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Macintosh Performa 5440 Macintosh Performa 5440

Macintosh Performa 5440 Datasheet

In the whirlwind pace of today’s tech landscape, it’s easy to overlook the origins of personal computing. Cast your mind back to November 12, 1996, when Apple unveiled the Macintosh Performa 5440, a beacon of innovation in its time.

The Performa 5440 was a pivotal member of Apple’s Performa series, tailor-made to cater to the burgeoning market of home and small business users. With a 180 MHz PowerPC 603e processor, a 15-inch vibrant color CRT display, 24 MB of RAM, a capacious 1.6 GB hard drive, an 8x CD-ROM drive, a reliable 1.44 MB floppy drive, and TV/video functionality all housed in an ultracool dark gray all-in-one case, topped with a 15″ shadow mask color monitor, it was nothing short of revolutionary for its era.

In its heyday, these specifications were at the forefront of technology, delivering a speedy, dependable, and versatile computing experience for a myriad of tasks.

However, the Performa 5440’s stint in the limelight was ephemeral. Just under a year later, on September 1, 1997, Apple pulled the plug on this model, a testament to the company’s unyielding pursuit of innovation and evolution in its product line.

Today, the Performa 5440 stands at the ripe age of 27, a vintage relic that invokes a sense of nostalgia in those who had the privilege of using it. While its operations might have ceased, it remains a cherished token of the nascent days of personal computing.

Although the Performa 5440 found its way into the hands of users in Asia and Europe, it never graced the market in the United States, adding an aura of exclusivity to this historic model.

The Performa 5440 played an instrumental role in Apple’s early strides toward establishing itself as a vanguard in the personal computing sphere. Despite its relatively brief tenure, it left an indelible mark, shaping not only the trajectory of Apple’s product line but also influencing the industry as a whole.

While the Performa 5440 may have been retired from active service, it stands as a cherished memento, reminding us of the nascent days when personal computing was still finding its footing.

In an era dominated by sleek ultrabooks and powerful workstations, it’s important to take a moment to appreciate the humble beginnings that paved the way for the technological marvels we now take for granted. The Performa 5440 stands as a testament to the relentless pursuit of innovation that continues to define Apple and the tech industry at large.

Macintosh Performa 5440
Source: aucfree.com – Macintosh Performa 5440

Macintosh Performa 5440 Details

IntroducedNovember 12, 1996
DiscontinuedSeptember 1, 1997
Model Identifier74
Model NumberM3046
Order NumberM5189J/A
Original PriceUnknown
ColorsBlack
Weight47 Ibs.
21.318 KG
Dimensions17.5” H x 15.1” W x 16” D
44.45 cm H x 38.35 cm W x 40.64 cm D

Mac Performa 5440 Tech Specs

Processor

ProcessorPowerPC 603e
Processor Speed180 MHz
Architecture32-bit
Number of Cores1
System Bus40 MHz
Cache32 KB L1
256 KB L2 (Optional)
CoprocessorBuilt-in FPU

Storage & Media

Storage1.6 GB
Media1 – 1.44 MB Floppy
1 – 8x CD-ROM

Memory

Built-in Memory24 MB
Maximum Memory136 MB
Memory Slots2 – 168 pin DIMM
Minimum Speed70 ns
ROMUnknown
Interleaving SupportNo

Display

Built-in Display15″ Shadow Mask RGB CRT Display
Resolution640×480 at 16-bit
800×600 at 8-bit
832×624 at 8-bit

Graphics

Graphics CardNone
Graphics Memory1 MB
Display ConnectionNone

Expansion

Expansion Slots1 – LC PDS (Cache Bus)
1 – Comm. II Slot
1 – Video I/O
1 – TV Tuner
Hard Drive InterfaceIDE

Connections

Ethernet1 – 10BASE-T (Optional)
ModemNone
ADB1
Serial2
SCSI1 – DB-25
Floppy PortNone
Audio In1 – 3.5-mm analog input jack
1 – Built-in microphone
Audio Out2 – 3.5-mm analog output jack
2 – Built-in speaker
DisplayNone

Software

Original OSSystem Software 7.5.5
Maximum OSMac OS 9.1
FirmwareMacintosh ROM

Power

Backup Battery4.5 V Alkaline
Maximum Continuous Power220 W
Line VoltageUnknown

Further Reading and References

Disclaimer: The data presented in this article is under continuous development and has been manually collected from various sources based on their availability. The author of this article may revise this dataset as additional research is conducted and reviewed. Please note that the information is provided “as is” and “as available” without express or implied warranties. The author cannot be held responsible for any omissions, inaccuracies, or errors in the published information. Any warranties relating to this information are hereby disclaimed.

Last updated: September 24, 2023