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Apple Power Macintosh 8600/200 vs Apple Power Macintosh 9600/233

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

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ApplePower Macintosh 8600/200ApplePower Macintosh 9600/233
Overview
Released19971997
Performance
ProcessorPowerPC 604e 200 MHz (Power Macintosh 8600/200)PowerPC 604e 233 MHz (Power Macintosh 9600/233)
CPU cores11
Graphics–IMS Twin Turbo-128 PCI graphics accelerator (4 MB VRAM; Japanese configuration)
Memory32 MB32 MB
Storage2 GB4 GB
CPU200 MHz PowerPC 604e with integrated floating-point unit, 64 KB L1 cache and 256 KB L2 cacheOne 233 MHz PowerPC 604e on a removable processor card with integrated floating-point unit, 64 KB level-one cache and 512 KB level-two cache soldered to logic board. Exact Japanese maker page gives 46.6 MHz system bus; English support table instead gives 50 MHz, and this conflict remains explicit.
GPUBuilt-in video with 2 MB VRAM, expandable to 4 MB; standard VRAM supports 1024 × 768 at 16-bit colour and 1280 × 1024 at 8-bit colourJapanese maker product page names an Integrated Micro Solution Twin Turbo-128 accelerator with 4 MB fixed VRAM, 24-bit colour through 1280 × 1024 and 16-bit at 1600 × 1200. Original US brochure instead limits 24-bit colour to 1152 × 870. Both specify up to 1600 × 1200; regional colour-depth difference remains qualified, and no exact card board designation is inferred.
Memory type32 MB standard, expandable to 512 MB using eight 168-pin DIMM slots32 MB standard, twelve 168-pin 64-bit 70 ns-or-faster DRAM DIMM sockets, up to 768 MB officially supported; matching modules in corresponding sockets permit interleaving. English support says 128 MB DIMMs may work but were not tested; these are not treated as an approved expansion configuration. 4 MB ROM
Storage type2 GB internal SCSI hard drive, 1.44 MB floppy drive, 12× CD-ROM drive and Iomega Zip drive4 GB internal Fast SCSI hard disk, manual-inject 1.44 MB Apple SuperDrive floppy and AppleCD 1800i 12× CD-ROM in shared Service Source. No standard Zip drive on original 233 configuration; later 300 and 350 MHz models differ. Internal Fast SCSI up to 10 MB/s and external SCSI up to 5 MB/s.
Expansion slotsThree PCI slots and additional internal drive baysSix PCI 2.0 expansion slots, five free with the supplied graphics card. Additional internal storage bays and removable processor card; no NuBus slots. Side-panel release permits access to memory, PCI cards and processor
Display
ScreenNone built inNone built in
Connections
PortsEthernetEthernet, headphone jack
Ethernet–0.01 Gb/s
Back portsDB-15 monitor, Apple Desktop Bus, external DB-25 SCSI, two serial ports, AAUI and 10BASE-T Ethernet, stereo audio input and output, S-video and composite video input and output, RCA audio input and outputOne ADB connector, two GeoPort/LocalTalk-compatible serial connectors, external SCSI, AAUI-15 and 10BASE-T Ethernet connectors, 16-bit stereo sound input and output. DB-15 monitor connector belongs to the supplied PCI card. Both Ethernet connectors share one interface; with both connected, the service manual says 10BASE-T takes priority
External displaysBuilt-in video supports one external monitor at up to 1280 × 1024 pixels; colour depth depends on fitted VRAMOne external monitor via the supplied graphics card, up to 1600 × 1200 with compatible display and cables; developer note says the card does not support sync-on-green monitors
Speakers–Built-in speaker and 16-bit stereo audio input/output
Microphones–External Apple PlainTalk microphone supplied in the Japanese bundle; no built-in microphone
Keyboard and mouse–Original US M5883LL/A bundle includes AppleDesign keyboard, ADB Mouse II, PlainTalk microphone, System 7.5.5 or later, Internet software and documentation. Japanese bundle includes ADB Mouse II, PlainTalk microphone, power cable, KanjiTalk 7.5.5 CD-ROM, Internet Starter Kit and sample CDs, manuals and warranty; keyboard and monitor sold separately there.
Design and power
TypeTowerTower
Weight–15.9 kg
Width × depth × height–246 × 440 × 439 mm
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Size and weight detailApple lists 17.3 × 9.7 × 17.3 inches and 35 lbExact Japanese 9600/233 maker page gives 439 mm high, 246 mm wide and 440 mm deep, 15.9 kg varying installed devices. US brochure rounds height to 440 mm; shared Service Source gives conflicting 224 mm width, so the exact model specification takes precedence.
Power supplyApple lists a 390 W maximum100–240 V AC automatically configured, single phase, 50/60 Hz. Shared Service Source distinguishes 390 W maximum DC supply output from AC input consumption
Power use–560 W maximum continuous AC input and 700 W peak input, excluding monitor; exact Japanese specification and shared service manual agree. English support’s 390 W matches the service manual’s DC output rating, so it is not treated as AC consumption
In the boxOriginal System Software 7.5.5. Apple lists 17 February 1997 as introduction and expected Canadian availability in March; a distinct verified first-sale date was not established.Apple lists 17 February 1997 as introduction. Exact February 1997 US maker brochure includes current ordering information and directs buyers to resellers; MacUser August 1997 explicitly reports the exact 233 MHz model shipping in quantity. Release year 1997 retained; actual first-sale month/day remains unconfirmed. Single processor, distinct from 200MP and Workgroup Server 9650/233.

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