Apple · Power Mac

Power Macintosh 5260/100

Released 1996

An education-market PowerPC all-in-one with a colour CRT, built-in speakers and optional multimedia expansion.

Type: All-in-one
Processor: PowerPC 603e 100 MHz (Power Macintosh 5260/100)
Memory: 16 MB
Storage: 800 MB
Screen: 12.3″
Weight: 20.5 kg

All-in-one

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Specifications

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Performance

Processor: PowerPC 603e 100 MHz (Power Macintosh 5260/100)
CPU cores: 1
Memory: 16 MB
Storage: 800 MB
CPU: 100 MHz PowerPC 603e with integrated floating-point unit. Exact Apple support lists 32 KB L1 cache and a 64-bit processor data path at 40 MHz; Original exact Apple TIL 19602 and May 1996 Apple Facts instead say 16 KB L1, an unresolved maker conflict. Apple's separate comparison table gives the narrower memory bus as 32-bit at 37.5 MHz, not the same path. Optional 256 KB L2 High Performance Module M4849LL/A is a 160-pin SIMM, not interchangeable with the later 5400/6400 DIMM. Original ordering description and cache note establish it as optional despite the support/service tables listing 256 KB without that qualification.
GPU: 1 MB built-in DRAM framebuffer; exact support and shared service video-mode list support 640 × 480 with 16-bit colour. Other higher-resolution timing pages in the shared service do not establish those as supported modes for the built-in 14-inch display.
Memory type: 16 MB standard in one 72-pin SIMM, with a second socket for expansion to 64 MB. No memory soldered on board; SIMMs can be installed individually. Exact original TIL 19602 specifies 70 ns, while exact current support and shared service specify 80 ns or faster. The timing difference remains qualified. Shared comparison lists an 8 MB minimum, without an exact factory bundle.
Storage type: 800 MB IDE hard drive, 1.44 MB Apple SuperDrive floppy and quadruple-speed AppleCD 600i in original M4982LL/A ordering information. May 1996 Apple Facts says CD-ROM is present in most configurations; no undocumented drive-free factory combination is added. Shared service lists larger family drives without coupling them to an exact 5260/100 bundle.
Expansion slots: LC-compatible PDS, 68040-bus communications slot for optional modem or Ethernet, optional video-input card and TV tuner bay. PDS is not a direct connection to the PowerPC processor; processor-dependent cache/FPU cards are not compatible. Optional MPEG Media System requires the video-input card. Video capture accepts NTSC, PAL and SECAM; tuner standard varies by region.

Display

Screen size: 12.3″
Resolution: 640 × 480
Panel: CRT
Refresh rate: 66.67 Hz
Display type: Built-in 14-inch nominal shadow-mask colour CRT with 12.3-inch viewable diagonal in the exact original ordering description and technical sheet. Shared Service Source instead says 12.8-inch viewable; exact model wording is retained. Dot pitch 0.28 mm; tilt-and-swivel base. A CRT has selectable raster modes rather than a fixed LCD pixel grid.
Display features: 640 × 480 at 16-bit colour and 66.67 Hz in the exact original TIL 19602 technical sheet. Shared service agrees on 66.7 Hz; a separate service timing table headed 60 Hz instead gives 15 ms, so no second 60 Hz mode is inferred.

Connections

Ports: Headphone jack
Front ports: Headphone output, push-button volume and display brightness controls, infrared remote receiver.
Back ports: ADB, external DB-25 SCSI, two RS-232/422 modem/printer serial ports with LocalTalk, PlainTalk-compatible sound input and stereo sound output. Ethernet requires an optional communications-slot card; no GeoPort inferred from a similar-looking serial connector. Exact original TIL gives six external SCSI devices in its ports section but five in expansion; maker catalogue says five and shared service seven. Limits remain source-qualified.
External displays: Optional Apple External Video Connector provides DB-15 mirroring, with a compatible display. Optional Apple Presentation System converts the mirrored output for television/projector or VCR use; it is not an independent extended desktop.
Speakers: Two built-in speakers and 16-bit stereo output. Shared service specifies 22 kHz playback and 11/22 kHz recording, with ordinary audio-CD playback. Stereo input connectors are combined to mono for recording/play-through; do not treat the connector as stereo capture.
Microphones: Built-in microphone for mono recording; rear microphone/line input supports PlainTalk-compatible microphones.
Keyboard and mouse: Original M4982LL/A ordering description includes matching keyboard, mouse and necessary cables. External speakers, optional cache, Ethernet, video input/output, TV tuner and MPEG expansion are separate. Maker photograph shows the exact 5260/100 with keyboard and mouse.

Design and power

Type: All-in-one
Weight: 20.5 kg
Width × depth × height: 383 × 406 × 445 mm
Operating system: macOS
Size and weight detail: Exact original TIL 19602 technical sheet gives 44.5 × 38.3 × 40.6 cm (height × width × depth), 20.5 kg/45 lb; exact current support agrees on 16-inch depth and 45 lb. May 1996 Apple Facts instead gives 41.4 cm depth, 20.2 kg/44.9 lb, varying with installed devices. Shared service swaps width/depth and has inconsistent weight units. Exact original technical-sheet dimensions and complete-unit kg figure are used; disagreement remains explicit.
Power supply: Exact current support lists 125 W maximum , 110–240 V AC at 50–60 Hz. Exact original TIL 19602 instead gives 240 W maximum at 110–240 V AC 50–60 Hz; shared service gives 100–240 V 47–63 Hz, 240 W maximum and a separate 220 W all-line/load maximum. Conflicting ratings remain qualified; no universal headline operating consumption is assigned.
In the box: System 7.5.3 and 4 MB ROM in exact Apple support; original ordering description calls it System 7.5. Apple records introduction on 15 April 1996; current May 1996 maker education catalogue establishes sale in 1996, not a first-sale month. Release remains year precision. North American education 5260/100 is separate from later 5260/120 and international Performa bundles.

Configurations

Processor	Memory	Storage	Storage type
PowerPC 603e 100 MHz (Power Macintosh 5260/100)	16 MB	800 MB	Hard drive

Pros and cons

Pros

Built-in display, speakers and microphone
Optional video input, TV tuner and Ethernet
Memory expandable to 64 MB

Cons

No USB or PCI expansion slots
Built-in display limited to 640 × 480
L2 cache is an optional add-on

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Processor	Memory	Storage	Screen	Weight	Released
AppleMacintosh Performa 5400/160	All-in-one	PowerPC 603e (160 MHz, Macintosh Performa 5400/160)	16 MB	1.6 GB	12.8″	21 kg	1996
ApplePower Macintosh 5260/120	All-in-one	PowerPC 603e 120 MHz (Power Macintosh 5260/120)	16 MB	1.2 GB	12.3″	20.5 kg	1996
ApplePower Macintosh 5400/120	All-in-one	PowerPC 603e 120 MHz (Power Macintosh 5400)	16 MB	1.6 GB	12.8″	21.2 kg	1996

Newer model: Power Macintosh 5260/120.

Sources

Photo: Original Apple Facts May 1996 exact 5260/100 photograph with keyboard and mouse, native scan preserved without upscaling

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