Macintosh LC II

The Macintosh LC II is a personal computer released by Apple on March 23, 1992, as a direct replacement for the original Macintosh LC. The LC II upgraded the processor to a Motorola 68030, adding a PMMU (Paged Memory Management Unit) for virtual memory support while maintaining price parity with the original LC's launch price.

Macintosh LC II

Macintosh LC II
Specifications
Manufacturer	Apple Computer, Inc.
Type	Personal Computer
Released	March 23, 1992
Discontinued	March 15, 1993
Intro price	US$1,699
CPU	Motorola 68030 @ 16 MHz
Memory	4 MB RAM (expandable to 10 MB)
Storage	40 MB, 80 MB, or 160 MB SCSI HDD, 1.44 MB SuperDrive
Display	512×384 (8-bit) or 640×480 (8-bit with 512K VRAM)
Sound	8-bit stereo input/output
Dimensions	2.9" H × 12.2" W × 15.3" D
Weight	8.8 lbs (4.0 kg)
OS / Firmware	System 6.0.8 – System 7.6.1
Predecessor	Macintosh LC
Successor	Macintosh LC III
Codename	Foster Farms
Model no.	M1700

Model Variants

The LC II was sold under several Performa brand names for consumer markets:

• Performa 400 — Base configuration
• Performa 405 — With 4 MB RAM and 80 MB hard drive
• Performa 410 — With 4 MB RAM and 80 MB hard drive (different bundle)
• Performa 430 — With 4 MB RAM and 120 MB hard drive

All variants use the same logic board and hardware.

Architecture and Processor

The LC II uses a Motorola 68030 processor running at 16 MHz. Despite the upgraded processor, the LC II retains the 16-bit memory bus from the original LC, which limits memory bandwidth. The 68030 includes an integrated PMMU, enabling System 7's virtual memory feature.

The Gestalt ID for the Macintosh LC II is 19 or 37 (depending on ROM version).

Note: Although the 68030 supports an FPU, Apple did not include an FPU socket on the LC II logic board as a cost-saving measure.

Memory and Storage

RAM Configuration

The LC II shipped with 4 MB of RAM standard, expandable to 10 MB. Memory expansion uses two 30-pin SIMM slots populated in pairs with matching 100ns or faster SIMMs.

RAM Configurations

Configuration	Slot 1	Slot 2
4 MB	2 MB	2 MB
6 MB	2 MB + 2 MB soldered	2 MB
10 MB	4 MB	4 MB + 2 MB soldered

Video RAM

The LC II includes 256 KB of VRAM standard, expandable to 512 KB:

• 256 KB VRAM: 640×480 at 4-bit (16 colors)
• 512 KB VRAM: 640×480 at 8-bit (256 colors)

Storage Systems

Storage options included:

• 40 MB, 80 MB, or 160 MB internal SCSI hard drive
• 1.44 MB SuperDrive (reads/writes 400K, 800K, and 1.44 MB disks)

Input/Output and Expansion

Port Configuration

• 1× Apple Desktop Bus (ADB) port
• 1× External SCSI (DB-25)
• 1× Audio input (3.5mm stereo minijack)
• 1× Audio output (3.5mm stereo minijack)
• 2× Serial ports (Mini DIN-8)
• 1× Video output (DA-15)

Expansion

The LC II features a single LC Processor Direct Slot (LC PDS), compatible with the same expansion cards as the original LC.

General Maintenance

For detailed maintenance practices including cleaning, PRAM battery management, and connector care, refer to the dedicated Macintosh LC II General Maintenance page.

Troubleshooting

A comprehensive troubleshooting guide addressing common issues with the Macintosh LC II is available on the Macintosh LC II Troubleshooting page.

Capacitor Replacement

The Macintosh LC II logic board contains 17 surface-mount electrolytic capacitors that commonly fail due to age. Detailed replacement guidelines can be found on the Macintosh LC II Capacitor Replacement Guide page.

Technical Details

Macintosh LC II Technical Specifications

Component	Specification
CPU	Motorola 68030 @ 16 MHz
FPU	None (no socket provided)
PMMU	Integrated in 68030
Data Bus	32-bit (16-bit memory controller)
System Bus	16 MHz
ROM	512 KB
RAM	4 MB (max 10 MB)
VRAM	256 KB (max 512 KB)