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IBM PC Series 300

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IBM PC Series 300
IBM PC 300PL (Type 6892, NLX, Intel 440LX, Pentium II Slot 1)
Specifications
DeveloperIBM Personal Systems Group
ManufacturerIBM
TypeCorporate / SMB desktop personal computer family — ISA + PCI / AGP
ReleasedOctober 1994 (PC Series announced); 1995 (PC 300 Series Model 330 launch)
DiscontinuedOctober 2000 (PC Series brand withdrawn; replaced by IBM NetVista)
CPUIntel i486 25–100 MHz; Pentium 60–200 MHz; Pentium MMX 166–233 MHz; Pentium Pro 150/180/200 MHz (single on PC 360, dual on PC 365); Pentium II Klamath / Deschutes 233–450 MHz; Pentium III Katmai / Coppermine 450–866+ MHz; Celeron 266–533 MHz (PPGA / FC-PGA)
Memory4 × 72-pin SIMM (early); transitional 1 × DIMM-168 + 4 × 72-pin SIMM (6577 / 6587); 168-pin EDO DIMM (6588 / 6589); PC100 SDRAM DIMM (300GL / 300PL Pentium II+, 384 MB official / 512 MB unofficial)
StorageIDE / EIDE / Ultra-ATA UDMA-33; optional IBM PCI SCSI on 300PL / 365
DisplayOn-planar S3 Trio64V2/DX (PC 300XL 6588), S3 Trio3D / Trio3D 2X AGP (6275/6285/6862/6892); optional Matrox MGA-G200/G400, ATI Rage IIC / Rage Pro, NVIDIA TNT2 M64, S3 Savage4
SoundCrystal CS4235-KQ (SB / SBPro / WSS-compatible) on 300PL 6862 / 6892; optional Cirrus Logic CS9236 wavetable synth
OS / FirmwareIBM PC DOS 7.0; Microsoft Windows 3.1 / Windows 95 / Windows 98 / Windows NT 4.0 / Windows 2000; IBM OS/2 Warp 3 / Warp 4
PredecessorIBM PS/ValuePoint
SuccessorIBM NetVista (most of the line); IBM IntelliStation (replaced PC 360 / 365 Pentium Pro workstations)
Model no.6560, 6571, 6573, 6575, 6576, 6577, 6581, 6583, 6585, 6586, 6587, 6588, 6589, 6598; 6561, 6562, 6563, 6564, 6565, 6574, 6591, 6592, 6862, 6872, 6892; 6263, 6265, 6268, 6272, 6275, 6277, 6278, 6282, 6284, 6285, 6287, 6288

The IBM PC Series 300 (also known as the IBM PC 300 family, sometimes written PC 300) is IBM's corporate / SMB desktop personal computer family, announced as part of the IBM PC Series in October 1994 and discontinued in October 2000 when the PC Series brand was withdrawn and replaced by IBM NetVista.[1] The PC Series 300 was IBM's successor to the IBM PS/ValuePoint and ran in parallel with the high-end IBM IntelliStation (which replaced the Pentium Pro PC 360 / 365 workstations) and the consumer IBM Aptiva.

The PC Series 300 spans two distinct hardware generations separated by a model-naming reorganisation in 1997:

  1. First generation (1994–1996, 486 / Pentium / Pentium Pro Sockets 3 / 5 / 7 / 8) — model-number naming: PC 300 Series Model 330, Model 340, Model 350, Model 360, Model 365. Machine types in the 65xx / 60xx range.
  2. Second generation (1997–2001, Pentium II / III / Celeron Slot 1 / Socket 370) — suffix-brand naming dropping the model number: PC 300GL (Greenline / entry corporate), PC 300PL (Professional / midrange), PC 300XL (Extended / first Pentium II), PC 300GL Celeron. Machine types in the 62xx / 68xx range.

Note on Sub-Brand Boundaries

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The same numeric MTs were occasionally reused across generations as IBM transitioned naming. For example, MTs 6584 / 6585 / 6586 / 6587 are first-generation PC 350 machine types; 6588 is the PC 300XL Pentium MMX / Pentium II Klamath board (Intel 440FX);[2] 6589 is the dual-Pentium Pro PC 365 (Intel 440FX with PIIX3).[3] Verify your machine's sub-brand against the rear-panel label rather than against the MT alone.

First-Generation: PC 300 Series Models 330 / 340 / 350 / 360 / 365 (1995–1996)

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PC 300 Series first generation
MT Model CPU Chipset Notes
6571 / 6573 PC 300 Model 330 Intel i486 25–100 MHz OPTi ISA / VLB or ISA / PCI SelectaBus riser[4]
6575 PC 300 Model 330 Pentium 60/66 MHz (Socket 4) Intel 430LX P5 → Pentium OverDrive to 133 MHz
6576 PC 300 Model 330 Pentium P54C 75–100 MHz (Socket 7) Intel 430FX OverDrive to 200 MHz
6577 PC 300 Model 330 Pentium P54C 75–166 MHz Intel 430FX Transitional memory: 1 × DIMM-168 (5 V EDO only — do not fit 3.3 V SDRAM) + 4 × 72-pin SIMM; supports Pentium MMX 233 at 75 MHz BCLK[5]
6560 PC 300 Model 340 Pentium 100/133/166 MHz Intel 430HX/VX Budget Pentium, 4 ISA + 3 PCI, 4 × 72-pin SIMM[6]
6581 / 6583 PC 350 Intel i486 25–100 MHz OPTi Larger case than 330; ISA / VLB or ISA / PCI riser
6585 PC 350 Pentium 60/66 MHz Intel 430LX
6586 PC 350 Pentium P54C 75–100 MHz Intel 430FX (Triton) Intel-designed planar, Intel/AMI BIOS (not IBM SurePath)[7]; up to 128 MB
6587 PC 350 Pentium P54C 75–200 MHz Intel 430HX Up to 192 MB; supports Pentium MMX 233 at 75 MHz BCLK
6598 PC 360 Model 360 Single Pentium Pro 150 / 200 MHz (Socket 8) Intel 440FX 6 expansion slots, 6 bays, 4 × 72-pin SIMM up to 128 MB, IBM SurePath BIOS
6589 PC 365 Dual Pentium Pro 180 / 200 MHz (Socket 8) Intel 82440FX (82441FX PMC + 82442FX DBX + 82371SB PIIX3) 4 × DIMM-168 EDO unbuffered/registered up to 512 MB, ISA / PCI[8]
IBM Personal Computer 330 (machine type 6577-9BT), the late Pentium MMX-capable first-generation PC 300. (Image: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)
IBM Personal Computer 340 (machine type 6560, budget Pentium PC 300). (Image: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Second-Generation: PC 300GL / 300PL / 300XL (1997–2001)

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PC 300GL (Greenline — entry corporate)

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PC 300GL submodels
MT CPU Chipset Notes
6561 / 6591 / 6872 Pentium II Slot 1 Intel 440LX (Balboa), 66 MHz FSB [9]
6563 / 6564 / 6574 Pentium MMX / early P II Intel 430HX or 440LX Grouped with PC 300PL 6565 in TIM
6272 / 6282 / 6284 Pentium II / III Slot 1 Intel 440BX NLX form factor[10]
6268 / 6278 / 6288 Pentium II / Celeron Intel 440BX or 440LX 1999 datasheet
6275 / 6285 Celeron 333 / 366 / 433 (PPGA) Intel 440BX AGP 66 MHz FSB only, non-parity SDRAM only, 2 DIMM slots up to 256 MB, S3 Trio3D 2 / 4 MB SGRAM AGP integrated, Ultra ATA, 10/100 Ethernet, 2 × USB[11]
6263 / 6265 PC 300 Celeron / Pentium II [12]
6277 / 6287 Pentium II / III Intel 440LX / BX [13]
IBM PC 300GL Type 6282-81J front view. (Image: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

PC 300PL (Professional — midrange)

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PC 300PL submodels
MT CPU Chipset Notes
6862 / 6892 Pentium II 233–450 MHz, Pentium III 450–866 MHz (officially up to 550 MHz, up to 800 / Coppermine confirmed with BIOS update; Tualatin 1.3 GHz reported via PowerLeap adapter) Intel 440LX family NLX form factor, AGP 2× at offset position (requires NLX-compatible video card), 3 × PCI + 2 × ISA via riser, 384 MB official / 512 MB unofficial PC100 SDRAM, S3 Trio3D 2 MB SGRAM AGP integrated, Crystal CS4235-KQ audio, Alert on LAN, Wake on LAN, 10/100 PCI Ethernet[14][15]
6562 / 6592 Pentium MMX Intel 430HX (Triton II) Socket 7[16]
6565 Pentium II Slot 1
IBM PC 300PL Type 6892-5BJ NLX motherboard. Slot 1, Intel 440LX, integrated S3 Trio3D AGP, Crystal CS4235 audio. (Image: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

PC 300XL (Extended — first Pentium II)

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PC 300XL submodels
MT CPU Chipset Notes
6588 Pentium MMX 233 MHz or Pentium II Klamath 233 / 266 / 300 MHz only Intel 440FX No 100 MHz FSB; Klamath 2.8 V only, no Deschutes due to VRM; 4 × 168-pin unbuffered 3.3 V EDO DIMM 60 ns (SDRAM physically fits but does not work); S3 Trio64V2/DX 2 MB integrated, PCI-only (no AGP)[17]

Architecture Eras

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  1. 486 / VLB era (6571, 6573, 6581, 6583) — OPTi chipset, SelectaBus riser (ISA + VLB or ISA + PCI).
  2. Pentium / 430-series era (6560, 6575, 6576, 6577, 6585, 6586, 6587) — Intel 430LX / FX / HX / VX.
  3. Pentium Pro Socket 8 era (6589, 6598, 6588) — Intel 440FX.
  4. Pentium II / III NLX era (6862, 6892, 6275, 6285, 6272, 6282, 6284) — Intel 440LX / 440BX, AGP.

The SurePath BIOS (IBM's Phoenix-derived BIOS brand) runs across the bulk of the family except the 6586, which uses an Intel-designed planar with Intel / AMI BIOS instead.[18]

Memory Topology

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PC Series 300 memory topology
Generation Memory Maximum
486 / early Pentium (6571 / 6581 / 6585 / 6586) 4 × 72-pin SIMM, parity 128 MB
Transitional (6577 / 6587) 1 × DIMM-168 (5 V EDO only) + 4 × 72-pin SIMM 192 MB
Pentium Pro (6588 / 6589 / 6598) 4 × 168-pin unbuffered 3.3 V EDO DIMM 60 ns 512 MB
Pentium II / III NLX (6862 / 6892) 3 × DIMM PC100 SDRAM 384 MB official / 512 MB unofficial with BIOS update
Celeron BX (6275 / 6285) 2 × DIMM PC100 SDRAM, non-parity only 256 MB
Late 300GL (6272 / 6282) 3 × DIMM PC100 SDRAM 384–512 MB

The DIMM keying notch on the 6577 / 6587 / 6588 boards is for EDO, not SDRAM. Physically possible to insert a modern SDRAM DIMM in a 3.3 V EDO slot (won't work, low risk of damage) or to force a 5 V EDO module in a 3.3 V slot (potentially damaging).[19]

Storage

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All PC 300 family planars use on-planar IDE / ATA (primary IDE channel; later boards add a secondary channel for the CD-ROM). The 6275 / 6285 / 6862 / 6892 generation supports Ultra ATA (UDMA-33).[20] Optional IBM PCI SCSI adapters were available for PC 300PL and PC 365 (with 1.2–30 GB IBM SCSI drives).[21]

Graphics

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  • PC 300XL 6588 — integrated S3 Trio64V2/DX 2 MB only.
  • PC 300GL Celeron 6275 / 6285 — integrated S3 Trio3D 2 / 4 MB SGRAM AGP.
  • PC 300PL 6862 / 6892 — integrated S3 Trio3D 2 MB SGRAM AGP; NLX-offset AGP slot requires NLX-compatible video card with high-mounted output connector.[22]
  • Late PC 300PL Pentium III — options included S3 Savage4, Matrox MGA-G200 / G400, ATI Rage IIC / Pro, NVIDIA TNT2 M64 32 MB.

Note: PC 300 graphics is S3-based, not Cirrus Logic. The Cirrus Logic chip sometimes seen on PC 300PL boards is the optional CS9236 wavetable audio synth, not a VGA chip.

System Management (PC 300PL)

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The PC 300PL 6862 / 6892 supports IBM's Alert on LAN (monitors voltage, fan, temperature), Wake on LAN, and DMI. The 10/100 PCI Ethernet adapter supports Wake-on-LAN via a small auxiliary cable from the Ethernet card to the planar AOL header. The PSU has a standby rail that powers the Ethernet adapter when the system is otherwise off.[23]

Power Supplies

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  • 6862 / 6892 — NLX-style PSU with 20-pin main connector landing on the riser card.[24]
  • 6588 — AT form-factor PSU with auxiliary connectors to motherboard and riser.[25]

Specific per-MT wattages are in the per-machine HMM PDF.

BIOS

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IBM SurePath BIOS (Phoenix-derived) on most of the family. Exceptions:

  • 6586 — Intel-designed planar uses Intel / AMI BIOS (not SurePath).[26]
IBM PC 300PL Type 6892 BIOS startup screen (IBM SurePath BIOS). (Image: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

A BIOS update to the latest IBM image is required to enable Pentium III Coppermine 800 MHz on the 6862 / 6892 — the original sticker only certifies up to 550 MHz.[27] PowerLeap adapter field reports document Tualatin 1.3 GHz support on 6862 with an updated BIOS.

Common Faults

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  • CHHSI capacitor plague on PC 300PL 6862 / 6892 — 560 µF 25 V CHHSI-branded electrolytics, date codes 1998–1999 (typically WG(M) series), around the VRM and CPU power filtering, are documented as failing. Community recommendation is to replace every CHHSI on the board even if visually fine.[28]
  • CR2032 RTC battery — all PC 300 generations use a socketed CR2032 (no soldered NiCd).
  • CMOS auto-prompt on settings change on PC 350 / 300XL — any configuration change including unplugging the mouse triggers a "press F1 for setup" prompt.[29]
  • EDO vs SDRAM DIMM keying confusion on 6577 / 6587 / 6588 / 6589.
  • Bundled IBM G51 CRT monitor overheating (MT 6541-Q0E/G/N/S, 6541-02E/N/S) — US CPSC recall documented.[30]
  • Coppermine boot blocker on 6862 / 6892 without BIOS update.

Operating Systems

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  • IBM PC DOS 7.0; MS-DOS 6.22 / 7.x.
  • Microsoft Windows 3.1, Windows 95 OSR2, Windows 98 SE, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000 (later 300GL/PL).
  • IBM OS/2 Warp 3 / Warp 4 — PC 300PL is a well-supported OS/2 platform.
  • Some 300PL Pentium III boards run Windows XP with a BIOS update.

Pricing

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Representative US launch prices:

  • PC 300 Model 330 (1995, Pentium 100): from ~$1,700 USD.
  • PC 300 Model 350 (1995, Pentium 133): from ~$2,400 USD.
  • PC 365 (1996, dual Pentium Pro 200): from ~$5,000 USD.
  • PC 300PL 6862 (1998, Pentium II 350): from ~$2,200 USD.
  • PC 300GL Celeron 6275 (1999, Celeron 333): from ~$1,200 USD.
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  • PC 300 Model 330 (6577) — late Pentium MMX-capable first generation
    PC 300 Model 330 (6577) — late Pentium MMX-capable first generation
  • PC 300 Model 340 (6560) — budget Pentium 100/133/166
    PC 300 Model 340 (6560) — budget Pentium 100/133/166
  • PC 300GL Type 6282 (Pentium II/III, 440BX)
    PC 300GL Type 6282 (Pentium II/III, 440BX)
  • PC 300GL 6282-81J front view
    PC 300GL 6282-81J front view
  • PC 300GL 6282-81J rear panel
    PC 300GL 6282-81J rear panel
  • PC 300PL workstation
    PC 300PL workstation
  • PC 300PL 6892-5BJ front view
    PC 300PL 6892-5BJ front view
  • PC 300PL 6892 NLX motherboard
    PC 300PL 6892 NLX motherboard
  • PC 300PL 6892 IBM SurePath BIOS startup screen
    PC 300PL 6892 IBM SurePath BIOS startup screen
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References

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  1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_PC_Series
  2. ↑ https://ancientelectronics.wordpress.com/2021/12/16/ibm-pc-300xl-model-6588/
  3. ↑ https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/ibm-pc-365-type-6589
  4. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_PC_Series
  5. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_PC_Series
  6. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_PC_Series
  7. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_PC_Series
  8. ↑ https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/ibm-pc-365-type-6589
  9. ↑ https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/ibm-pc-300-type-6561,-6591,-6872
  10. ↑ https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/ibm-pc-300gl-type-6272,-6282,-6284
  11. ↑ http://ps-2.kev009.com/pccbbs/commercial_desktop/glcel323.pdf
  12. ↑ https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/ibm-pc300-type-6263,-6265,-6275,-6285
  13. ↑ https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/ibm-pc-300-type-6277,-6287-pentium-ii-penti
  14. ↑ https://ancientelectronics.wordpress.com/2020/11/21/ibm-pl300-type-6862/
  15. ↑ http://ps-2.kev009.com/pccbbs/commercial_desktop/glpiii32.pdf
  16. ↑ https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/ibm-pc-300pl-type-6562,-6592
  17. ↑ https://ancientelectronics.wordpress.com/2021/12/16/ibm-pc-300xl-model-6588/
  18. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_PC_Series
  19. ↑ https://ancientelectronics.wordpress.com/2021/12/16/ibm-pc-300xl-model-6588/
  20. ↑ http://ps-2.kev009.com/pccbbs/commercial_desktop/glcel323.pdf
  21. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_PC_Series
  22. ↑ https://ancientelectronics.wordpress.com/2020/11/21/ibm-pl300-type-6862/
  23. ↑ http://ps-2.kev009.com/pccbbs/commercial_desktop/glpiii32.pdf
  24. ↑ https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/20-pin-main-power-supply-connection-ibm-intellistation
  25. ↑ https://ancientelectronics.wordpress.com/2021/12/16/ibm-pc-300xl-model-6588/
  26. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_PC_Series
  27. ↑ https://ancientelectronics.wordpress.com/2020/11/21/ibm-pl300-type-6862/
  28. ↑ https://www.badcaps.net/forum/troubleshooting-hardware-devices-and-electronics-theory/troubleshooting-desktop-motherboards-graphics-cards-and-pc-peripherals/86515-ibm-300pl
  29. ↑ https://ancientelectronics.wordpress.com/2021/12/16/ibm-pc-300xl-model-6588/
  30. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20030803071351/https:/www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml03/03088.html
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