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Macintosh Performa 6110CD

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Revision as of 16:57, 30 September 2026 by Josh (talk | contribs) (Rewrite as the Performa 6100 series page: model table from Apple spec sheets and the newly hosted Performa 6100 Series Service Source; fix 601 cache (32K unified), serial ports (mini DIN-9), drive sizes (6116CD 700 MB, 6117CD 350 MB); add symptom charts, battery and reset procedure; remove invented bundle lists and nonexistent category)
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Macintosh Performa 6110CD
Power Macintosh 6100/66; the Performa 6100 series uses the same case
Specifications
ManufacturerApple Computer, Inc.
TypeDesktop personal computer
Released1 November 1994
Discontinued1 July 1995
Intro priceUS$2,600
CPUPowerPC 601 at 60 MHz, 30 MHz bus
Memory8 MB soldered; two 72-pin SIMM sockets, filled in pairs; 72 MB maximum
Storage250 MB internal SCSI hard drive
Display—
Sound16-bit stereo in and out
GraphicsBuilt in, using main memory; HDI-45 port with HDI-45 to DB-15 adapter
ROM4 MB on a ROM SIMM
FPU / coprocessorBuilt into the PowerPC 601
Media1.4 MB SuperDrive (manual-inject); AppleCD 300i Plus CD-ROM drive
Ports / interfaceOne ADB, two GeoPort serial (mini DIN-9), SCSI (DB-25), AAUI-15 Ethernet, HDI-45 video, sound in and out
ExpansionOne slot for a processor-direct card or a 7-inch NuBus card (with adapter)
Power100-240 V AC, 210 W maximum input; 86 W DC output
Dimensions3.4 × 16.3 × 15.6 in (85 × 415 × 399 mm)
Weight14 lb (6.4 kg)
OS / FirmwareSystem 7.5 to Mac OS 9.1
CodenamePiltdown Man (PDM)
Model no.M1596 (Gestalt ID 75)

The Macintosh Performa 6110CD is the first model of Apple's Performa 6100 series, the consumer versions of the Power Macintosh 6100/60, introduced on 1 November 1994.[1] Apple's service manual for the series lists six models, the 6110CD, 6112CD, 6115CD, 6116CD, 6117CD and 6118CD, which have the same logic board and differ in hard drive size, bundled monitor, modem and software.[2] EveryMac describes the series as based on the Piltdown Man (PDM) design of the Power Macintosh 6100, and lists the 6110CD at US$2,600 with order number M3433LL/A.[3]

Performa 6100 series models

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Performa 6100 series configurations
Model Introduced (Apple) Hard drive Monitor (Apple) Modem EveryMac notes
6110CD 1 November 1994 250 MB Multiple Scan 15 TelePort fax/data modem (Apple); none (EveryMac) M3433LL/A, US$2,600
6112CD 1 November 1994 250 MB Multiple Scan 15 TelePort fax/data modem; 14.4k Global Village (EveryMac) Games bundle; M3434LL/A, US$2,600
6115CD 1 November 1994 350 MB Multiple Scan 15 TelePort fax/data modem; 14.4k (EveryMac) Home-office bundle; M3435LL/A, US$2,600
6116CD 17 July 1995 700 MB None (EveryMac) 14.4k (EveryMac) Business bundle; M4094LL/A, US$1,900
6117CD 1 November 1994 350 MB Multiple Scan 15 TelePort fax/data modem; 14.4k (EveryMac) Money Magazine finance bundle; US$2,400
6118CD 1 November 1994 500 MB Not listed TelePort fax/data modem; 28.8k (EveryMac) M3647LL/A, US$2,800

Introduction dates and drive sizes are from Apple's specification sheets; monitors and modems from Apple's service manual, which does not list the 6116CD's configuration; bundles, order numbers and prices from EveryMac.[1][2][3][4] EveryMac's pages for the other five models give the bundles, order numbers and prices.[5]

Specifications

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Performa 6100 series specifications (Apple)
Item Specification
Processor PowerPC 601 at 60 MHz with built-in MMU and FPU and 32K of on-chip cache; needs System 7.5 or later[2]
RAM 8 MB soldered on the board; two SIMM sockets taking a pair of same-size, 80 ns or faster, 72-pin, non-composite SIMMs; 72 MB maximum[2]
ROM 4 MB on a SIMM socket[2]
Cache 32K on the processor; optional 256K level 2 cache[2]
Drives 1.4 MB SuperDrive, manual insert; internal SCSI hard drive (250, 350, 500 or 700 MB by model); AppleCD 300i Plus CD-ROM drive[2][1]
Video HDI-45 port with no VRAM, driven from main memory; with the HDI-45 to DB-15 adapter it supports 12-inch to 17-inch Apple monitors, up to 832 × 624 on the 16-inch[2]
Sound 16-bit stereo in and out; 48, 44.1, 24 and 22.05 kHz; line level 1 V peak to peak[2]
Serial Two RS-232/RS-422 LocalTalk/GeoPort ports, mini DIN-9 (take mini DIN-8 plugs)[2]
SCSI and ADB One DB-25 SCSI port, six external devices (five with the CD-ROM fitted); one ADB port, 500 mA maximum[2]
Ethernet AAUI-15[2]
Expansion One internal slot for a processor-direct card, or a 7-inch NuBus card with an adapter[2]
Electrical 100-240 V AC, automatically configured, 50-60 Hz; 210 W maximum input, not including the monitor; 86 W DC output[2]
Size and weight 85 × 415 × 399 mm; 6.4 kg (14.0 lb)[2]

EveryMac gives the video system 640K of main memory and notes that two third-party 64 MB SIMMs bring the total to 136 MB.[3] Apple's specification sheets list an Intel 486DX2-66 DOS card as an option.[1]

Hardware

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The Performa 6100 series is serviced as a Power Macintosh 6100/60. Apple's Power Macintosh 6100/WS 6150 Service Source covers the same logic board and adds the procedures the Performa volume leaves out.[6]

SIMMs go in matched pairs of the same size and speed and must be non-composite; when About This Macintosh reports more or less memory than is fitted, Apple's first check is the pairing.[2]

The battery is a 3.6 V lithium cell on the logic board.[1] Apple's test is to measure it on the 10 V DC range and replace it below 3.2 V.[6] Neutralise leakage from a lithium cell with bicarbonate of soda; see Battery Explosion, Capacitor or Corrosion Damage.

For a machine that will not power up, Apple's first step is to reset the logic board: unplug the computer, take the battery out of its holder, press the power button, disconnect the power supply cable from the logic board and wait 5-10 minutes before refitting the battery and cable. This also clears PRAM.[6]

From Apple's symptom charts
Symptom Apple's cures, in order
System does not power up Reset the logic board; reseat the ROM SIMM and cache SIMM; replace the power supply; replace the logic board[2]
Crashes or hangs Check for System 7.5 or later; check the SIMMs are non-composite and in like pairs; check the software; zap PRAM; replace the SIMMs, then the logic board, then the power supply[2]
Dark screen, fan running, no drive activity Reset the logic board; reseat the ROM and cache SIMMs; remove peripherals; replace the DRAM SIMMs, then the power supply, then the logic board[2]
Power button sticks Realign the plastic button; reseat the power supply; enlarge the hole round the button by 1/16 in; bend down the guide tabs in the bottom housing[6]
Modem software reports a busy port or cannot find the modem Install the GlobalFax 2.5.2P update, or replace the TelePort control panel from the backup CD, with AppleTalk active and LocalTalk selected[6]

Maintenance and repair

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Documentation

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References

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Macintosh Performa 6110CD: Technical Specifications, Apple—link(accessed 2026-09-30) PowerPC 601 at 60 MHz, 64-bit data path, 30 MHz bus; 32K L1 cache, optional L2; optional Intel 486DX2-66 second processor; one 7-inch NuBus or PDS slot; HDI-45 video; two GeoPorts; AAUI-15; 210 W maximum, 100-240 V; battery type 3.6 V lithium; 8 MB on the logic board, two 72-pin SIMM slots installed in pairs, 72 MB maximum; introduced 11/1/1994; Gestalt ID 75; 14 lb; 250 MB SCSI hard drive.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 Apple Computer, Macintosh Performa 6100 Series Service Source (1996), File:Performa 6100 series.pdf. PDF page numbers: title p. 1; Product Configurations pp. 8-10; Processor p. 21; Memory p. 22; Disk Storage p. 23; I/O Interfaces pp. 24-25; Video Display p. 27; Electrical p. 28; Physical p. 29; Symptom Charts pp. 33-44; Take Apart pp. 46-78; Exploded View p. 86.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Apple Macintosh Performa 6110CD Specs, EveryMac—link(accessed 2026-09-30) Based on the PDM (Piltdown Man) architecture; introduced 1 November 1994, discontinued 1 July 1995; 8 MB; 250 MB; 2X CD-ROM; 15-inch Apple monitor; 640K of system RAM dedicated to video; 136 MB with third-party 64 MB SIMMs; PDS-to-NuBus adapter M1402LL/A; order number M3433LL/A; US$2,600; supported system software 7.1.2 to 9.1.
  4. ↑ Apple Technical Specifications pages: Macintosh Performa 6112CD, Apple—link(accessed 2026-09-30)
    Macintosh Performa 6115CD, Apple—link(accessed 2026-09-30)
    Macintosh Performa 6116CD, Apple—link(accessed 2026-09-30) (introduced 7/17/1995, 700 MB); Macintosh Performa 6117CD, Apple—link(accessed 2026-09-30)
    Macintosh Performa 6118CD, Apple—link(accessed 2026-09-30) .
  5. ↑ EveryMac spec pages for the 6112CD, 6115CD, 6116CD, 6117CD and 6118CD, accessed 2026-09-30.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Apple Computer, Power Macintosh 6100/WS 6150 Service Source, File:Powermac 6100 series.pdf; see Power Macintosh 6100/ WS 6150 Service Source. PDF page numbers: Symptom Charts pp. 40-56; Battery Verification pp. 102-103; Battery Replacement pp. 104-106; Reset Logic Board pp. 107-112.