Power Macintosh 6100
Encyclopedia
The Power Macintosh 6100 was Apple Computer's first computer to use the new PowerPC
RISC type processor created by IBM
and Motorola
. It came in the Centris 610's "pizza box" low-profile case, and superseded the Quadra
series that used Motorola's 68040
processor, Apple's previous high end workstation line. It is the earliest Macintosh model able to run Mac OS 9
.
and S-video
input/output and full 48 kHz 16-bit DAT
-resolution sound processing, invaluable to multimedia professionals.
Apple also released a PC-compatible model of the 6100 called the Power Macintosh 6100 DOS
Compatible. This version came with a card that featured a Cyrix
CX486 DX2/66 80486
processor and a single SIMM
RAM slot that used the same type of RAM to that in the Power Mac itself, and could hold up to 32mb of RAM, a Creative Technology
Vibra 16 sound chipset, and also sported standard PC VGA
and joystick
ports. One could easily run the Macintosh interface and DOS/Windows 3.1
side by side, even on different monitors if one so desired. The card could also use the main system RAM if there was no SIMM installed on the card.
Notable was the new startup and "sad mac" chimes: instead of the electronic "bong" that was the previous norm, it played a guitar chord strummed by jazz guitarist Stanley Jordan
, and instead of the "Chimes of Doom" arpeggio that played when there was a hardware error at startup, there was the sound of a car crashing and glass breaking.
This model and the other early NuBus
-based Power Macs (7100
, 8100
and Workgroup Server 9150) were replaced by the Power Macintosh PCI
series released in 1995, although the 6100 DOS compatible continued in production until 1996, even though by this time Apple had already released the anticipated "PC Personality Card" that plugged into one of the PCI slots of the newer Power Macs. This card featured a 66 MHz Pentium processor, which was considered very fast at that time.
The 6100 was the slowest Power Macintosh in terms of processor speed upon introduction. However, it was powerful enough at the time to replace Jerry Seinfeld
's PowerBook Duo
as his desktop Mac. Eventually, the 6100 series was able to be upgraded through third-party solutions such as Sonnet Technologies Crescendo G3 NuBus (up to 500 MHz) and G4 NuBus (up to 360 MHz; discontinued) and Newer Technology
's MaxPower G3 processor upgrades.
series
PowerPC
PowerPC is a RISC architecture created by the 1991 Apple–IBM–Motorola alliance, known as AIM...
RISC type processor created by IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
and Motorola
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...
. It came in the Centris 610's "pizza box" low-profile case, and superseded the Quadra
Macintosh Quadra
The Macintosh Quadra series was Apple Computer's product family of professional high-end Apple Macintosh personal computers built using the Motorola 68040 CPU. The first two models in the Quadra line were introduced in 1991, and the name was used until the Power Mac was introduced in 1994...
series that used Motorola's 68040
Motorola 68040
The Motorola 68040 is a microprocessor from Motorola, released in 1990. It is the successor to the 68030 and is followed by the 68060. There was no 68050. In keeping with general Motorola naming, the 68040 is often referred to as simply the '040 ....
processor, Apple's previous high end workstation line. It is the earliest Macintosh model able to run Mac OS 9
Mac OS 9
Mac OS 9 is the final major release of Apple's Mac OS before the launch of Mac OS X. Introduced on October 23, 1999, Apple positioned it as "The Best Internet Operating System Ever," highlighting Sherlock 2's Internet search capabilities, integration with Apple's free online services known as...
.
Overview
Power Macintosh 6100 was first introduced in 1994, and featured a 60 MHz (later 66 MHz) PowerPC 601 processor. It was later complemented by an AV version, which featured additional audio and visual enhancements such as compositeComposite video
Composite video is the format of an analog television signal before it is combined with a sound signal and modulated onto an RF carrier. In contrast to component video it contains all required video information, including colors in a single line-level signal...
and S-video
S-Video
Separate Video, more commonly known as S-Video and Y/C, is often referred to by JVC as both an S-VHS connector and as Super Video. It is an analog video transmission scheme, in which video information is encoded on two channels: luma and chroma...
input/output and full 48 kHz 16-bit DAT
Digital Audio Tape
Digital Audio Tape is a signal recording and playback medium developed by Sony and introduced in 1987. In appearance it is similar to a compact audio cassette, using 4 mm magnetic tape enclosed in a protective shell, but is roughly half the size at 73 mm × 54 mm × 10.5 mm. As...
-resolution sound processing, invaluable to multimedia professionals.
Apple also released a PC-compatible model of the 6100 called the Power Macintosh 6100 DOS
DOS
DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
Compatible. This version came with a card that featured a Cyrix
Cyrix
Cyrix Corporation was a microprocessor developer that was founded in 1988 in Richardson, Texas as a specialist supplier of high-performance math coprocessors for 286 and 386 microprocessors. The company was founded by former Texas Instruments staff members and had a long but troubled relationship...
CX486 DX2/66 80486
Intel 80486
The Intel 80486 microprocessor was a higher performance follow up on the Intel 80386. Introduced in 1989, it was the first tightly pipelined x86 design as well as the first x86 chip to use more than a million transistors, due to a large on-chip cache and an integrated floating point unit...
processor and a single SIMM
SIMM
A SIMM, or single in-line memory module, is a type of memory module containing random access memory used in computers from the early 1980s to the late 1990s. It differs from a dual in-line memory module , the most predominant form of memory module today, in that the contacts on a SIMM are redundant...
RAM slot that used the same type of RAM to that in the Power Mac itself, and could hold up to 32mb of RAM, a Creative Technology
Creative Technology
Creative Technology Ltd. is a Singapore-based global company headquartered in Jurong East, Singapore. The principal activities of the company and its subsidiaries consist of the design, manufacture and distribution of digitized sound and video boards, computers and related multimedia, and personal...
Vibra 16 sound chipset, and also sported standard PC VGA
Video Graphics Array
Video Graphics Array refers specifically to the display hardware first introduced with the IBM PS/2 line of computers in 1987, but through its widespread adoption has also come to mean either an analog computer display standard, the 15-pin D-subminiature VGA connector or the 640×480 resolution...
and joystick
Game port
The game port is a device port found on IBM PC compatible systems throughout the 1980s and 1990s. It was the traditional connector for joystick input devices until superseded by USB in the 21st century....
ports. One could easily run the Macintosh interface and DOS/Windows 3.1
Windows 3.1x
Windows 3.1x is a series of 16-bit operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers. The series began with Windows 3.1, which was first sold during March 1992 as a successor to Windows 3.0...
side by side, even on different monitors if one so desired. The card could also use the main system RAM if there was no SIMM installed on the card.
Notable was the new startup and "sad mac" chimes: instead of the electronic "bong" that was the previous norm, it played a guitar chord strummed by jazz guitarist Stanley Jordan
Stanley Jordan
Stanley Jordan is an American jazz/jazz fusion guitarist and pianist, best known for his development of the tapping technique for the guitar....
, and instead of the "Chimes of Doom" arpeggio that played when there was a hardware error at startup, there was the sound of a car crashing and glass breaking.
This model and the other early NuBus
NuBus
NuBus is a 32-bit parallel computer bus, originally developed at MIT as a part of the NuMachine workstation project. The first complete implementation of the NuBus and the NuMachine was done by Western Digital for their NuMachine, and for the Lisp Machines Inc. LMI-Lambda. The NuBus was later...
-based Power Macs (7100
Power Macintosh 7100
The Power Macintosh 7100 was a mid-range Apple Macintosh personal computer that was designed, manufactured and sold by Apple Computer from March 1994 to January 1996. The PowerMac 7100 was faster and more expandable than the Power Macintosh 6100, and was a part of the original Power Macintosh line...
, 8100
Power Macintosh 8100
The Power Macintosh 8100 is a personal computer that is a part of Apple Computer's Power Macintosh series of Macintosh computers...
and Workgroup Server 9150) were replaced by the Power Macintosh PCI
Peripheral Component Interconnect
Conventional PCI is a computer bus for attaching hardware devices in a computer...
series released in 1995, although the 6100 DOS compatible continued in production until 1996, even though by this time Apple had already released the anticipated "PC Personality Card" that plugged into one of the PCI slots of the newer Power Macs. This card featured a 66 MHz Pentium processor, which was considered very fast at that time.
The 6100 was the slowest Power Macintosh in terms of processor speed upon introduction. However, it was powerful enough at the time to replace Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld (character)
Jerome "Jerry" Seinfeld is the main protagonist of the American television sitcom Seinfeld . The straight man among his group of friends, this semi-fictionalized version of comedian Jerry Seinfeld was named after, co-created by, based on, and played by Seinfeld himself.The series revolves around...
's PowerBook Duo
PowerBook Duo
The PowerBook Duo was a line of small subnotebooks manufactured and sold by Apple Computer from 1992 until 1997 as a more compact companion to the PowerBook line. Improving upon the PowerBook 100's portability , the Duo came in seven different models...
as his desktop Mac. Eventually, the 6100 series was able to be upgraded through third-party solutions such as Sonnet Technologies Crescendo G3 NuBus (up to 500 MHz) and G4 NuBus (up to 360 MHz; discontinued) and Newer Technology
Newer Technology
Newer Technology is a supplier of upgrades and peripherals for the Apple Macintosh computer. They went bankrupt at the end of 2000 and the company was dissolved, but the name and remaining intellectual property was bought afterwards and used by a new owner....
's MaxPower G3 processor upgrades.
Specifications
AKA: Performa 6110CD, Performa 6112CD, Performa 6115CD, Performa 6116CD, Performa 6117CD, Performa 6118CD, WG Server 6150Apple Workgroup Server
Apple Workgroup Server and, later, Macintosh Server, were the names given to selected models of Macintosh computers which were sold by Apple Computer with additional server software and sometimes bigger hard drives. Apart from that, they were mostly identical to computers out of Apple's...
series
- Codename: Piltdown ManPiltdown ManThe Piltdown Man was a hoax in which bone fragments were presented as the fossilised remains of a previously unknown early human. These fragments consisted of parts of a skull and jawbone, said to have been collected in 1912 from a gravel pit at Piltdown, East Sussex, England...
- CPU: PowerPC 601
- CPU Speed: 60/66 MHz
- FPU: integrated
- Bus Architecture: NuBusNuBusNuBus is a 32-bit parallel computer bus, originally developed at MIT as a part of the NuMachine workstation project. The first complete implementation of the NuBus and the NuMachine was done by Western Digital for their NuMachine, and for the Lisp Machines Inc. LMI-Lambda. The NuBus was later...
- Bus Speed: 30/33 MHz
- Data Path: 64 bit
- ROM: 4 MiBMIBMIB may refer to any of several concepts:* Master of International Business, a postgraduate business degree* Melayu Islam Beraja, the adopted national philosophy of Brunei* Motion induced blindness, a visual illusion in peripheral vision...
Old World ROMOld World ROMOld World ROM Macintosh computers are the Macintosh models that use a Macintosh Toolbox ROM chip, usually in a socket . All Macs prior to the iMac use Old World ROM, while the iMac and all subsequent models until the introduction of the Intel-based EFI Models are New World ROM machines... - RAM Type: 72 pin EDODynamic random access memoryDynamic random-access memory is a type of random-access memory that stores each bit of data in a separate capacitor within an integrated circuit. The capacitor can be either charged or discharged; these two states are taken to represent the two values of a bit, conventionally called 0 and 1...
or FPMDynamic random access memoryDynamic random-access memory is a type of random-access memory that stores each bit of data in a separate capacitor within an integrated circuit. The capacitor can be either charged or discharged; these two states are taken to represent the two values of a bit, conventionally called 0 and 1...
SIMMSIMMA SIMM, or single in-line memory module, is a type of memory module containing random access memory used in computers from the early 1980s to the late 1990s. It differs from a dual in-line memory module , the most predominant form of memory module today, in that the contacts on a SIMM are redundant...
s (install in pairs of equal MiB amounts and equal types) - Maximum (fastest) RAM Speed: 60 ns
- Minimum (slowest) RAM Speed: 80 ns
- Onboard RAM: 8 MiB soldered to logic board
- RAM Slots: 2
- Maximum RAM: 72 MiB (Apple's old official amount) (higher RAM amounts are possible but only with increased risk of heat and stability issues)
- Level 1 Cache: 16 KiB data, 16 KiB instruction (32 KiB total)
- Level 2 Cache: optional
- VRAM: 640 KiB DRAM "borrowed" from system RAM (2 MiB w/ Power Macintosh AV card)
- Maximum Resolution: 1152x870 at thousands of colors (w/ AV card)
- Slots: PDSProcessor Direct SlotProcessor Direct Slot or PDS introduced by Apple Computer, in several of their Macintosh models, provided a limited measure of hardware expandibility, without going to the expense of providing full-fledged bus expansion slots.Typically, a machine would feature multiple bus expansions slots, if any...
or 7" NuBus (AV card fills both) - Floppy Drive: 1.44 MB SuperDriveSuperDriveSuperDrive is a trademark used by Apple Inc. for two different storage drives: from 1988–99 to refer to a high-density floppy disk drive capable of reading all major 3.5" disk formats; and from 2001 onwards to refer to a combined CD/DVD reader/writer....
- Optical Drive: optional 2x CD-ROM Apple 300iAppleCDAppleCD was a range of early SCSI-based CD ROM drives for Apple Macintosh personal computers, manufactured and sold by Apple Computer. Earlier AppleCD drives required a CD caddy in order to be used, while later models used a tray-loading mechanism. The original model introduced in 1988 was simply...
(internal 50-pin SCSISCSISmall Computer System Interface is a set of standards for physically connecting and transferring data between computers and peripheral devices. The SCSI standards define commands, protocols, and electrical and optical interfaces. SCSI is most commonly used for hard disks and tape drives, but it...
) - Hard Disk: 250 MB - 700 MB (internal 50-pin SCSISCSISmall Computer System Interface is a set of standards for physically connecting and transferring data between computers and peripheral devices. The SCSI standards define commands, protocols, and electrical and optical interfaces. SCSI is most commonly used for hard disks and tape drives, but it...
) - Ethernet: AAUI-15Apple Attachment Unit InterfaceApple Attachment Unit Interface is a mechanical re-design by Apple of the standard Attachment Unit Interface used to connect Ethernet transceivers to computer equipment...
- ADB: 1
- Serial: 2 (printer & fax/modem)
- SCSI: DB-25
- Video Out: HDI-45HDI-45 connectorThe HDI-45 was one of Apple Computer's proprietary cable-to-onboard video connectors. These connectors were used only in the first generation Power Macintosh computers specifically for the Apple AudioVision 14 Display. No other display uses this connector...
- Audio Out: stereo 16 bit mini
- Audio In: stereo 16 bit mini
- Speaker(s): mono
- Gestalt ID: 75
- Power: 210 watts
- Weight: 14.5 lb
- Dimensions: 3.4" H x 16.3" W x 15.6" D (86 mm x 414 mm x 396 mm)
- Minimum OS: 7.1.2 (60 MHz version), 7.5 (66 MHz version), MS-DOSMS-DOSMS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...
6.22 and Windows 3.1Windows 3.1xWindows 3.1x is a series of 16-bit operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers. The series began with Windows 3.1, which was first sold during March 1992 as a successor to Windows 3.0...
(66 MHz PC Compatible model on DOS Compatibity card) - Maximum OS: 9.1Mac OS 9Mac OS 9 is the final major release of Apple's Mac OS before the launch of Mac OS X. Introduced on October 23, 1999, Apple positioned it as "The Best Internet Operating System Ever," highlighting Sherlock 2's Internet search capabilities, integration with Apple's free online services known as...
- Introduced: March 1994 (60 MHz version), January 1995 (66 MHz version)
- Discontinued: January 1995 (60 MHz version), May 1996 (66 MHz version)