Apple Power Macintosh 8200/120 vs Apple Power Macintosh 8500/132

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

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

Power Macintosh 8200/120 compared with Power Macintosh 8500/132

	ApplePower Macintosh 8200/120	ApplePower Macintosh 8500/132
Overview
Released
Released	1996	1996
Performance
Processor
Processor	PowerPC 601 120 MHz (Power Macintosh 7200/120)	PowerPC 604 132 MHz (Power Macintosh 9500/132)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Memory
Memory	16 MB	16 MB
Storage
Storage	1.2 GB	1.2 GB
CPU
CPU	120 MHz PowerPC 601 soldered to the logic board, integrated floating-point unit, 32 KB level-one cache, 40 MHz 64-bit processor bus and standard 256 KB level-two cache. Apple's brochure describes a logic-board upgrade plus separately purchased processor card for an 8500 conversion, not a standard removable 8200 processor card	One 132 MHz PowerPC 604 on a removable processor card, with integrated floating-point unit, 32 KB level-one cache, 256 KB level-two cache and a 44 MHz processor bus. The 50 MHz figure on the shared Japanese sheet is the family maximum, not the 132 MHz model's bus
GPU
GPU	Built-in accelerated video with 1 MB soldered VRAM, expandable to 4 MB using three VRAM sockets. Exact support table gives 16-bit colour through 832 × 624 and 8-bit at 1024 × 768 and 1152 × 870 with standard VRAM; 1280 × 1024 requires at least 2 MB. 4 MB allows 24-bit at 1024 × 768 and 16-bit at 1152 × 870 and 1280 × 1024	Built-in 64-bit video subsystem with 2 MB VRAM, expandable to 4 MB. Standard memory supports 24-bit colour through 832 × 624, 16-bit at 1024 × 768 and 1152 × 870, and 8-bit at 1280 × 1024. With 4 MB, 24-bit colour extends through 1152 × 870 and 16-bit to 1280 × 1024; monitor and video output simultaneously require 4 MB. Exact model tables take precedence over contradictory high-colour catalogue appendix claims
Memory type
Memory type	UK brochure specifies 16 MB for 8200/120, matching its exact support page. Shared Service Source describes 8 or 16 MB across both models without pairing them; the 8 MB 8200/100 configuration is not transferred. Four 168-pin 64-bit 5 V 70 ns-or-faster DIMM sockets, 256 MB supported maximum; no memory interleaving. Apple says 128 MB DIMMs can be used but were not tested. 4 MB ROM	16 MB standard for the 8500/132, eight 168-pin 64-bit 70 ns-or-faster DRAM DIMM sockets, up to 512 MB supported; corresponding matching DIMMs permit interleaving. The shared Japanese page's 32 MB package is explicitly the 8500/150 and is not transferred. English support says 128 MB DIMMs were untested. 4 MB ROM
Storage type
Storage type	1.2 GB internal SCSI hard disk, manual-inject 1.44 MB Apple SuperDrive floppy and AppleCD 600i 4× CD-ROM in the original UK ordering configuration. Exact support also lists 8× CD-ROM without identifying its full configuration; no additional RAM/storage pairing is invented. UK brochure gives internal/external SCSI up to 5 MB/s and an additional 3.5-inch disk or other SCSI-device bay	Exact Japanese 8500/132 configuration has a 1.2 GB internal Fast SCSI hard disk, manual-inject Apple SuperDrive floppy and AppleCD 600i 4× CD-ROM. Shared Service Source lists 1.2 or 2 GB across 132/150/180 but does not pair an additional 132 configuration, so none is inferred. Additional internal storage bay; external SCSI up to seven devices at 5 MB/s, internal channel up to 10 MB/s
Expansion slots
Expansion slots	Three PCI 2.0 slots; no standard analogue AV module. Optional PC Compatibility Cards are separately purchased PCI hardware, not a second processor in the base configuration	Three PCI 2.0 slots, all free with onboard video, and an internal Digital Audio/Video connector for compatible compression hardware; no NuBus slots
Display
Screen
Screen	None built in	None built in
Connections
Ports
Ports	Ethernet, headphone jack	Ethernet, headphone jack
Ethernet
Ethernet	0.01 Gb/s	0.01 Gb/s
Back ports
Back ports	DB-15 display output, one ADB connector, external DB-25 SCSI, two GeoPort/LocalTalk-compatible serial connectors, AAUI and 10BASE-T Ethernet, mini-jacks for 16-bit stereo sound input and output up to 44.1 kHz. The two Ethernet connectors share one interface; 10BASE-T takes priority if both are connected	One ADB connector, two GeoPort/LocalTalk-compatible serial connectors, DB-15 display output, external DB-25 SCSI, AAUI-15 and 10BASE-T Ethernet connectors, 16-bit stereo sound input/output, left/right RCA audio input/output, composite video input/output and S-video input/output. Both Ethernet connectors share one interface and cannot be used concurrently 24-bit analogue composite and S-video input/output. Japanese sheet specifies live display through 640 × 480 NTSC or 768 × 576 PAL/SECAM, capture through 320 × 240 at 25 frames/s NTSC, and a separate maximum 640 × 480 NTSC capture size without that frame-rate claim. NTSC and PAL/SECAM output supported; full-size preview is not full-size continuous capture
External displays
External displays	One external display through built-in video; up to 1280 × 1024 requires additional VRAM and a compatible monitor. Brochure colour-depth headline describes expanded VRAM, not standard 1 MB	One external display up to 1280 × 1024; available colour depth depends on VRAM. Simultaneous monitor and video output requires 4 MB VRAM
Speakers
Speakers	Built-in speaker; stereo sound output for external speakers	Built-in speaker; stereo sound and RCA line audio interfaces support 16-bit, 44.1 kHz sampling
Microphones
Microphones	Supports an external Apple PlainTalk microphone	Apple PlainTalk external microphone included in the exact Japanese package; no built-in microphone
Keyboard and mouse
Keyboard and mouse	Apple ADB Mouse II, system software 7.5.3 or later, Internet-access software, setup and reference documentation and limited warranty listed in the UK brochure; keyboard and monitor purchased separately	Japanese 16 MB/1.2 GB package includes ADB Mouse II, PlainTalk microphone, power cable, KanjiTalk 7.5.3 CD-ROM, VideoShop 3.0J, manuals and warranty. Keyboard and display sold separately
Design and power
Type
Type	Tower	Tower
Weight
Weight	11.3 kg	–
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	196 × 400 × 356 mm	196 × 400 × 355.6 mm
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Size and weight detail
Size and weight detail	UK brochure and Service Source give 356 mm high, 196 mm wide and 400 mm deep, 11.3 kg; weight varies with installed devices	Exact Japanese sheet gives 355.6 × 196 × 400 mm, consistent with service manual's rounded 356 × 196 × 400 mm. Catalogue gives 363 × 196 × 401 mm. Weight is unresolved and omitted from the headline; exact Japanese page says 12.7 kg, but English support, service manual and catalogue give 25 lb or approximately 11.3 kg. All qualify weight by installed devices
Power supply
Power supply	100–240 V AC, automatically configured, single phase, 50–60 Hz. UK brochure specifies 225 W maximum excluding display; shared Service Source distinguishes 225 W DC output from 340 W continuous/520 W peak AC input, while exact support gives 150 W without that distinction. This conflict remains explicit and no consumption headline is selected	100–240 V AC automatically configured, single phase, 50–60 Hz. Service Source distinguishes 225 W maximum DC output from AC consumption
Power use
Power use	–	340 W maximum continuous AC input and 520 W peak input, excluding monitor; exact Japanese specification and shared Service Source agree
In the box
In the box	Apple lists 22 April 1996 as introduction. Original April 1996 UK brochure includes exact ordering information and specifications, supporting sale year 1996; the actual first-sale month/day remains unconfirmed. Service Source labels this family Europe-only and exact support states it was not sold in the US	Original system software 7.5.3. English support gives 22 April 1996 as introduction; Apple's May 1996 catalogue lists the exact 8500/132 as an offering, supporting release year 1996. Actual first-sale month/day remains unconfirmed