Macintosh Performa 550
 | |
| Performa 550 with keyboard and mouse (photo: Mondoshawan22, CC BY-SA 4.0) | |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Apple Computer, Inc. |
| Type | All-in-one personal computer |
| Released | October 18, 1993[1] |
| Discontinued | April 1, 1996[2] |
| CPU | Motorola 68030 at 33 MHz; socket for a 68882 FPU[3] |
| Memory | 4 MB on the logic board; one 72-pin SIMM slot, 36 MB maximum[3] |
| Storage | 80 or 160 MB SCSI hard drive, AppleCD 300i CD-ROM, 1.4 MB SuperDrive[3] |
| Display | Built-in 14-inch Trinitron, 640 × 480[3] |
| Sound | Stereo output, mono input[3] |
| Power | 100–240 V AC, 47–63 Hz, 120 W maximum[3] |
| Dimensions | 17.9 × 13.5 × 16.5 in (45.5 × 34.4 × 42.0 cm), H × W × D[3] |
| Weight | 40.5 lb (18.4 kg)[3] |
| OS / Firmware | System 7.1P3 with System Enabler 332[1] |
| Predecessor | Performa 520 |
| Successor | Performa 575 |
| Model no. | M1640[2] |
The Macintosh Performa 550 is an all-in-one Macintosh with a 33 MHz Motorola 68030, a built-in 14-inch Trinitron display and a CD-ROM drive, introduced by Apple on October 18, 1993.[1] It is the retail version of the Macintosh LC 550; the Performa 560 is the same hardware with a different software bundle.[4] Low End Mac notes that the LC 550 and Performa 550 logic board is the one used in the Color Classic II.[5]
EveryMac gives the US launch price as US$2,000 and the Apple order number as M2147LL/A; Low End Mac gives US$1,200.[2][5]
Specifications
[edit | edit source]| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor | Motorola 68030 at 33 MHz with built-in MMU; socket for an optional 68882 maths coprocessor[3] |
| RAM | 4 MB on the logic board; one 72-pin SIMM slot for 80 ns or faster SIMMs; 36 MB maximum[3] |
| ROM and PRAM | 1 MB ROM; 256 bytes of parameter memory kept by a lithium battery[3] |
| Video | 512K VRAM on the board for 256 colours at 640 × 480; a 68-pin VRAM SIMM brings it to 768K for thousands of colours[3][1] |
| Display | 14-inch Trinitron CRT with high-contrast glass, 13-inch viewable; 0.26 mm aperture grille pitch; 640 × 480 at 70 dpi[3] |
| Storage | 80 or 160 MB internal SCSI hard drive; internal AppleCD 300i double-speed CD-ROM (caddy loading); 1.4 MB Apple SuperDrive, manual insert[3][4] |
| Sound | Stereo output port and front headphone jack; mono input port; built-in microphone; records and plays at 11 or 22 kHz[3] |
| Ports | Two RS-232/RS-422 serial ports (mini DIN-8); one SCSI port (DB-25, up to six external devices); two ADB ports (500 mA total)[3][1] |
| Expansion | One processor-direct slot for 96- or 114-pin cards. The communications slot of the 575, 577 and 578 is not fitted[3][4] |
| Power | Universal supply, 100–240 V AC, 47–63 Hz, 120 W maximum[3] |
| Clock battery | 3.6 V lithium; Apple replaces it below 3.0 V[1][6] |
The Service Source's Basics chapter describes the 550 and 560 processor as a 68LC030, while its Specifications chapter and Apple's technical-specification page give a 68030 with an optional 68882.[4][3][1] Apple's technical-specification page also lists the power as 40 W, which does not match the 120 W in the Service Source.
Service notes
[edit | edit source]The battery is a lithium cell in a holder with a clip-on cover on the logic board, reached by removing the I/O door and the logic board. Apple's test is to measure it on the 10 V DC range and replace it below 3.0 V, and Apple warns that a mishandled lithium cell can explode.[6] Lithium cell leakage is neutralised with bicarbonate of soda solution; see Battery Explosion, Capacitor or Corrosion Damage.
A thin grey horizontal line across the lower third of a lit screen is not a fault. Apple's symptom chart says it "is inherent in the design of Trinitron monitors. Do not replace modules."[7] Apple's charts send most display faults, smoke or smell, and clicking or chirping noises to the analogue board, and a Sad Mac with black vertical lines to the SIMMs and then the logic board.[7] The display adjustments (geometry, video, convergence, geometric distortion and yoke) are in the Service Source; it gives no power-supply adjustment or rail tolerances.[8] The CRT holds a charge after the machine is unplugged; read CRT Discharge Procedure before opening it.
For general repair work see Capacitor Failure Symptoms, Macintosh Floppy Drive Maintenance and Macintosh HDD Maintenance.
Documentation
[edit | edit source]Apple's Performa 500 Series Service Source (1995, 161 pages) covers the Performa 550, 560, 575, 577 and 578 at module level. The LC 550 has its own manual, Macintosh LC 520/550/575 Service Source.
Download: Performa_500_series.pdf. Description page: Performa 500 Series Service Source.
Related pages
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Macintosh Performa 550: Technical Specifications, Apple—link(accessed 2026-09-30) Source for the introduction date, optional 68882 FPU, two ADB ports, 3.6 V lithium battery, 4 MB on the logic board, VRAM options, System 7.1P3 with System Enabler 332, Mac OS 7.6.1 as the last supported version and the 2× CD-ROM.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Macintosh Performa 550 Specs, EveryMac.com—link(accessed 2026-09-30)
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 Apple Computer, Performa 500 Series Service Source, 1995, Specifications chapter: Processor (p. 1), Memory (pp. 2–3), Disk Storage (p. 4), I/O Interfaces (pp. 5–6), I/O Devices (p. 7), Sound and Video (p. 8), Electrical (p. 9), Physical (p. 10). Hosted as File:Performa_500_series.pdf.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Apple Computer, Performa 500 Series Service Source, 1995, cover (Performa 550, 560, 575, 577, 578) and Basics chapter, Product Information, pp. 1–2. Hosted as File:Performa_500_series.pdf; see Performa 500 Series Service Source.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Mac LC 550 (Performa 550), Low End Mac—link(accessed 2026-09-30)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Apple Computer, Performa 500 Series Service Source, 1995, Additional Procedures chapter: Battery Verification (pp. 2–3), Battery Replacement (pp. 4–6). Hosted as File:Performa_500_series.pdf.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Apple Computer, Performa 500 Series Service Source, 1995, Troubleshooting chapter, Symptom Charts, pp. 2–17 (Trinitron line, p. 3). Hosted as File:Performa_500_series.pdf.
- ↑ Apple Computer, Performa 500 Series Service Source, 1995, Adjustments chapter: Geometry (pp. 1–8), Video (pp. 9–20), Light Meter Setup (pp. 21–26), Convergence (pp. 27–29), Geometric Distortion (pp. 30–34), Yoke (pp. 35–38). Hosted as File:Performa_500_series.pdf.