Macintosh Performa 5400CD

The Macintosh Performa 5400CD is an all-in-one personal computer released by Apple Computer on April 22, 1996. Based on the Alchemy architecture, it was the consumer version of the Power Macintosh 5400 educational line. The Performa 5400 series was the last of Apple's 5xxx all-in-one Macintosh computers before the transition to the Performa 5500 series.

Macintosh Performa 5400CD

Macintosh Performa 5400CD
Specifications
Manufacturer	Apple Computer, Inc.
Type	All-in-one Personal Computer
Released	April 22, 1996
Discontinued	February 1, 1997
CPU	PowerPC 603e @ 120 MHz
Memory	16 MB RAM (expandable to 136 MB)
Storage	1.6 GB IDE hard drive, 4X CD-ROM
Display	15" shadow mask CRT (640×480 16-bit, 832×624 8-bit)
Sound	16-bit stereo output and stereo input port; built-in mono microphone
Dimensions	17.5" H × 16.0" W × 15.1" D (445 × 406 × 383 mm)
Weight	17 lb without CD-ROM, 19 lb with CD-ROM (Apple)
OS / Firmware	System 7.5.3 – Mac OS 9.1
Predecessor	Performa 5300
Successor	Performa 5500
Codename	Alchemy, Excalibur

The 5400CD featured a 120 MHz PowerPC 603e processor in the same case design as the earlier Performa 5200, but with substantial internal improvements including the first use of 168-pin DIMM memory sockets and a PCI expansion slot in the LC line.

Model Variants

The Performa 5400 series includes several regional and speed variants sharing the same Alchemy logic board:

Model	CPU Speed	CD-ROM	RAM	HDD	Case	Region
Performa 5400CD	120 MHz	4X	16 MB	1.6 GB	Platinum	Worldwide
Performa 5410CD	120 MHz	4X	16 MB	1.6 GB	Platinum	Europe
Performa 5420CD	120 MHz	4X	16 MB	1.6 GB	Platinum	Asia
Performa 5400/160	160 MHz	8X	16 MB	1.6 GB	Platinum	Europe/Asia
Performa 5430	160 MHz	8X	16 MB	1.6 GB	Platinum	Europe
Performa 5440	180 MHz	8X	16 MB	1.6 GB	Black	Europe/Asia

The educational versions were sold as the Power Macintosh 5400/120, 5400/160, and 5400/180 in North America.

Architecture and Processor

Processor

The Performa 5400CD uses a PowerPC 603e processor running at 120 MHz on a 40 MHz system bus. The 603e is a 32-bit processor with a 64-bit data path and integrated floating-point unit. Higher-speed variants used 160 MHz or 180 MHz versions of the same processor.

Cache

The processor includes 32 KB of L1 cache (16 KB instruction, 16 KB data). Level 2 cache is an optional 256K module on a 160-pin DIMM card; Apple gives 512K of Level 2 cache as standard only on the 5500/275.

Memory and Storage

RAM Configuration

The Performa 5400 series uses 168-pin DIMM modules, the first use of this memory type in the LC line. Apple gives 8 MB of DRAM soldered on the board for the 5400/120, 8 or 16 MB for the 5400/180 and 16 MB for the 5400/160 and 5420/180, each expandable to 136 MB in two JEDEC-standard DIMM sockets. The DIMM specification is not the same across the range — see below.

Video RAM

1 MB of system RAM is dedicated to video function. This VRAM allocation cannot be expanded.

Storage Systems

The base 5400CD includes a 1.6 GB IDE hard drive and 4X CD-ROM. Later models shipped with 8X CD-ROM drives. A 1.44 MB manual-eject floppy drive is standard. External SCSI devices are supported via the DB-25 SCSI port.

Display and Graphics

The built-in 15" shadow mask CRT supports:

• 640×480 at 16-bit colour, 67 Hz or 60 Hz (VGA)
• 800×600 at 16-bit colour, 60 Hz or 72 Hz
• 832×624 at 8-bit colour at 75 Hz — this mode does not support video input

Apple lists no 1024×768 mode for the 5400 series; that mode belongs to the 6360 and the 6400. Mirroring to an external display needs the optional video connector kit for the DB-15 mirror-out port, and Apple notes the external display is presentation only — it cannot be driven by the mouse.

Audio Capabilities

Apple's specification for the 5400 series gives:

• Two stereophonic sound output ports, level nominally 0.5 V RMS into 39 ohms — one front

 headphone jack, one rear stereo mini phone jack

• A stereo sound input port, which supports the Apple PlainTalk Microphone and a standard

 stereo miniplug-to-RCA adapter, and does not support the Apple Omni microphone or the
 attenuated RCA adapter shipped with some models

• A built-in microphone, which is monophonic
• Internal stereo speakers capable of 8-bit and 16-bit stereo sound

SRS surround-sound mode belongs to the 5500, not the 5400. Apple's Speaker entry splits the two explicitly, giving the 5500 "SRS surround-sound mode" and the 5400 series plain 8-bit and 16-bit stereo.

Input/Output and Expansion

Port Configuration

• 1× ADB port (keyboard and mouse)
• 2× GeoPort serial ports (modem and printer, Mini DIN-8)
• 1× DB-25 SCSI port (external devices)
• Ethernet or a modem by way of the communications slot — Apple's specification gives one slot for an optional modem or Ethernet card, not built-in Ethernet
• 3.5mm stereo audio output
• 3.5mm mono audio input

Expansion Slots

The Alchemy logic board includes:

• 1× PCI expansion slot, 32-bit PCI bus, for 7-inch cards; NuBus cards cannot be used in it
• 1× communications slot for an optional modem or Ethernet card (PCI-bus configuration)
• 1× 60-pin video-in slot (Digital Audio Video, DAV). Apple warns that the 5400's video input

 card is not compatible with the DAV slot in the Quadra 660AV/840AV or the Power Macintosh
 6100/7100/8100, and that an adapter cable is needed to use Power Macintosh 5200/6200 cards

• 1× optional internal TV/FM tuner

General Maintenance

For detailed maintenance practices including cleaning, PRAM battery management, connector corrosion prevention, and voltage adjustments, refer to the dedicated Macintosh Performa 5400 General Maintenance page.

PCB Schematics & Service Manual

Apple Service Manual

The Performa 5400 series shares service documentation with the Power Macintosh 5400 line.

All Apple Service Manuals can be found on the Apple Service Source page.

Capacitor Replacement Guide

Detailed capacitor replacement guidelines for the logic board can be found on the Macintosh Performa 5400 Capacitor Replacement Guide page.

Retrobrite

To address plastic yellowing (particularly on platinum models), detailed instructions can be found on the Retrobrite page.

Troubleshooting

A comprehensive troubleshooting guide addressing no power, video issues, intermittent operation, and common failure points is available on the Macintosh Performa 5400 Troubleshooting page.

Technical Details

System Architecture

Sub-system	Specification
CPU	PowerPC 603e @ 120/160/180 MHz
Bus Speed	40 MHz
Data Path	64-bit
ROM	4 MB
RAM	8–16 MB on board + 2× 168-pin DIMM (max 136 MB)
Video	1 MB (from system RAM)
Storage	IDE hard drive, ATAPI CD-ROM, 1.44 MB floppy
Expansion	1× PCI, Comm slot, Video I/O slot, TV slot

Processor Specifications

Component	Specification
CPU	PowerPC 603e
Clock Speed	120/160/180 MHz (by model)
L1 Cache	32 KB (16 KB I + 16 KB D)
L2 Cache	256K optional, on a 160-pin DIMM card
FPU	Integrated
Data Bus	64-bit
Address Bus	32-bit

Apple service data

Figures in this section are Apple's own, from the Power Macintosh/Performa 5400 and 5500 Series Service Source volume hosted on this wiki.

Item	Apple's figure
Line voltage	100–240 VAC, 47–63 Hz
Power	125 W; current 2.5 A maximum for all line and load conditions; 220 W maximum for all line and load conditions
Surge voltage / inrush	300 V rms for 100 ms; peak inrush 40 A pk
Case	Height 17.5 in. (445 mm), width 16 in. (406 mm), depth 15.1 in. (383 mm)
Weight	Without CD-ROM 17 lb.; with CD-ROM 19 lb. Weight varies with options
Display	15-inch shadow mask, 12.8-inch viewable image; dot pitch 0.28 mm; vertical frequency 66.7 Hz; active raster 9.5 × 7.3 in. (240 × 185 mm); white point 9,300 K
Sound output	Two stereophonic output ports, nominally 0.5 V RMS into 39 ohms; front headphone jack, rear stereo mini phone jack
PRAM battery	Verify on the 10 V DC scale with the logic board out; replace below 3.0 V

Apple's weight figure is printed as "19 lb. (21.15 kg)" in three of these volumes. 19 lb is 8.6 kg; 21.15 kg is not a conversion of anything on the page, and 17/19 lb is also what Apple gives for the much smaller LC 630 chassis. The pounds figures are used here and the metric one is not.

Adjustment controls

The 5400/5500 volume's Adjustments chapter is Light Meter Setup, Geometry, Video and Focus — there is no rail-voltage adjustment or tolerance table for this machine. The controls Apple names are VR701 (horizontal shift) with the three-position horizontal centring switch SW701, VR601, and on the CRT video board VR301, VR302 (red gain), VR303 (green gain), VR304 (red bias) and VR305 (green bias). Geometry work is done with the All-White Screen from the Display Service Utility in the Utilities folder of the MacTest Pro CD, using a plastic flat-blade or Phillips tool — Apple warns that metal alignment tools are a shock hazard.

Memory: the DIMM specification changes inside the range

Apple's memory entries are not interchangeable even though the sockets look identical: the 5400/120, 5400/160 and 5400/180 take 168-pin, 70 ns or faster, 2K refresh DIMMs, while the 5400/200 and every 5500 take 168-pin, 60 ns or faster, 2K refresh, 5-volt buffered EDO DIMMs. The 5400 series carries 1 MB of DRAM on board for video support and a 4 MB ROM; Level 2 cache is an optional 256K module on a 160-pin DIMM card (512K on the 5500/275).

See Also

• Power Macintosh 5400 – Educational version
• Performa 5500 – Successor
• Performa 6400 – Tower counterpart with same logic board