Macintosh Performa 6420
 | |
| Performa 6420 on display in Japan; the placard lists 24 MB, 2.4 GB and an 8x CD-ROM drive (photo Tokumeigakarinoaoshima, CC0) | |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Apple Computer, Inc. |
| Type | Mini-tower personal computer |
| Released | 12 November 1996 |
| CPU | PowerPC 603ev at 200 MHz, 40 MHz bus |
| Memory | 24 MB as shipped (8 MB on the logic board plus a DIMM); two 168-pin DIMM sockets; 136 MB maximum |
| Storage | 2.4 GB internal IDE hard drive |
| Display | — |
| Sound | 16-bit stereo input and output with SRS 3D Surround Sound; built-in speaker/subwoofer |
| Graphics | 1 MB video RAM on the logic board; DB-15 port |
| ROM | 4 MB |
| FPU / coprocessor | Built into the PowerPC 603ev |
| Media | 1.4 MB SuperDrive; 8x AppleCD 1200i CD-ROM drive; 5.25-inch expansion bay |
| Ports / interface | One ADB, two GeoPort serial, SCSI (DB-25), DB-15 video, sound in, sound out front and rear |
| Expansion | Two PCI slots; communications slot (PCI bus); video-in slot; TV/FM tuner connector; cache module slot |
| Power | 90-130 or 180-264 V AC, set by switch; 220 W maximum continuous |
| Dimensions | 16 × 7 13/16 × 16 7/8 in (406 × 198 × 428 mm) |
| Weight | 44.5 lb (20.18 kg) without CD-ROM drive |
| OS / Firmware | System 7.5.3 to Mac OS 9.1 |
| Model no. | M3548 (Gestalt ID 58) |
The Macintosh Performa 6420 is the international version of the Performa 6400/200, a mini-tower Macintosh with a 200 MHz PowerPC 603ev. Apple's specification sheet dates it 12 November 1996, notes that it was not sold in the US, and gives a minimum of 24 MB of RAM. Apple's service manual says the 6410 and 6420 were sold in Japan, Australia and Europe, and gives the 6420 up to 24 MB of RAM, a 2.4 GB hard drive, an 8x CD-ROM drive and a 256K level 2 cache card.[1] EveryMac describes it as identical to the standard 6400/200 apart from the market, with 16 MB, and gives its Japanese order number as M5513J/A.[2][3]
The Macintosh Performa 6400 page has the model table for the family, the full specification, the hardware notes and a selection of Apple's symptom charts.
Specifications
[edit | edit source]| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor | PowerPC 603ev at 200 MHz; processor bus 64 bits wide at 40 MHz[1] |
| RAM | 24 MB as shipped (8 MB on the logic board plus a DIMM); two 168-pin DIMM sockets; 136 MB maximum. Performa models take 168-pin fast-page-mode DIMMs, 70 ns or faster, 2K refresh[2][1] |
| Level 2 cache | 256K module in the 160-pin cache slot, standard[1][2] |
| Drives | 1.4 MB SuperDrive; 2.4 GB IDE hard drive; AppleCD 1200i 8x CD-ROM drive[1] |
| Electrical | 90-130 or 180-264 V AC, set manually with the voltage switch; 47-63 Hz; 220 W maximum continuous[1] |
Repair notes
[edit | edit source]The power supply is not auto-ranging. Set the voltage switch on the back to "115" for 100-130 V or "230" for 200-270 V before connecting the machine; Apple warns that a wrong setting damages the computer.[1]
The 256K level 2 cache is a 160-pin card in the cache slot on the logic board, which comes out of the back of the case after two screws. Apple did not support third-party cache cards in this slot.[1]
Apple's specification sheet gives the battery as 4.5 V alkaline, while the Service Source's battery replacement procedure warns of a lithium battery that could explode if mishandled.[2][1] Apple's test is to measure it on the 10 V DC range with the logic board out and replace it below 3.0 V.[1] Check the markings on the pack before cleaning up a leak: alkaline leakage is neutralised with a weak acid such as vinegar, lithium with bicarbonate. See Battery Explosion, Capacitor or Corrosion Damage.
Maintenance and repair
[edit | edit source]The wiki's guides for this logic board family are written for the Performa 5400: Macintosh Performa 5400 General Maintenance, Macintosh Performa 5400 Troubleshooting and Macintosh Performa 5400 Capacitor Replacement Guide.
Documentation
[edit | edit source]- Performa/Power Macintosh 6400 and 6500 Series Service Source: Apple's service manual for the 6400, 6410, 6420 and 6500.[1]
Related pages
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Apple Computer, Performa/Power Macintosh 6400 and 6500 Series Service Source, File:Powermac.perf 6400.6500.pdf; see Performa/Power Macintosh 6400 and 6500 Series Service Source. PDF page numbers: title p. 1 ("International Performa 6410, 6420"); Performa 6410 and 6420 p. 5; Voltage Switch pp. 17-19; DIMMs pp. 39-41; Cache Expansion p. 43; Specifications pp. 56-73; Symptom Charts pp. 76-96; Battery Verification and Replacement pp. 209-212; Exploded View p. 232.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Macintosh Performa 6420: Technical Specifications, Apple—link(accessed 2026-09-30) PowerPC 603e at 200 MHz; data path 64-bit, 40 MHz; 32K L1; 256K L2; slots 2 PCI, Comm II, TV, video in; two GeoPorts; 220 max watts, 100-125/200-240 V; battery type 4.5 V alkaline; 8 MB on the logic board, two 168-pin DIMM slots, 24-136 MB, 70 ns; introduced 11/12/1996; "This system is not sold in the U.S."; Gestalt ID 58; System 7.5.3 with System Enabler 410 v1.1; 2.4 GB IDE; 8x CD-ROM.
- ↑ Apple Macintosh Performa 6420/200 Specs, EveryMac—link(accessed 2026-09-30) Identical to the standard Performa 6400/200 but sold in Europe and Asia; 16 MB; 2.4 GB; 8X CD-ROM; 256K L2 listed as optional; 28.8k internal modem; introduced 12 November 1996, discontinued 1 August 1997; order number M5513J/A in Japan; model M3548; Gestalt ID 58.