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Introduction

This table summarises the performance of Mac models (especially older models). For an explanation of these figures see the notes below the table. Some of the data is estimated, I apologise if any is inaccurate, contact me if you find any errors.

Here's the table...

Model	CPU	FPU	MHz	Bus	Speed	RAM	Disk	Slots	Video
Power G5/2Gx2	G5x2	int	4000	64	12000	4096	FU	3	32 on 21 (9600)
iMac G5	G5	int	2000	64	6000	2048	FU	-	32 on 17 (9600)
Power G4/1Gx2	G4x2	int	2000	64	5500	1536	FU	3	32 on 21 (4)
Power G4/933	G4	int	933	64	2700	1536	FU	3	32 on 19 (3)
iMac G4	G4	int	800	64	2400	1024	FU	-	32 on 17 (2)
iMac 700	G3	int	700	64	1500	1024	FU	-	32 on 15 (2)
Power G4/450	G4	int	450	64	1200	2048	FU	3	32 on 17 (2)
iMac 233	G3	int	233	64	500	512	U	-	32 on 15 (1)
Power G3/233	G3	int	233	64	500	768	12	3	32 on 15 (1)
Power 8600/200	604e	int	200	64	280	1024	10	3	32 on 17
Power 7200/120	601	int	120	64	120	512	8.0	3	32 on 14
Power 8100av	601	int	80	64	90	264	8.0	2	32 on 17
Power 7100av	601	int	66	64	75	136	8.0	2	32 on 17
Power 6100av	601	int	60	64	65	72	5.0	2	16 on 14
Centris 840av	68040	int	40	32	35	128	5.0	3	32 on 14
Quadra 650	68040	int	33	32	29	136	5.0	3	16 on 14
WGS 95	68040	int	33	32	29	256	5.0	5	32 on 14
WGS 80	68040	int	33	32	29	136	5.0	1	16 on 14
Quadra 800	68040	int	33	32	29	136	5.0	1	16 on 14
Quadra 950	68040	int	33	32	29	256	5.0	5	32 on 14
Quadra 610	68040	int	25	32	22	68	5.0	1	16 on 14
Quadra 660av	68040	int	25	32	22	68	5.0	1	16 on 14
LC 475	68040*	-	25	32	22	36	5.0	1	16 on 14
Quadra 605	68040*	-	25	32	22	36	5.0	1	16 on 14
Centris 660av	68040	int	25	32	22	68	5.0	1	16 on 14
Centris 650	68040	int	25	32	22	136	5.0	1	16 on 14
Quadra 900	68040	int	25	32	22	256	5.0	5	32 on 14
Quadra 700	68040	int	25	32	22	68	5.0	2	32 on 14
WGS 60	68040*	-	20	32	18	68	5.0	1	16 on 14
Centris 610	68040*	-	20	32	18	68	5.0	1	16 on 14
IIfx	68030	68882	40	32	10	128	3.0	6	-
Duo 270c	68030	68882	33	32	8.0	32	1.5	-	4
Duo 250	68030	68882*	33	32	8.0	24	1.5	-	4 gray
PB180c	68030	68882	33	32	8.0	14	1.5	-	8 on 14*
PB165c	68030	68882	33	32	8.0	14	1.5	-	8 on 14*
Duo 230	68030	68882*	33	32	8.0	24	1.5	-	4 gray
PB180	68030	68882	33	32	8.0	14	1.5	-	4 gray
Mac TV	68030	-	32*	32	7.2	8	1.5	-	8 on 14
IIvx	68030	68882	32*	32	7.2	68	1.5	-	16 on 14
PB165	68030	-	25	32	8.0	14	1.5	-	4 gray
LC 520	68030	68882*	25	32	6.3	36	1.5	-	16 on 14
PB145	68030	-	25	32	6.3	8	1.5	-	B&W**
LC III	68030	68882*	25	32	6.3	36	1.5	-	16 on 14
Duo 210	68030	68882*	25	32	6.3	24	1.5	-	4 gray
PB160	68030	-	25	32	6.3	14	1.5	-	4 gray
PB145	68030	-	25	32	6.3	8	1.5	-	B&W**
PB170	68030	68882	25	32	6.3	8	1.5	-	B&W**
IIci	68030	68882	25	32	6.3	128	1.2	-	8 on 14
IIsi	68030	68882*	20	32	5.1	17	1.2	-	8 on 14
IIvi	68030	68882*	16	32	4.3	68	1.5	-	4 on 14
Color Classic	68030	68882*	16	32	3.9	10	1.2	-	4 on 14
PB140	68030	-	16	32	3.9	8	1.5	-	B&W**
LC II	68030	-	16	16	3.9	10	1.5	-	4 on 14
Classic II	68030	-	16	16	3.9	10	1.2	-	B&W
IIcx	68030	-	16	32	3.9	128	1.2	-	-
SE/30	68030	68882	16	32	3.9	128	1.2	-	B&W**
IIx	68030	68882	16	32	3.9	128	1.2	-	-
II	68020	68881	16	32	2.6	68	1.2	-	-
LC	68020	-	16	16	2.6	10	1.5	-	4 on 14
PB100	68000	-	16	16	1.3	8	1.5	-	B&W
Portable	68000	-	16	16	1.3	9	1.2	-	B&W
Classic	68000	-	8	16	0.7	4	1.2	-	B&W
SE	68000	-	8	16	0.7	4	1.2	-	B&W
512Ke	68000	-	8	16	0.7	0.5	-	-	B&W
Plus	68000	-	8	16	0.7	4	1.2	-	B&W
512K	68000	-	8	16	0.7	0.5	-	-	B&W
128K	68000	-	8	16	0.7	0.1	-	-	B&W

Notes

CPU refers to central processing unit, the most important component of a computer. Apple used Motorola 680x0 processors for all Macs until they introduced the Power Macs which use the RISC PowerPC (PPC) processor jointly developed by IBM, Motorola and Apple. A * in this column means the CPU is the "cut down" version without a built-in FPU. Double processor machines have "x2" in this column.

FPU refers to floating point unit or maths co-processor. "int" means one is integrated into the main CPU, none means the machine has no FPU, floating point maths is performed by software instead. A * in this column means the FPU is optional, it is not supplied with every machine of this type.

MHz refers to the speed (in MegaHertz, or millions of cycles per second) of the main processor. If there is a * next to the speed it indicates the CPU runs at double the speed of the rest of the computer, therefore the full benefits of the CPU's speed are not gained. Multiple processor machines have the combined speed of the processors (eg a twin 1GHz machine is shown as 2000).

Bus refers to the width of the computer's bus. The bus is the set of "tracks" on the main circuit board that carries information to and from the CPU. The wider the bus is the more information can be moved at one time.

Speed is an approximate measure of the computer's CPU speed. Similar to MIPS but with a few extra factors thrown in to allow for other featyures. The basic "clock" speed of the CPU isn't a reliable measure of the computers real speed because different CPUs can do more or less in one cycle. For example a 68040 running at 32 MHz is far faster than a 68030 running at the same speed. Note that the speed of G4 computers is considerably greater than G3s but only if the AltiVec unit is used.

RAM is the maximum amount of RAM (Random Access Memory) that can be installed. Of course large amounts of memory are very expensive and few Mac users ever need there machines maximum capacity.

Disk refers to the approximate data transfer rate (in megabytes per second) for SCSI-based machines. A "F" here indicates the machine has Firewire (400 Mb/s) and "U" means USB (11 Mb/s).

Slots refers to the number of expansion slots in the machine. Expansion slots can be used to add extra hardware such as network, video and co-processor cards. If there is one it will be a PDS (processor direct slot). If there is more than one they will be Nubus slots.

Video indicates the built-in video capabilities of the machine. The first number is the bit-depth supported (32 means millions of colors, 16 thousands, 8 is 256 colors, 4 is 16 colors). The second number is the screen size this is supported for (14 is the standard 14 inch monitor at 640x480 resolution, 15 means a typical 15" 832x624 monitor, 17 means a 17" 1024x768 monitor). The code in brackets refers to the video hardware: 1 means ATI Rage (64), 2 means ATI Rage 128, 3 means NVidia GeForce, 4 means GeForce 4, 9600 means Radeon 9600.

A * next to the screen size indicates the smaller 640x400 resolution. Generally increasing the screen size decreases the number of colors available. B&W means the machine can only support black and white, if there is a ** next to this the computer can support color if you add a card.