TITLE
    Enhanced PCI-Based Power Macintosh Models: New Features
Article ID:
Created:
Modified: 		19588
4/9/96
9/16/97
TOPIC

    What are the differences between the previous PCI-based Power Macintosh computers and the enhanced (speedbump) PCI-based Power Macintosh computers.

DISCUSSION

    The new features in the enhanced PCI-based Power Macintosh computers include:
    • Faster processor speeds: up to 150 MHz
    • A second-level (L2) cache for higher performance in most models
    • Larger sizes of internal hard disks: up to 2 GB
    • The latest release of the Mac OS: System 7.5.3
    • Multihoming support

    Processor Types and Speeds
    The clock speeds for the microprocessors in the enhanced Power Macintosh 7200, 7500, 8500, and 9500 computers are increased over their earlier counterparts. In addition, the microprocessor in the Power Macintosh 7600 is a PowerPC 604 instead of the PowerPC 601 used in the original Power Macintosh 7500. The updates are as follow:

    Processor Types and Speeds
    Model
    Processor Type
    Processor Clock Speed
    Processor Bus Speed
    Power Macintosh 7200
    PowerPC 601
    120 MHz
    40 MHz
    Power Macintosh 7600
    PowerPC 604
    120 MHz
    40 MHz
    Power Macintosh 8500
    PowerPC 604
    132 MHz
    44 MHz
    Power Macintosh 8500
    PowerPC 604
    150 MHz
    50 MHz
    Power Macintosh 9500
    PowerPC 604
    150 MHz
    50 MHz



    Second-Level Cache
    All of the enhanced PCI-based Power Macintosh models, except the lowest-priced Power Macintosh 7200 models, include a second-level (L2) cache. The L2 cache provides up to 40% better performance.

    The L2 cache in the Power Macintosh 9500/150 consists of 512 KB of fast static RAM. The size of the cache in the other models is 256 KB. The table in the configurations section of this article depicts this information.


    Hard disk drive
    The internal hard drives of the enhanced PCI-based Power Macintosh computers consist of either 800 MB, 1.2 GB, or 2 GB. The table in the configurations section of this article depicts this information.


    Macintosh System 7.5.3
    The enhanced PCI-based Power Macintosh computers include the latest version of the Mac OS, System 7.5.3.


    Configurations
    Configurations
    Model
    DRAM
    Hard Drive
    L2 Cache
    Power Macintosh 7200/100
    8 MB
    800 MB
    -
    Power Macintosh 7200/120
    8 MB
    1.2 GB
    -
    Power Macintosh 7200/120
    8 or 16 MB
    1.2 GB
    256K
    Power Macintosh 7600/120
    16 MB
    1.2 GB
    256K
    Power Macintosh 8500/132
    16 MB
    1.2 GB
    256K
    Power Macintosh 8500/150
    16 MB
    2 GB
    256K
    Power Macintosh 9500/150
    16 MB
    2 GB
    512K

    Multihoming
    The enhanced models of the PCI-based Power Macintosh computers have a new version of the Curio IC, CurioPrime, that supports multihoming. Multihoming, also called multiporting, makes it possible for AppleTalk to be active on more than one network port on the computer at the same time.

    Multihoming is most important for Macintosh computers with PC Compatible cards installed so users can have simultaneous TCP/IP and Netware sessions.

    This article was published in the Information Alley on 25 April 1996.

Document Information
Product Area: Computers
Category: Power Macintosh
Sub Category: General Topics
Keywords: kppc, kalley

Copyright © 2000 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved.