Power Macintosh 9600
Encyclopedia
The Power Macintosh 9600 (Codename: "Kansas"; also sold with additional server software as the Apple Workgroup Server
9650) is a personal computer
that is a part of Apple Computer
's Power Macintosh
series of Macintosh computers. It was introduced in February 1997 alongside the Power Macintosh 7300
and the Power Macintosh 8600
, and replaced the Power Macintosh 9500
as Apple's flagship desktop computer. It was the last Macintosh model able to boot and run System 7
natively.
The 9600 came in the same new case as the 8600, but was internally very similar to the 9500 that preceded it, with 12 RAM slots and 6 PCI slots instead of the 8 RAM and 3 PCI slots on the 8600. The 9600 used the new PowerPC 604e CPU, an enhanced version of the 9500 604. On introduction, three processor configurations were available: single 200 MHz, dual
200 MHz and single 233 MHz. In August 1997, they were replaced by two new models, with a single 300 MHz or 350 MHz "Mach 5" 604ev with a larger L2 cache. The 350 MHz model was initially discontinued in October due to CPU supply problems, but reintroduced on February 17 when the 300 MHz model was discontinued in favor of the new Power Macintosh G3
minitower - while the G3 was faster, its expandability was only on par with the 8600, so the 9600 was kept available until March for users that needed that kind of expandability.
Unlike the 8600, the PowerMac 9600 has no built-in video; instead, it shipped with an 8MB IXMICRO TwinTurbo 128-bit PCI video card installed.
The Power Macintosh 9600/350 was the most powerful Mac ever in Apple's four-digit model numbering system, the last multiprocessor Mac for three years, and the last six-slot model to date. However, no version of OS X was officially supported by Apple, its installation and use requiring the use of the third-party software solution XPostFacto and OS X 10.3 or 10.4 only available if a G3 processor upgrade is installed (and OS X 10.5 with a G4). It was also the last Mac to support System 7; subsequent models (G3+) required OS 8 or later.
Apple Workgroup Server
Apple Workgroup Server and, later, Macintosh Server, were the names given to selected models of Macintosh computers which were sold by Apple Computer with additional server software and sometimes bigger hard drives. Apart from that, they were mostly identical to computers out of Apple's...
9650) is a personal computer
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
that is a part of Apple Computer
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
's Power Macintosh
Power Macintosh
Power Macintosh, later Power Mac, was a line of Apple Macintosh workstation-class personal computers based on various models of PowerPC microprocessors that were developed, marketed, and supported by Apple Inc. from March 1994 until August 2006. The first models were the Power Macintosh 6100,...
series of Macintosh computers. It was introduced in February 1997 alongside the Power Macintosh 7300
Power Macintosh 7300
The Power Macintosh 7300 is a personal computer that is a part of Apple Computer's Power Macintosh series of Macintosh computers...
and the Power Macintosh 8600
Power Macintosh 8600
The Power Macintosh 8600 is a personal computer that is a part of Apple Computer's Power Macintosh series of Macintosh computers. It was introduced at a processor speed of 200 MHz in February 1997 alongside the Power Macintosh 7300 and the Power Macintosh 9600. It replaced the Power Macintosh...
, and replaced the Power Macintosh 9500
Power Macintosh 9500
The Power Macintosh 9500 was a high-end Macintosh personal computer which was designed, manufactured and sold by Apple Computer from May 1995 until early 1997. It was powered by a PowerPC 604 processor, a second-generation PowerPC chip which was faster than the earlier PowerPC 601 chip...
as Apple's flagship desktop computer. It was the last Macintosh model able to boot and run System 7
System 7
System 7 is the name of a Macintosh operating system introduced in 1991.System 7 may also refer to:* System 7 , a British dance/ambient band* System 7 , 1991 album* IBM System/7, a 1970s computer system...
natively.
The 9600 came in the same new case as the 8600, but was internally very similar to the 9500 that preceded it, with 12 RAM slots and 6 PCI slots instead of the 8 RAM and 3 PCI slots on the 8600. The 9600 used the new PowerPC 604e CPU, an enhanced version of the 9500 604. On introduction, three processor configurations were available: single 200 MHz, dual
Dual processor
In computer architecture, dual processor can refer to two different types of multiprocessing:# A computer with two central processing units# A dual-core central processing unit: two processors combined into a single integrated circuit or package....
200 MHz and single 233 MHz. In August 1997, they were replaced by two new models, with a single 300 MHz or 350 MHz "Mach 5" 604ev with a larger L2 cache. The 350 MHz model was initially discontinued in October due to CPU supply problems, but reintroduced on February 17 when the 300 MHz model was discontinued in favor of the new Power Macintosh G3
Power Macintosh G3
The Power Macintosh G3, commonly called "beige G3s" or "platinum G3s" for the color of their cases, was a series of personal computers designed, manufactured, and sold by Apple Computer, Inc. from November 1997 to January 1999...
minitower - while the G3 was faster, its expandability was only on par with the 8600, so the 9600 was kept available until March for users that needed that kind of expandability.
The Power Macintosh 9600/350 was the most powerful Mac ever in Apple's four-digit model numbering system, the last multiprocessor Mac for three years, and the last six-slot model to date. However, no version of OS X was officially supported by Apple, its installation and use requiring the use of the third-party software solution XPostFacto and OS X 10.3 or 10.4 only available if a G3 processor upgrade is installed (and OS X 10.5 with a G4). It was also the last Mac to support System 7; subsequent models (G3+) required OS 8 or later.
External links
- Power Macintosh 9600/200, 9600/200MP, 9600/233, 9600/300 and 9600/350 specifications at AppleSpec
- Power Macintosh 9600 at Low End Mac
- Power Macintosh 9600 at apple-history.com
- Power Macintosh 8600/200, 8600/200MP, 8600/233, 8600/300 and 8600/350 at EveryMac.com