Apple · Macintosh

Macintosh LC 630 DOS Compatible

Release date not published

A Macintosh with a separate 66 MHz 486-class PC subsystem, dedicated PC memory and Sound Blaster-compatible sound, allowing Mac OS and DOS applications to run together.

Type: Compact
Processor: Motorola 68LC040 33 MHz (Macintosh LC 630 DOS Compatible)
Memory: 8 MB
Storage: 500 MB
Screen: –
Weight: 8.6 kg

Compact

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Specifications

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Performance

Processor: 68LC040 33 MHz (Macintosh LC 630 DOS Compatible)
CPU cores: 1
Memory: 8 MB
Storage: 500 MB
CPU: Macintosh 68LC040, with 66/33 MHz clock notation: CPU execution and bus at 33 MHz, doubled internal clock at 66 MHz. AppleFacts April 1995 and the later Apple Memory Guide identify 68LC040; the LC 630 DOS technical booklet and shared Service Source instead print 68040 and the booklet claims an FPU. That disagreement is retained rather than assuming a standard Macintosh FPU. The separate DOS card contains a 66 MHz Cyrix Cx486DX2 or Intel 80486DX2, both explicitly supported by the exact developer note; this is not a pair of matching Macintosh CPUs
GPU: Macintosh video uses a fixed 1 MB DRAM frame buffer with no video-memory expansion. DOS card has separate 512 KB DRAM and VGA controller. PC environment supports VGA 640 × 480 and SVGA 800 × 600 plus legacy EGA/CGA/MDA. Shared-display colour modes and resolution depend on environment and driver
Memory type: 8 MB Macintosh RAM: 4 MB soldered and a 4 MB SIMM, with two 72-pin 80 ns SIMM sockets. Maximum 52 MB on the main logic board using 32 MB and 16 MB SIMMs; the second socket accepts 1, 4 or 16 MB. PC card has its own 4 MB 72-pin SIMM, expandable to 32 MB, or can use a selected portion of Macintosh RAM; those independent pools are not added to the headline Macintosh RAM
Storage type: Original AppleFacts configuration includes 500 MB IDE hard disk, manual-insert 1.4 MB SuperDrive and internal CD-ROM. Shared Service Source identifies double-speed AppleCD 300i Plus; the exact technical booklet also permits a configuration without the CD-ROM drive. Internal IDE and external SCSI are separate interfaces; no internal SCSI drive inferred
Expansion slots: DOS hardware occupies the Macintosh processor socket and LC-compatible PDS. Separate communications slot accepts optional modem or Ethernet; video-input slot and TV-tuner connector remain available. Original main DOS board, sound daughterboard and game-adaptor board are distinct components. Performa 630/640 DOS Compatible bundles use this family design; ordinary LC 630 and Quadra 630 are separate records

Display

Screen: None built in

Connections

Ports: 2 × headphone jack
Front ports: Stereo headphone jack and volume push buttons; optional infrared remote control. Keyboard soft power supported
Back ports: One ADB, DB-15 monitor, DB-25 external SCSI, two mini-DIN-8 RS-232/RS-422 serial ports, sound input and rear sound output. DOS adaptor adds a DB-15 PC game-controller connector. Supports up to six external SCSI devices; no built-in Ethernet
External displays: Separate compatible display needed. Macintosh output supports 640 × 480 at 16-bit colour and 800 × 600 at 8-bit; exact developer note describes a single shared monitor and environment switching. Original AppleFacts staged setup photographs include an external Apple monitor and keyboard/mouse; pictured accessories are not included in the computer dimensions or weight
Speakers: Macintosh sound input is 8-bit mono; output 8-bit stereo or 16-bit stereo CD playback. Built-in speaker is muted by either sound-output jack. Included Sound Blaster 16-compatible PC sound card outputs through Macintosh speaker/headphones; the PC environment cannot send or receive serial MIDI according to the exact Apple Read Me
Keyboard and mouse: ADB keyboard and mouse supported; original staged photographs show an external monitor, keyboard and mouse. Performa bundles may include these accessories and software according to their regional configuration; exact LC 630 DOS supplied bundle is not established by the recovered worldwide AppleFacts entry

Design and power

Type: Compact
Weight: 8.6 kg
Width × depth × height: 320 × 419.5 × 109.5 mm
Operating system: macOS
Size and weight detail: Exact Apple technical booklet publishes 320 mm wide × 419.5 mm deep × 109.5 mm high. 8.6 kg with CD-ROM, 7.7 kg without; weight varies with installed options. Shared Service Source swaps width/depth labels, so the exact technical booklet dimensions are retained
Power supply: 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz; 45 W maximum excluding monitor, as published in exact technical booklet and shared Service Source. DOS card 10 W maximum is a subsystem rating, not added to the 45 W headline. Macintosh clock/calendar has a battery
In the box: Mac OS and PC environment operate concurrently, with only the active environment receiving input. PC Setup switches environments, shares folders and configures drive-container files. Original AppleFacts identifies MS-DOS 6.2 and Windows 3.1 support. First actual retail sale has not been established from the recovered maker records, so released is omitted

Configurations

Processor	Memory	Storage	Storage type
68LC040 33 MHz (Macintosh LC 630 DOS Compatible)	8 MB	500 MB	Hard drive

Pros and cons

Pros

Macintosh and PC environments can run simultaneously
Dedicated PC memory and Sound Blaster-compatible sound
Slots for optional networking, video input and TV tuner

Cons

DOS subsystem occupies the processor-direct expansion slot
Ethernet requires an optional card
Separate display required

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Processor	Memory	Storage	Screen	Weight	Released
AppleMacintosh LC 630	Compact	Motorola 68LC040 33 MHz (Macintosh LC 575)	4 MB – 8 MB	250 MB	–	7.7 kg	1994
AppleMacintosh Quadra 610	Compact	Motorola 68040 25 MHz (Macintosh Centris 650)	8 MB	160 MB – 230 MB	–	6.4 kg	1993
AppleMacintosh Quadra 610 DOS Compatible	Compact	Motorola 68LC040 25 MHz (Macintosh Quadra 610 DOS Compatible)	8 MB	160 MB	–	–	Mar 1994

Sources

Photo: Apple Computer, AppleFacts April 1995 via VintageApple; CD-ROM-equipped LC 630 DOS with external display, keyboard and mouse

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