 × 870 and 8-bit at 1280 × 1024. The brochure's 24-bit headline ends at 800 × 600.	Bundled IXMICRO Twin Turbo 128M8 PCI video card with 8 MB VRAM; Apple lists output up to 1600 × 1200 pixels
Memory type
Memory type	64 MB supplied in two 168-pin DIMM sockets, no soldered system RAM; up to 128 MB using 5 V buffered EDO DIMMs. The original brochure and service source specify 60 ns or faster EDO memory, while the exact support database lists 70 ns.	64 MB standard with twelve 168-pin DIMM slots, expandable to 768 MB according to Apple
Storage type
Storage type	Original US Home Edition M6079LL/A and Canadian launch configuration have a 4 GB IDE drive, 12× tray-loading CD-ROM, 1.44 MB floppy and 100 MB Iomega Zip drive. Later Americas configurations documented by Apple have 6 GB, 24× CD-ROM, Zip and a 56.6 Kbit/s Apple/GV modem with Mac OS 8.0; Latin America uses a 33.6 Kbit/s modem. European 6 GB/24× configurations include video input, TV/FM tuner and Avid Cinema. These are regional configurations of the same 300 MHz model.	4 GB internal SCSI hard drive, 1.44 MB floppy, 24× CD-ROM and built-in Iomega Zip drive
Expansion slots
Expansion slots	Two PCI 2.0 slots for approximately 7-inch cards with Mac drivers, plus Communications Slot II, video-input slot and TV/FM tuner position. The original Home Edition's modem occupies the communications slot; its Zip drive occupies the pre-cabled 5.25-inch internal SCSI bay. Apple specifies five external SCSI devices with Zip fitted.	Six PCI slots, one occupied by the bundled graphics card; pre-wired 5.25-inch SCSI expansion bay and two 3.5-inch drive bays
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; infrared receiver for an optional remote supplied with the TV/FM tuner.	–
Back ports
Back ports	DB-15 monitor output, ADB, DB-25 external SCSI, two GeoPort-compatible serial connectors, PlainTalk-compatible sound input and line-level speaker output. Installing the internal modem leaves one serial port available. The original US Home Edition has a 33.6 Kbit/s data/voice modem with 14.4 Kbit/s fax; the communications slot can instead take Ethernet. Apple's exact support database lists 10BASE-T, while the maker brochure and Canadian Home configuration supply a modem, so Ethernet is not treated as standard for that configuration.	Apple Desktop Bus, external DB-25 SCSI, two serial ports, AAUI and 10BASE-T Ethernet, DB-15 video on the graphics card, stereo audio input and output
External displays
External displays	–	Bundled graphics card supports one external display at up to 1600 × 1200 pixels
Speakers
Speakers	Built-in full-range monophonic speaker acts as a subwoofer when external speakers are connected; balance adjustment operates only with external speakers. 16-bit stereo input/output and SRS 3D surround processing.	–
Keyboard and mouse
Keyboard and mouse	Original US Home Edition includes keyboard, mouse, cables and bundled home software. Monitor, Apple Video System, Avid Cinema and TV/FM tuner are separate options; later European configurations include the multimedia additions described in storage details.	–
Design and power
Type
Type	Tower	Tower
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	198 × 428 × 406 mm	–
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Size and weight detail
Size and weight detail	Maker brochure gives 40.6 × 19.8 × 42.8 cm (height × width × depth) and 20.2 kg, varying with installed devices. The shared service manual gives 20.18 kg without the CD-ROM; standard complete-unit weight remains unresolved and the headline mass is omitted. Gallery monitor is optional.	Apple lists 17.3 × 9.7 × 17.3 inches (height × width × depth) and 35 lb
Power supply
Power supply	Exact support database and original brochure give 220 W maximum continuous, 100–125 or 200–240 V AC at 47–63 Hz. The shared Service Source instead gives 140 W for the 6500 and 90–130 or 180–264 V; the conflicting ratings are retained, and neither is treated as measured operating consumption.	Apple lists a 560 W maximum
In the box
In the box	Exact support page lists original software 7.6.1; later regional configurations use Mac OS 8.0. Apple lists 4 April 1997 as introduction, while its Canadian announcement promises limited supply later that spring. The maker's 1997 ordering brochure and contemporary shipping-system list establish retail sale in 1997, but the actual first-sale month remains unresolved.	Apple's 5 August 1997 announcement says the 9600/300 was available immediately worldwide with Mac OS 8. Its support sheet lists original system software as 7.6.1.