Apple · Power Mac

Power Macintosh 9600/233

Released 1997

A single-processor 233 MHz PowerPC tower with six PCI slots, twelve memory sockets and a 4 GB SCSI disk.

Type: Tower
Processor: PowerPC 604e 233 MHz (Power Macintosh 9600/233)
Memory: 32 MB
Storage: 4 GB
Screen: –
Weight: 15.9 kg

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Specifications

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Performance

Processor: PowerPC 604e 233 MHz (Power Macintosh 9600/233)
CPU cores: 1
Graphics: IMS Twin Turbo-128 PCI graphics accelerator (4 MB VRAM; Japanese configuration)
Memory: 32 MB
Storage: 4 GB
CPU: One 233 MHz PowerPC 604e on a removable processor card with integrated floating-point unit, 64 KB level-one cache and 512 KB level-two cache soldered to logic board. Exact Japanese maker page gives 46.6 MHz system bus; English support table instead gives 50 MHz, and this conflict remains explicit.
GPU: Japanese maker product page names an Integrated Micro Solution Twin Turbo-128 accelerator with 4 MB fixed VRAM, 24-bit colour through 1280 × 1024 and 16-bit at 1600 × 1200. Original US brochure instead limits 24-bit colour to 1152 × 870. Both specify up to 1600 × 1200; regional colour-depth difference remains qualified, and no exact card board designation is inferred.
Memory type: 32 MB standard, twelve 168-pin 64-bit 70 ns-or-faster DRAM DIMM sockets, up to 768 MB officially supported; matching modules in corresponding sockets permit interleaving. English support says 128 MB DIMMs may work but were not tested; these are not treated as an approved expansion configuration. 4 MB ROM
Storage type: 4 GB internal Fast SCSI hard disk, manual-inject 1.44 MB Apple SuperDrive floppy and AppleCD 1800i 12× CD-ROM in shared Service Source. No standard Zip drive on original 233 configuration; later 300 and 350 MHz models differ. Internal Fast SCSI up to 10 MB/s and external SCSI up to 5 MB/s.
Expansion slots: Six PCI 2.0 expansion slots, five free with the supplied graphics card. Additional internal storage bays and removable processor card; no NuBus slots. Side-panel release permits access to memory, PCI cards and processor

Display

Screen: None built in

Connections

Ports: Ethernet, headphone jack
Ethernet: 0.01 Gb/s
Back ports: One ADB connector, two GeoPort/LocalTalk-compatible serial connectors, external SCSI, AAUI-15 and 10BASE-T Ethernet connectors, 16-bit stereo sound input and output. DB-15 monitor connector belongs to the supplied PCI card. Both Ethernet connectors share one interface; with both connected, the service manual says 10BASE-T takes priority
External displays: One external monitor via the supplied graphics card, up to 1600 × 1200 with compatible display and cables; developer note says the card does not support sync-on-green monitors
Speakers: Built-in speaker and 16-bit stereo audio input/output
Microphones: External Apple PlainTalk microphone supplied in the Japanese bundle; no built-in microphone
Keyboard and mouse: Original US M5883LL/A bundle includes AppleDesign keyboard, ADB Mouse II, PlainTalk microphone, System 7.5.5 or later, Internet software and documentation. Japanese bundle includes ADB Mouse II, PlainTalk microphone, power cable, KanjiTalk 7.5.5 CD-ROM, Internet Starter Kit and sample CDs, manuals and warranty; keyboard and monitor sold separately there.

Design and power

Type: Tower
Weight: 15.9 kg
Width × depth × height: 246 × 440 × 439 mm
Operating system: macOS
Size and weight detail: Exact Japanese 9600/233 maker page gives 439 mm high, 246 mm wide and 440 mm deep, 15.9 kg varying installed devices. US brochure rounds height to 440 mm; shared Service Source gives conflicting 224 mm width, so the exact model specification takes precedence.
Power supply: 100–240 V AC automatically configured, single phase, 50/60 Hz. Shared Service Source distinguishes 390 W maximum DC supply output from AC input consumption
Power use: 560 W maximum continuous AC input and 700 W peak input, excluding monitor; exact Japanese specification and shared service manual agree. English support’s 390 W matches the service manual’s DC output rating, so it is not treated as AC consumption
In the box: Apple lists 17 February 1997 as introduction. Exact February 1997 US maker brochure includes current ordering information and directs buyers to resellers; MacUser August 1997 explicitly reports the exact 233 MHz model shipping in quantity. Release year 1997 retained; actual first-sale month/day remains unconfirmed. Single processor, distinct from 200MP and Workgroup Server 9650/233.

Configurations

Processor	Memory	Storage	Storage type	Graphics
PowerPC 604e 233 MHz (Power Macintosh 9600/233)	32 MB	4 GB	Hard drive	IMS Twin Turbo-128 PCI graphics accelerator (4 MB VRAM; Japanese configuration)

Pros and cons

Pros

Replaceable processor card
Six PCI slots and twelve memory sockets
Tool-free access to tower interior

Cons

Bundled video card occupies one PCI slot
No USB ports
SCSI internal storage

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Processor	Memory	Storage	Screen	Weight	Released
ApplePower Macintosh 6500/225	Tower	PowerPC 603e 225 MHz (Power Macintosh 6500)	32 MB	2 GB – 3 GB	–	–	1997
ApplePower Macintosh 8600/200	Tower	PowerPC 604e 200 MHz (Power Macintosh 8600/200)	32 MB	2 GB	–	–	1997
ApplePower Macintosh 8600/250	Tower	PowerPC 604e 250 MHz (Power Macintosh 8600/250)	32 MB	4 GB	–	–	1997

Sources

Photo: Apple; original exact 9600/233 February 1997 US brochure front-side tower photograph, native scan

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