Macintosh LC II

The Macintosh LC II is a personal computer designed, manufactured, and sold by Apple Computer from March 1992 to March 1993. The LC II is an update to the original Macintosh LC, replacing its Motorola 68020 processor with a 68030 and increasing the onboard memory to 4 MB. The LC II was priced at US$1,699, fully $800 less than the original LC when it was introduced.[1]

"LC II" redirects here. For other uses, see LCII (disambiguation) and LC2 (disambiguation).
Macintosh LC II / Performa 400 / Performa 405 / Performa 410 / Performa 430
Macintosh LC II
DeveloperApple Computer
Product familyLC, Performa
Release dateMarch 23, 1992 (1992-03-23)
Introductory priceUS$1,699 (equivalent to $3,540 in 2022)
DiscontinuedMarch 15, 1993 (1993-03-15)
Operating systemSystem 7.0.1 - Mac OS 7.6.1
(can also run System 6.0.8)
CPUMotorola 68030 @ 16 MHz
Memory4 MB, expandable to 10 MB (30-pin SIMM)
DimensionsHeight: 2.9 inches (7.4 cm)
Width: 12.2 inches (31 cm)
Depth: 15.3 inches (39 cm)
Mass8.8 pounds (4.0 kg)
PredecessorMacintosh LC
SuccessorMacintosh LC III

In September 1992, Apple introduced the Macintosh Performa family of consumer-oriented computers. The LC II was repackaged as the Performa 400. When LC II was replaced by the Macintosh LC III in early 1993, the LC II was discontinued in North America, and two new Performa models (the 405 and 430) were introduced in its place. In October, the Performa 400, 405 and 430 were all discontinued and a new LC II-based model called the Performa 410 was introduced which became Apple's new entry-level computer.[2] The LC II continued to be sold in some markets for some time after that.

The LC II was Apple's highest-selling Macintosh product in 1992.[3]

Overview

The LC II retains the original LC's 16-bit system bus and 10 MB RAM limit, making its performance roughly the same as the earlier model. The main benefit of the 68030 processor in the LC II is its onboard paged memory management unit, which System 7 uses to enable its new virtual memory feature.[4] Apple had opted to get a quick update to the LC out the door instead of spending the additional time required to do a full architectural update,[5] which would happen the following year with the Macintosh LC III.

The LC II was sold at the same time as the Macintosh IIsi, which was more than $800 more expensive than the LC II, but did not have its 10 MB memory limit, 16-bit data bus, and mono audio output. The IIsi also includes a NuBus expansion slot that the LC II lacks, and can be powered on via a button on the keyboard, unlike the LC range which has a power switch on the back of the unit.

Hardware
Front view of the manual-inject (left) and auto-inject (right) bezels of two LC IIs, the older right bezel featured the horizontal indentation aligning with the floppy drive which was a defining characteristic of the Snow White design language.

Case: The LC II retains its predecessor's pizza box form factor. The design was updated during the LC II's production run when the auto-inject floppy drive was substituted for a manual-inject unit. The revised front bezel no longer featured the horizontal indentation aligning with the floppy drive, a defining characteristic of the Snow White design language.

Logic board: The LC II retains much of the original LC's logic board design, including a 16-bit data path and a 10 MB memory limit. These limitations limited the machine's ability to take full advantage of the 68030 CPU.

Storage: The LC II shipped with one floppy drive as standard, with options for 40 or 80 MB hard drives. While the original LC had two internal floppy drive connectors, the LC II has one. About 5% of the LC units sold had two floppy drives, and internal hard disks were becoming common by 1992, so the second connector was removed.[5]

Video: The LC II's logic board has one video RAM slot, which is filled with a 256 KB SIMM as standard; the high-end configuration was shipped with a 512 KB SIMM instead. VRAM SIMMs from the original LC are supported in the LC II.[5]

Upgrades: Apple sold a $599 upgrade kit that replaced the LC II's logic board with that of the LC III.[3]

Models
Rear view of a Macintosh LC II, paired with a 12" RGB display

Introduced March 23, 1992 (and discontinued March 15, 1993):

  • Macintosh LC II:[6] Sold in these configurations:
    • 4 MB RAM, 40 MB HDD. US$1,699.[7]
    • 4 MB RAM, 80 MB HDD, 256 KB VRAM. US$1,849.[7]
    • 4 MB RAM, 80 MB HDD, 512 KB VRAM. US$2,049.[5]

Introduced September 14, 1992:

  • Performa 400:[8] 4 MB RAM, 512 KB VRAM, 80 MB HDD.

Introduced April 12, 1993:

  • Performa 405:[9] 4 MB RAM, 256 KB VRAM, 80 MB HDD.
  • Performa 430:[10] 4 MB RAM, 256 KB VRAM, 120 MB HDD.[11]

Introduced October 18, 1993:

  • Performa 410:[12] 4 MB RAM, 512 KB VRAM, 80 MB HDD.

Technical specifications

All of these models are obsolete.[lower-alpha 1][13]

Model Macintosh LC II[14] Macintosh Performa 400[15] Macintosh Performa 405[16] Macintosh Performa 430[17] Macintosh Performa 410[18]
Timetable Released March 23, 1992 September 14, 1992 April 12, 1993 October 18, 1993
Discontinued March 15, 1993 October 18, 1993 November 1, 1993
Model Model number M1700
Order number M1701 M1723 M1707 M1387 M1720 (Ed only) M1885 M1719 M1721 M1985
Performance Processor 68030
Clock speed and bus 16 MHz
Cache 0.5kB L1
Memory 4 MB
30-pin 100 ns SIMM
Expandable to 10 MB
Graphics 256 kB VRAM SIMM 512 kB VRAM SIMM 256 kB VRAM SIMM 512 kB VRAM SIMM 256 kB VRAM SIMM 512 kB VRAM SIMM
Expandable to 512 kB Not expandable Expandable to 512 kB Not expandable Expandable to 512 kB Not expandable
Storage Floppy drive Floppy drive
Hard drive 40 MB 80 MB 160 MB None 80 MB 120 MB 80 MB
Optical drive None
Connectivity 1 LC PDS
Dimensions Weight 8.8 pounds (4.0 kg)
Volume 2.9 inches (7.4 cm) × 12.2 inches (31 cm) × 15.3 inches (39 cm)
Operating system Minimum System 7.0.1 System 6.0.8 System 7.0.1 System 7.0P
Latest release System 7.6.1

Timeline
Timeline of Macintosh Centris, LC, Performa, and Quadra models, colored by CPU type
Macintosh Quadra 840AVMacintosh Quadra 650Macintosh Quadra 610Macintosh Quadra 605Macintosh Quadra 660AVMacintosh Quadra 800Macintosh Centris 650Macintosh Centris 610Macintosh Quadra 950Macintosh Quadra 630Macintosh Quadra 900Macintosh Quadra 700Macintosh Performa 6420Macintosh Performa 6410Macintosh Performa 5440Macintosh Performa 5430Macintosh Performa 5280Macintosh Performa 6360Macintosh Performa 5260Macintosh Performa 6400Macintosh Performa 6400Macintosh Performa 5400Macintosh Performa 5400Macintosh Performa 6260Macintosh Performa 5400Macintosh Performa 5420Macintosh Performa 5410Macintosh Performa 5270Macintosh Performa 5260Macintosh Performa 6310Macintosh Performa 6300Macintosh Performa 6290Macintosh Performa 6200Macintosh Performa 6116Macintosh Performa 5215Macintosh Performa 5210Macintosh Performa 640CDMacintosh Performa 580CDMacintosh Performa 588CDMacintosh Performa 636Macintosh Performa 635Macintosh Performa 630Macintosh Performa 578Macintosh Performa 577Macintosh Performa 575Macintosh Performa 476Macintosh Performa 475Macintosh Performa 560Macintosh Performa 550Macintosh Performa 275Macintosh Performa 6117Macintosh Performa 467Macintosh Performa 466Macintosh Performa 460Macintosh Performa 410Macintosh Performa 520Macintosh Performa 450Macintosh Performa 430Macintosh Performa 405Macintosh Performa 250Macintosh Performa 600Macintosh Performa 400Macintosh Performa 200Power Macintosh 5300 LCMacintosh LC 575Macintosh TVMacintosh LC IIIMacintosh LC 550Macintosh LC 580Macintosh LC 520Macintosh LC 630Macintosh LC 475Power Macintosh 5200 LCMacintosh LC IIIMacintosh LC IIMacintosh LC

See also: List of Mac models

Notes
  1. Apple products that were discontinued 7 years ago and no longer receive hardware support nor spare parts

References
  1. Luke Dormehl (March 23, 2017). "Today in Apple history: Macintosh LC II is the Mac mini of its day". Cult of Mac. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  2. Seiter, Charles (December 1993). "New 040 Macs". Macworld. Vol. 10, no. 12. pp. 92–98.
  3. "Apple Introduces the Macintosh LC III". February 9, 1993. Archived from the original on January 18, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  4. Pogue, David; Schorr, Joseph (1999). "Chapter 12: From 128K to Quadra: Mac to Mac". MacWorld Mac Secrets, 5th Edition. IDG Books. pp. 472–473. ISBN 0-7645-4040-8.
  5. Heid, Jim (May 1992). "More for Less: An Updated LC and LaserWriter Duo". Macworld. Vol. 9, no. 5. pp. 137–141.
  6. "Macintosh LC II: Technical Specifications". Apple. Archived from the original on 2014-12-13. Retrieved 2017-11-18.
  7. "Apple Introduces Powerful New Macintosh LC II". March 23, 1992. Archived from the original on March 26, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  8. "Macintosh Performa 400:Technical Specifications". Apple. Archived from the original on 2013-09-08. Retrieved 2017-11-18.
  9. "Macintosh Performa 405:Technical Specifications". Apple. Archived from the original on 2022-09-15. Retrieved 2017-11-18.
  10. "Macintosh Performa 430:Technical Specifications". Apple. Archived from the original on 2014-11-10. Retrieved 2017-11-18.
  11. "Apple Service Source - Performa 400 Series" (PDF). Apple. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-03-24. Retrieved 2017-11-18.
  12. "Macintosh Performa 410:Technical Specifications". Apple. Archived from the original on 2022-09-15. Retrieved 2017-11-18.
  13. "Obtaining service for your Apple product after an expired warranty". support.apple.com. March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  14. Technical specifications of Macintosh LC II: Technical Specifications from Apple's knowledge base and from EveryMac.com. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  15. Technical specifications of Macintosh Performa 400: Technical Specifications from Apple's knowledge base and from EveryMac.com. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  16. Technical specifications of Macintosh Performa 405: Technical Specifications from Apple's knowledge base and from EveryMac.com. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  17. Technical specifications of Macintosh Performa 430: Technical Specifications from Apple's knowledge base and from EveryMac.com. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  18. Technical specifications of Macintosh Performa 430: Technical Specifications from Apple's knowledge base and from EveryMac.com. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
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