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April 22, 1996, marked a pivotal moment in tech history with the debut of the Macintosh Performa 5400CD. A beacon of innovation, this personal computer from Apple’s heralded Macintosh Performa series swiftly became a darling among tech fans. Designed to seamlessly blend the power of a desktop with the portability of a laptop, it carved a niche of its own.
Sporting a robust PowerPC 603e processor, available at 120 MHz, 160 MHz, or 180 MHz, the Performa 5400CD was a force to be reckoned with. Backed by a 15-inch color CRT display, 16 MB or 24 MB of RAM, and a 1.6 GB or 2.4 GB hard drive, it was engineered for uncompromised productivity. The inclusion of a 4x or 8x CD-ROM drive and a 1.44 MB floppy drive further solidified its prowess for day-to-day tasks.
Regrettably, the Performa 5400CD’s journey was fleeting. On December 1st, 1997, Apple bid adieu to this icon, leaving behind a legacy etched in the memories of its users. Today, 27 years later, the Macintosh Performa 5400CD stands as a poignant reminder of Apple’s formative years in the realm of personal computing.
Much like its counterparts in the Performa 5400 and Power Macintosh 5400 series, the 5400CD boasted an all-in-one desktop design, complete with a 15″ shadow mask display. With 1 MB of VRAM, it dazzled with support for up to 8-bit color at 832 x 624 pixels and 16-bit color at 640 x 480 pixels. At its core lay the “Alchemy” logic board, housing a 120 MHz PowerPC 603e processor.
Upgradeability was a key feature, with two 168-pin DIMM slots allowing RAM expansion up to a capacious 136 MB from the base 8 MB. Expansion options abounded, with a PCI slot, Comm Slot II for internal modems or Ethernet cards, and a video-in slot for an Apple TV Tuner Card. Storage interfaced through a SCSI bus, with a 1.6 GB internal hard disk drive linked via an IDE bus. A built-in floppy drive catered to 1.44 MB high-density disks.
Out of the box, the Performa 5400CD ran on Mac OS 7.5.3, complemented by System Enabler 410 and a suite of home software. Its journey culminated with support for Mac OS 9.1, underscoring Apple’s commitment to enduring performance.
While the Performa 5400CD found a global audience, its educational alter ego, the Power Macintosh 5400, was an exclusive treat for North American users.
In retrospect, the Macintosh Performa 5400CD remains a testament to Apple’s early foray into personal computing. Its blend of power, versatility, and iconic design still evokes a sense of nostalgia among enthusiasts, offering a glimpse into the roots of a tech giant.
Macintosh Performa 5400CD Details
| Introduced | April 22, 1996 (120 MHz) August 1, 1996 (160 MHz & 180 MHz) |
| Discontinued | February 1, 1997 (120 MHz) June 1, 1997 (180 MHz) December 1, 1997 (160 MHz) |
| Model Identifier | 74 |
| Model Number | M3046 |
| Order Number | M4796J/A |
| Original Price | Unknown |
| Colors | Platinum (120 MHz & 160 MHz) Black (180 MHz) |
| Weight | 47 Ibs. 21.318 KG |
| Dimensions | 17.5” H x 15.1” W x 16” D 44.45 cm H x 38.35 cm W x 40.64 cm D |
Mac Performa 5400 Tech Specs
Processor
| Processor | PowerPC 603e |
| Processor Speed | 120 MHz 160 MHz 180 MHz |
| Architecture | 32-bit |
| Number of Cores | 1 |
| System Bus | 40 MHz |
| Cache | 32 KB L1 256 KB L2 (Optional) |
| Coprocessor | Built-in FPU |
Storage & Media
| Storage | 1.6 GB 2.4 GB |
| Media | 1 – 1.44 MB Floppy 1 – 4x CD-ROM or 8x CD-ROM |
Memory
| Built-in Memory | 16 MB 24 MB |
| Maximum Memory | 136 MB |
| Memory Slots | 2 – 168 pin DIMM |
| Minimum Speed | 70 ns |
| ROM | Unknown |
| Interleaving Support | No |
Display
| Built-in Display | 15″ Shadow Mask RGB CRT Display |
| Resolution | 640×480 at 16-bit 800×600 at 8-bit 832×624 at 8-bit |
Graphics
| Graphics Card | None |
| Graphics Memory | 1 MB |
| Display Connection | None |
Expansion
| Expansion Slots | 1 – LC PDS (Cache Bus) 1 – Comm. II Slot 1 – Video I/O 1 – TV Tuner |
| Hard Drive Interface | IDE |
Connections
| Ethernet | 1 – 10BASE-T |
| Modem | None |
| ADB | 1 |
| Serial | 2 |
| SCSI | 1 – DB-25 |
| Floppy Port | None |
| Audio In | 1 – 3.5-mm analog input jack 1 – Built-in microphone |
| Audio Out | 2 – 3.5-mm analog output jack 2 – Built-in speaker |
| Display | None |
Software
| Original OS | System Software 7.5.5 |
| Maximum OS | Mac OS 9.1 |
| Firmware | Macintosh ROM |
Power
| Backup Battery | 4.5 V Alkaline |
| Maximum Continuous Power | 220 W |
| Line Voltage | Unknown |
Further Reading and References
- Macintosh Performa 5400CD: Technical Specifications – Apple Support
- Macintosh Performa 5400/160: Technical Specifications – Apple Support
- Macintosh Performa 5400/180: Technical Specifications – Apple Support
- Macintosh Performa – Wikipedia
- Apple Macintosh Performa 5400/180 – The Centre for Computing History
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Last updated: September 15, 2023