Apple Power Macintosh 8100/100 vs Apple Power Macintosh 8500/120
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| ApplePower Macintosh 8100/100 | ApplePower Macintosh 8500/120 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | 1995 | 1995 |
| Performance | ||
| Processor | PowerPC 601 100 MHz (Power Macintosh 8100/100) | PowerPC 604 120 MHz (Power Macintosh 8500/120) |
| CPU cores | 1 | 1 |
| Memory | 16 MB | 16 MB |
| Storage | 700 MB | 1 GB to 2 GB (better) |
| CPU | 100 MHz PowerPC 601 with integrated floating-point unit, 32 KB L1 cache, 256 KB L2 cache and 33.3 MHz system bus; 4 MB ROM | 120 MHz PowerPC 604 with integrated floating-point unit, 32 KB L1 cache, 256 KB L2 cache and 64-bit data path at 40 MHz |
| GPU | Power Macintosh video card with 2 MB VRAM, expandable to 4 MB using four 512 KB SIMMs; separate built-in DRAM video uses system memory. This is the non-AV model, without the AV card's S-video connections. | 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 | Apple's Japanese bundle has 16 MB including 8 MB soldered to the logic board; eight 72-pin noncomposite 80 ns SIMM sockets accept matched pairs, up to 264 MB total. Apple Service Source also lists an 8 MB configuration. | Eight 168-pin DIMM slots; Apple supports 16–512 MB total with 70 ns memory |
| Storage type | Japanese bundle has a 700 MB internal SCSI hard drive, 1.44 MB floppy and internal 2× AppleCD 300i Plus CD-ROM. The exact-model service table also lists a 1 GB hard-drive option; CD-ROM inclusion varies by configuration. | Internal 1.44 MB floppy drive, 1 or 2 GB SCSI hard drive and 4× CD-ROM drive; Apple's Japanese configuration sheet lists the 2 GB version |
| Expansion slots | Three NuBus slots and one processor-direct slot occupied by the video card; fitting an optional AV card replaces that video card rather than adding another card alongside it | Three PCI slots; optional PC Compatibility Card |
| Display | ||
| Screen | None built in | None built in |
| Connections | ||
| Ports | Ethernet | Ethernet |
| Back ports | ADB, external DB-25 SCSI, two LocalTalk/GeoPort serial ports, AAUI-15 Ethernet requiring a transceiver, HDI-45 and DB-15 monitor ports, and 16-bit stereo audio input and output | 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 | DRAM HDI-45 and VRAM DB-15 video outputs; 2 MB VRAM supports 24-bit colour at 640 × 480 and 832 × 624, or 16-bit colour at 1024 × 768 and 1152 × 870. Expanding VRAM to 4 MB supports 24-bit colour at the latter resolutions. | Built-in video supports up to 1280 × 1024 pixels; available colour depth depends on VRAM |
| Keyboard and mouse | Japanese bundle includes Apple Desktop Bus Mouse II; keyboard and monitor are separate. The catalogue photograph shows a shared 8100/100 and 8100/110 setup with external monitor, keyboard and mouse. | – |
| Design and power | ||
| Type | Tower | Tower |
| Weight | 11.3 kg (better) | 11.34 kg |
| Width × depth × height | 196 × 396 × 360 mm | 196 × 400 × 356 mm |
| Operating system | macOS | macOS |
| Size and weight detail | Japanese exact-model page publishes 360 × 196 × 396 mm and 11.3 kg, with weight varying by installed drives. The English support sheet lists 14 × 7.7 × 15.75 inches and 25.3 lb; Service Source lists the same metric dimensions but 11.5 kg. The April 1995 catalogue lists 361 × 226 × 406 mm and 11.4 kg; those conflicting catalogue measurements are not used for the headline dimensions. | Apple's 14 × 7.7 × 15.75 inch and 25 lb reference dimensions; metric fields are rounded conversions |
| Power supply | Automatically configured 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz; Service Source distinguishes 298 W maximum continuous and 453 W peak input, excluding the monitor, from 200 W continuous DC output. Apple's support sheet labels 200 W as maximum watts. | Maximum 225 W; 100–125 or 200–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz; 3.6 V lithium clock battery |
| In the box | Japanese bundle includes power cable, KanjiTalk 7.5 CD-ROM and documentation. Apple lists introduction on 3 January 1995; the April 1995 maker catalogue establishes a current offering that year, without resolving the first-sale month. | Original System Software 7.5.2. Apple lists 8 August 1995 as introduction; a separate first-sale month was not established. |
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