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Apple Macintosh Performa 600 · Apple Computer, original Performa brochure via 1000bit; 600CD with included keyboard and mouse and separately sold Performa Plus Display. Small native archival scan
Apple · Macintosh
Macintosh Performa 600
A 32 MHz 68030 home Macintosh with three NuBus slots, dedicated video memory and a 600CD configuration with an internal double-speed CD-ROM drive.
- Type
- Compact
- Processor
- Motorola 68030 32 MHz (Macintosh Performa 600)
- Memory
- 4 MB – 5 MB
- Storage
- 160 MB
- Screen
- –
- Weight
- 11.3 kg
What reviewers say
Macworld and Byte both liked the expansion options and dedicated video memory, but found that the slower memory bus limited performance against the IIci despite the faster processor. Macworld praised its value and case design; Byte highlighted upgradeable colour depth. These were early tests: Macworld used beta system software and Byte benchmarked a prototype, so their performance results may differ from final retail units.
From vintageapple.org and vintageapple.org
Product links
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specPerformance
- Processor
- 68030 32 MHz (Macintosh Performa 600)
- CPU cores
- 1
- Memory
- 4 MB or 5 MB
- Storage
- 160 MB
- CPU
- Motorola 68030 advertised as 32 MHz; Apple TIL 10681 gives the exact 31.3344 MHz clock. Integrated paged memory management, optional socketed 68882 at the same clock, and no external RAM cache. This is distinct from the 16 MHz IIvi and the IIvx with its standard FPU and 32 KB cache
- GPU
- Performa 600 has 512 KB VRAM; 600CD includes 1 MB. Supports 640 × 480 at 8-bit colour with 512 KB, or 16-bit colour with 1 MB; 512 × 384 RGB supports 16-bit colour with either capacity. Optional NuBus display cards support other monitors
- Memory type
- 4 MB soldered DRAM and four 30-pin SIMM slots, expandable to 68 MB with 80 ns or faster fast-page-mode memory. All four expansion SIMMs must have matching capacity and speed. 1 MB ROM and 256-byte parameter RAM
- Storage type
- Both original brochure configurations include a 160 MB internal SCSI hard disk and 1.4 MB SuperDrive. 600CD adds an AppleCD 300i double-speed CD-ROM drive with multisession Photo CD support; standard 600 leaves its half-height 5.25-inch bay free. Apple supports 80–400 MB internal hard drives; this supported range is not presented as extra factory configurations
- Expansion slots
- Three NuBus slots and a separate processor-direct accelerator slot. No built-in Ethernet; LocalTalk uses the serial ports. Internal SCSI expansion bay and support for up to six external SCSI devices
Display
- Screen
- None built in
Connections
- Ports
- Headphone jack
- Back ports
- Two ADB ports, DB-15 video, DB-25 SCSI, two mini-DIN-8 RS-232/RS-422 serial ports, mono sound input and sound output. Serial maximum 230.4 kbit/s, or 0.920 Mbit/s with an external clock
- External displays
- Separate display required; the original brochure shows an optional 14-inch Performa Plus Display. Built-in video also supports the published Apple 12-inch monochrome/RGB, AppleColor High-Resolution RGB and Macintosh Color displays, plus 640 × 480 VGA with an appropriate adaptor
- Speakers
- Computer-generated audio is mono, sent to both channels of a stereo output device. Audio CDs provide stereo at the sound-output socket, or mono through the built-in speaker. Electret omnidirectional microphone supplied
- Keyboard and mouse
- Apple Extended Keyboard II, ADB mouse and microphone. Display sold separately; original Apple brochure photographs show the optional display with each configuration
Design and power
- Type
- Compact
- Weight
- 11.3 kg
- Operating system
- macOS
- Size and weight detail
- Apple specifies 25 lb (11.3 kg), 6 inches high, 13 inches wide and 16.5 inches deep. TIL 10681 prints an inconsistent metric height of 152 cm beside 6 inches; dimensions_mm is omitted rather than silently correcting that source
- Power supply
- Apple TIL 10681 states 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz and 112 W maximum excluding monitor; it also gives 112 W maximum DC output. Current archived support lists 230 W maximum and shared Service Source gives 200 W AC and 112 W DC. These differing ratings are retained without selecting a single headline consumption figure
- In the box
- System 7.1P for the Performa 600, At Ease, Macintosh PC Exchange and application software varying by retailer. Apple introduced it on 14 September 1992; the original launch planned later availability, and an actual first retail date has not been independently established, so released is omitted
Configurations
| Processor | Memory | Storage | Storage type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 68030 32 MHz (Macintosh Performa 600) | 4 MB | 160 MB | Hard drive |
| 68030 32 MHz (Macintosh Performa 600) | 5 MB | 160 MB | Hard drive |
Pros and cons
Pros
- Three NuBus slots and an accelerator slot
- Dedicated video memory, expandable to 1 MB
- 600CD configuration includes a double-speed CD-ROM drive
Cons
- No standard floating-point coprocessor or external cache
- Ethernet requires an expansion card
- Separate monitor required
Closest rivals
Model | Type | Processor | Memory | Storage | Screen | Weight | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact | 68030 16 MHz (Macintosh Color Classic) | 4 MB – 5 MB | 40 MB – 160 MB | – | 11.3 kg | – | |
| Compact | Motorola 68030 32 MHz (Macintosh IIvx) | 4 MB – 5 MB | 80 MB – 230 MB | – | 11.3 kg | – | |
| Compact | Motorola 68LC040 20 MHz (Macintosh Centris 610) | 4 MB | 80 MB | – | – | 1993 |
Sources
- support.apple.com/en-us/112343
- savagetaylor.com/TIL/TIL10681.pdf
- 1000bit.it/ad/bro/apple/applemacintoshperforma.pdf
- macdat.net/files/pdf/apple/servicesource/macintosh_iivx-iivi-performa600.pdf
- leopard-adc.pepas.com/documentation/Hardware/Developer_Notes/Macintosh_CPUs-68K…
- savagetaylor.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/Apple_Directions/Apple_Direct_199…
- Standard Macintosh Performa 600 without the CD-ROM drive, with supplied keyboard and mouse and separately sold Performa Plus Display; original Apple brochure scan: Apple Computer, original Performa brochure via 1000bit; standard 600 configuration, optional display