Power Macintosh 5260/120

Released 1996

A 120 MHz education-market PowerPC all-in-one with a colour CRT, built-in speakers and optional multimedia expansion.

Model history · 2 models, 1996–1996

1996Power Macintosh 5260/100 Compare
1996Power Macintosh 5260/120

Type: All-in-one
Processor: PowerPC 603e 120 MHz (Power Macintosh 5260/120)
Memory: 16 MB
Storage: 1.2 GB
Screen: 12.3″
Weight: 20.5 kg

All-in-one

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Specifications

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Performance

Processor: PowerPC 603e 120 MHz (Power Macintosh 5260/120)
CPU cores: 1
Memory: 16 MB
Storage: 1.2 GB
CPU: 120 MHz PowerPC 603e with integrated floating-point unit and 32 KB L1 cache. Exact original brochure and Apple support specify a 64-bit processor data path at 40 MHz. Optional 256 KB L2 High Power Macintosh Module M4849LL/A; it is not included as standard.
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, expandable to 64 MB using two 72-pin SIMM sockets; exact support and shared Service Source state no soldered RAM. Original exact brochure specifies 70 ns or faster noncomposite SIMMs, while current support and service specify 80 ns. The 5260-series user manual technical table and exact 5260/120 user-guide update instead state a 12 MB minimum in removable 70 ns fast-page SIMMs without an exact factory-order bundle. November 1996 Apple Facts claims 8 MB on board plus an 8 MB SIMM, contradicting exact support and service. No additional factory configuration is inferred from these disagreements.
Storage type: 1.2 GB IDE hard drive and 1.44 MB Apple SuperDrive floppy. Exact current support, TIL 20413 description and original education bundle list an 8× CD-ROM drive; shared Service Source identifies AppleCD 1200i. The September 1996 exact brochure and November 1996 Apple Facts instead say 4× CD-ROM. The optical-drive difference remains source-qualified rather than adding an undocumented factory configuration.
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 brochure and product description. Shared Service Source instead says 12.8-inch viewable; exact model wording is retained. Dot pitch 0.28 mm; tilt-and-swivel base.
Display features: 640 × 480 at 16-bit colour and 66.67 Hz in the exact original brochure. The shared service agrees on 66.7 Hz. This is a CRT raster mode, not an LCD fixed pixel grid.

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. Original exact brochure and maker catalogue specify five external SCSI devices; the shared user manual gives six and shared service gives seven, so 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 exact brochure and product description include a matching keyboard, mouse and necessary cables. External speakers, optional cache, Ethernet, video input/output, TV tuner and MPEG expansion are separate. Photos show the exact 5260/120 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 brochure gives 44.5 × 38.3 × 40.6 cm (height × width × depth), 20.5 kg/45 lb; current Apple support agrees on 16-inch depth and 45 lb. November 1996 Apple Facts instead gives 41.4 cm depth, with the same 20.5 kg and variation for installed devices. Shared service swaps width/depth and has inconsistent weight units. Exact original brochure measurements are retained. The shared 5260-series user manual instead lists 21.15 kg/47 lb; it agrees with the retained dimensions but not the exact brochure weight.
Power supply: Exact current support gives 125 W maximum, 110–240 V AC at 50–60 Hz. Exact original brochure instead gives 240 W maximum at the same voltage and frequency; shared service gives 100–240 V 47–63 Hz, 240 W maximum and a separate 220 W all-line/load maximum. Ratings remain source-qualified; no universal operating consumption is assigned. Shared user manual agrees on 125 W maximum, with 100–240 V at 50–60 Hz.
In the box: System 7.5.3 and 4 MB ROM in exact Apple support; original brochure calls the supplied software System 7.5. Apple records introduction on 1 October 1996. Contemporary original education ordering bundle and current November 1996 maker catalogue establish sale during 1996 but not a first-sale month; release remains year precision. Shared service explicitly identifies this model as the 120 MHz, 16 MB and AppleCD 1200i update to the 5260/100. North American Power Macintosh is kept distinct from international Performa 5260/120 and 5280 bundles.

Configurations

Processor	Memory	Storage	Storage type
PowerPC 603e 120 MHz (Power Macintosh 5260/120)	16 MB	1.2 GB	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 5260/100	All-in-one	PowerPC 603e 100 MHz (Power Macintosh 5260/100)	16 MB	800 MB	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