Power Macintosh 5500/250

Released 1997

A 250 MHz PowerPC all-in-one with accelerated graphics and video input, sold in graphite international and beige education configurations.

Type: All-in-one
Processor: PowerPC 603e 250 MHz (Power Macintosh 5500)
Memory: 32 MB
Storage: 2 GB – 4 GB
Screen: 12.8″
Weight: 21 kg

All-in-one

Product links

Specifications

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Performance

Processor: PowerPC 603e 250 MHz (Power Macintosh 5500)
CPU cores: 1
Memory: 32 MB
Storage: 2 GB to 4 GB
CPU: 250 MHz PowerPC 603e with integrated floating-point unit, 32 KB L1 cache, 256 KB L2 cache and 64-bit 50 MHz system bus. This is a distinct clock configuration from the 5500/225.
GPU: 2 MB built-in SGRAM with hardware 2D and 3D acceleration. Exact support table gives 24-bit colour through 832 × 624, 16-bit through 1152 × 870 and 8-bit at 1280 × 1024. The Australian brochure explicitly specifies the built-in display up to 1024 × 768 with 16-bit colour, but its separate Display support subsection incorrectly repeats a 1 MB/8-bit at 832 × 624 table resembling the earlier 5400; that inconsistent subsection is not used. The exact service table confirms 2 MB SGRAM and accelerated graphics.
Memory type: 32 MB RAM in the exact Australian brochure and support specification, with no soldered system memory; two 168-pin DIMM sockets permit up to 128 MB. Shared Service Source specifies 60 ns or faster, 5 V buffered EDO DIMMs and supports fast-page modules too; mixing types can operate at fast-page timings.
Storage type: April 1997 Australian brochure specifies a graphite 32 MB/4 GB IDE/12× CD-ROM configuration. Exact support database instead lists 2 GB minimum and 24× CD-ROM. Shared Service Source documents later graphite Japanese/Australian 32 MB/4 GB/24× configurations with video input, 33.6 Kbit/s modem and Mac OS 8.0, and a US education 32 MB/24× configuration with video input, NTSC output and Ethernet. The later January 1998 family catalogue lists 2 GB and 12× or 24× drives. All retain a 1.44 MB SuperDrive floppy; optical-drive and bundle conditions are kept explicit.
Expansion slots: One PCI slot for a 6.88-inch, 15 W card with a Macintosh driver, Communications Slot II for modem or Ethernet, video-input slot and optional TV/FM tuner bay. Australian brochure includes video input and lists TV tuner with infrared remote and Avid Cinema card/software as optional. The later US education configuration also supplies NTSC output.

Display

Screen size: 12.8″
Resolution: 1024 × 768
Panel: CRT
Display type: Built-in noninterlaced flat-square multiple-scan CRT, 15-inch nominal tube with 325 mm diagonal viewable image (12.8 inches in the January 1998 family catalogue), 0.28 mm dot pitch and software-selectable modes from 640 × 480 to 1024 × 768. Brochure states up to 75 Hz without assigning that maximum to the highest resolution, so headline refresh remains omitted. Base tilts −5° to +15° and swivels 360°.

Connections

Ports: Headphone jack
Front ports: Headphone output, sound-volume and display controls; infrared receiver for the optional TV/FM remote.
Back ports: ADB, external DB-25 SCSI, two RS-232/RS-422/LocalTalk/GeoPort-compatible serial ports, PlainTalk-compatible sound input and stereo output. Australian brochure includes a high-speed GeoPort modem without a published rate; later graphite service configurations specify a 33.6 Kbit/s modem. Exact support and US education service configuration list 10BASE-T, while the January 1998 maker catalogue qualifies Ethernet as configuration-dependent. Modem and Ethernet use the same communications slot; no universal Ethernet headline is assigned. Brochure supports six external SCSI devices.
External displays: January 1998 family catalogue lists NTSC TV output on some configurations; the service manual confirms NTSC output in the US education 250 MHz bundle. Australian brochure establishes built-in video input but does not establish included TV output. Computer-monitor video mirroring needs the appropriate external connector; do not treat an optional connector as included.
Speakers: Built-in stereo speakers, 16-bit stereo sound input/output and SRS 3D surround processing, with rear stereo speaker output.
Microphones: Built-in microphone; PlainTalk-compatible external sound input.
Keyboard and mouse: April 1997 Australian graphite presentation includes matching keyboard, mouse and necessary cables, built-in video-in card, high-speed modem, Apple System 7.5 software and a regional productivity, reference, education and game bundle. Internet service fees are additional. TV tuner/remote and Avid Cinema are optional. Later US education and international Mac OS 8.0 bundles vary; gallery shows the beige family education configuration, unlike the graphite primary.

Design and power

Type: All-in-one
Weight: 21 kg
Width × depth × height: 383 × 406 × 445 mm
Operating system: macOS
Size and weight detail: Australian exact brochure gives 44.5 × 38.3 × 40.6 cm (height × width × depth) and 21 kg / 47 lb. Exact support dimensions and January 1998 family catalogue agree. Weight varies with installed internal devices. Shared service physical table swaps width/depth and prints inconsistent pound/kilogram weights; the exact brochure measurements are used.
Power supply: Exact support and Australian brochure specify 220 W maximum continuous, 110–240 V AC at 50–60 Hz; includes low-power sleep mode. Shared Service Source lists a separate 125 W entry and 220 W maximum for all line/load conditions. No value is treated as measured operating consumption.
Noise: Variable-speed fan automatically runs at the lowest speed needed to minimise noise; the processor also has a small cooling fan. No acoustic measurement is published in these sources.
In the box: April 1997 Australian maker brochure presents the 250 MHz graphite computer as a ready-to-use product and directs buyers to authorised resellers. Exact support later records introduction on 1 September 1997, while the Australian brochure predates that regional/configuration entry. Retail year 1997 is supported by the contemporary Australian sales brochure; exact first-sale month is unresolved. Exact support lists System 7.5.5 with Enabler 411; later shared service configurations use Mac OS 8.0.

Configurations

Processor	Memory	Storage	Storage type
PowerPC 603e 250 MHz (Power Macintosh 5500)	32 MB	4 GB	Hard drive
PowerPC 603e 250 MHz (Power Macintosh 5500)	32 MB	2 GB	Hard drive

Pros and cons

Pros

Built-in colour display, stereo speakers and microphone
2D and 3D graphics acceleration and video input
PCI expansion slot and memory expandable to 128 MB

Cons

No USB ports
Only one PCI expansion slot
Modem and Ethernet share the communications slot

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Processor	Memory	Storage	Screen	Weight	Released
ApplePower Macintosh G3 All-In-One	All-in-one	PowerPC G3 233 MHz (Power Macintosh G3 Desktop) or PowerPC G3 266 MHz (Power Macintosh G3 Desktop)	32 MB	4 GB	15″	26.8 kg	–
ApplePower Macintosh 5400/200	All-in-one	PowerPC 603e 200 MHz (Power Macintosh 5400)	24 MB – 32 MB	1.6 GB	12.8″	21 kg	1997
ApplePower Macintosh 5500/225	All-in-one	PowerPC 603e 225 MHz (Power Macintosh 5500)	16 MB – 32 MB	2 GB – 4 GB	12.8″	21 kg	1997

Sources

Photo: gona.mactar.hu

Original Apple January 1998 shared 225 and 250 MHz 5500 series front photograph, showing the beige education configuration with keyboard and mouse; the graphite Australian configuration appears in the primary: vintageapple.org/applefacts/pdf/Apple_Facts_9801_1.98_January_1998.pdf

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