Macintosh Color Classic II
 | |
| Color Classic II (Performa 275) in Platinum case | |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Apple Computer, Inc. |
| Type | Personal Computer |
| Released | October 1993 • November 1993 (Performa 275) |
| Discontinued | September 1994 |
| Intro price | US\$1,599 (Performa 275 U.S. MSRP) |
| CPU | Motorola 68030 @ 33 MHz |
| Memory | 4 MB onboard RAM; expandable to 36 MB via one 72-pin SIMM slot |
| Storage | 1.44 MB “SuperDrive” floppy; internal SCSI HDD (80 or 160 MB) |
| Display | 10″ Sony Trinitron CRT; 512×384 px (8 bit); 560×384 px for IIe emulation |
| Sound | Stereo 8-bit PCM out; mono 8-bit mic in; built-in speaker |
| Dimensions | 368 × 251 × 252 mm |
| Weight | 10 kg |
| OS / Firmware | System 7.1–Mac OS 7.6.1 |
| Predecessor | Macintosh Color Classic |
| Successor | Macintosh LC 520 / Performa 275 |
| Codename | “Performa 275” (U.S. bundle) |
| Model no. | M1600 (Color Classic II) / Performa 275 |
The Macintosh Color Classic II was Apple’s final all-in-one compact Macintosh, released in late 1993 in Europe, Asia and Canada, and marketed in the United States as the Performa 275. It was a significant upgrade over the original Color Classic, featuring the faster 33 MHz 68030 CPU, a full 32-bit system bus, and support for up to 36 MB of RAM—over three times the maximum of its predecessor—while retaining the distinctive 10″ Trinitron display and compact enclosure.
Design & Architecture
[edit | edit source]Processor & Performance
[edit | edit source]The Color Classic II’s heart was a Motorola 68030 microprocessor clocked at 33 MHz—a more than two-fold increase over the 16 MHz CPU in the original—paired with an optional 68882 FPU for floating-point acceleration. Its data bus was widened to 32 bits, doubling throughput compared to the 16-bit bus of the original Color Classic. These enhancements delivered roughly 2.5× the overall performance in CPU-bound tasks.
Memory Subsystem
[edit | edit source]- On-board RAM: 4 MB soldered DRAM (72 ns)
- Expansion: One 72-pin SIMM slot supporting up to 32 MB more for a total of 36 MB
- ROM: 1 MB mask ROM containing System 7.1 startup and Toolbox routines
- VRAM: 256 KB dual-ported video RAM, expandable to 512 KB via 72-pin VRAM SIMM enabling 32,768-color modes
The 32-bit memory bus and cache controller in the LC 550 logic board provided significantly lower latency and higher bandwidth than the original’s MEMCjr chipset.
Storage & I/O
[edit | edit source]- Floppy Drive: 1.44 MB Apple “SuperDrive” (SWIM-II) supporting high-density disks.
- Hard Drive: Internal 80 MB or 160 MB SCSI drives on shock-mounted brackets.
- External I/O:
- 1× DB-25 SCSI for external devices
- 2× Mini-DIN-8 serial (printer/modem)
- 2× ADB for keyboard/mouse
- Audio in/out jacks for mono microphone and stereo line-out
- Expansion: LC-type PDS slot for third-party cards (Apple IIe Card compatibility) and VRAM SIMM slot.
Video & Audio
[edit | edit source]The built-in 10″ Sony Trinitron CRT displayed up to 256 colors at 512×384 pixels by default, with a high-resolution 560×384 mode for Apple IIe emulation. The video DACs supported double-buffering via the VRAM SIMM. Audio comprised a mono internal speaker plus stereo line-level outputs, driven by an onboard DAC.
Maintenance & Upgrades
[edit | edit source]Like other vintage Macs, the Color Classic II is prone to surface-mount capacitor leakage. Users commonly perform a full “recap” using low-ESR, 105 °C electrolytic capacitors to protect board traces and restore stable power rails. Guides for recapping the logic and analog boards can be found at Macintosh Color Classic II Capacitor Replacement Guide. Further upgrades include replacing the internal HDD with solid-state SCSI or CF adapters, and logic-board transplant mods (e.g., LC 575 “Mystic” upgrade) to modernize the machine.
PCB Schematics & Service Manual
[edit | edit source]The Color Classic II consists of a logic board and analog board, similar in layout to the Color Classic but with different ICs and no expansion slot. The analog board for the Color Classic II is identical to the Macintosh Color Classic II.
Apple Service Manual
[edit | edit source]
All Apple Service Manuals can be found on the Apple Service Source page.
Logic Board & Analog Board Schematics
[edit | edit source]| Logic Board | Analog Board |
|---|---|
 |
 |
Known Revisions & Errata
[edit | edit source]- The Japan/Europe CC II shipped with a gray/platinum case; North American Performa 275 used darker platinum plastic.
- Early production boards had marginal 5 V regulation causing occasional resets—later runs improved the 7805 regulator circuit.
- Some logic-board PCB silkscreens contained swapped capacitors C6/C7 footprints—swap positions if encountering build-errors.
Legacy & Collectibility
[edit | edit source]As the last all-in-one color CRT Macintosh, the Color Classic II commands high interest among collectors and modders. Its unique combination of compact form, color display, and upgrade potential make it one of the most sought-after vintage Macs.