Macintosh Performa 578
 | |
| Macintosh LC 575, the same machine as the Performa 578 (photo: Matthew Paul Argall, public domain) | |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Apple Computer, Inc. |
| Type | All-in-one personal computer |
| Released | February 1, 1994[1] |
| Discontinued | April 1995[2] |
| CPU | Motorola 68LC040 at 33 MHz (no FPU)[3][1] |
| Memory | 8 MB (4 MB on the logic board plus a SIMM); one 72-pin SIMM slot, 36 MB maximum[1] |
| Storage | 320 MB SCSI hard drive, AppleCD 300+i CD-ROM, 1.4 MB SuperDrive[3] |
| Display | Built-in 14-inch Trinitron, 640 × 480[3] |
| Sound | Stereo output, mono input[3] |
| Power | 100–240 V AC, 47–63 Hz, 120 W maximum[3] |
| Dimensions | 17.9 × 13.5 × 16.5 in (45.5 × 34.4 × 42.0 cm), H × W × D[3] |
| Weight | 40.5 lb (18.4 kg)[3] |
| OS / Firmware | System 7.1P6 with System Enabler 364[1] |
| Successor | Performa 580 |
| Model no. | M1640[4] |
The Macintosh Performa 578 is an all-in-one Macintosh with a 33 MHz Motorola 68LC040, a built-in 14-inch Trinitron display, a CD-ROM drive and a communications slot, introduced by Apple on February 1, 1994.[1] It is the retail version of the Macintosh LC 575. Apple's Service Source groups it with the other Performa 575-series models, which differ only in hard drive size and memory, and gives the three a tray-loading AppleCD 300+i drive and a third-party modem.[5] EveryMac gives the Apple order number as M3202LL/A; Low End Mac gives a launch price of US$1,700 for the Performa 575 to 578 and describes the LC 575 as a Quadra 605 logic board in an LC 520 case.[4][2]
Models
[edit | edit source]| Model | RAM as shipped | Hard drive | Apple order number (EveryMac) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performa 575 | 5 MB | 250 MB SCSI | M3119LL/A |
| Performa 577 | 5 MB | 320 MB SCSI | M3201LL/A |
| Performa 578 | 8 MB | 320 MB SCSI | M3202LL/A |
Memory and drive sizes are from Apple's technical-specification pages and Service Source.[1][3][4]
Specifications
[edit | edit source]| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor | Motorola 68LC040 at 33 MHz with built-in MMU and no FPU. The processor sits in a socket and can be replaced by a full 68040; an expansion card cannot add an FPU[3][6] |
| RAM | 4 MB on the logic board; one 72-pin SIMM slot for 80 ns or faster SIMMs; 36 MB maximum. The Service Source gives "8 MB of dynamic RAM on board", which is the 4 MB plus the SIMM fitted at the factory[1][6][3] |
| ROM and PRAM | 1 MB ROM; 256 bytes of parameter memory[3] |
| Video | 512K VRAM as standard in two VRAM SIMM slots, expandable to 1 MB for thousands of colours at 640 × 480. The Service Source lists 1 MB as standard[1][6][3] |
| Display | 14-inch Trinitron CRT, 13-inch viewable; 0.26 mm aperture grille pitch; 640 × 480 at 70 dpi[3] |
| Storage | 320 MB internal SCSI hard drive; internal AppleCD 300+i double-speed CD-ROM (tray loading); 1.4 MB Apple SuperDrive, manual insert[3] |
| Sound | 8 bits per channel; stereo output and front headphone jack; mono input and recording; built-in microphone; 11 or 22 kHz[6][3] |
| Ports | Two RS-232/RS-422 serial ports (mini DIN-8); one SCSI port (DB-25); one ADB port[1][6] |
| Expansion | One processor-direct slot for 96- or 114-pin cards; one 50-pin communications slot for a modem or Ethernet card[3] |
| Power | Universal supply, 100–240 V AC, 47–63 Hz, 120 W maximum[3] |
Apple's documents differ on some details. The Service Source lists two ADB ports for the whole Performa 500 series, where the LC 575 Developer Note and Apple's technical-specification page give one. The technical-specification page lists 40 W for the power, against the Service Source's 120 W.[3][6][1] Low End Mac says the machine accepts single-banked 64 MB SIMMs, for 68 MB in total, and runs up to Mac OS 8.1.[2]
Service notes
[edit | edit source]Apple's documents disagree on the clock battery. The Performa 500 Series Service Source describes a lithium cell in a holder with a clip-off cover and gives a 3.0 V replacement threshold; Apple's technical-specification page and Low End Mac give a 4.5 V alkaline battery.[7][1][2] Check what is fitted before cleaning up a leak. Lithium leakage is neutralised with bicarbonate of soda and alkaline leakage with dilute white vinegar; see Battery Explosion, Capacitor or Corrosion Damage.
A thin grey horizontal line across the lower third of a lit screen is not a fault. Apple's symptom chart says it "is inherent in the design of Trinitron monitors. Do not replace modules."[8] Apple's charts send most display faults, smoke or smell, and clicking or chirping noises to the analogue board.[8] The Service Source's adjustments cover geometry, video, convergence, geometric distortion and the yoke, and give no power-supply adjustment or rail tolerances.[9] The CRT holds a charge after the machine is unplugged; read CRT Discharge Procedure before opening it. For general repair work see Capacitor Failure Symptoms, Macintosh Floppy Drive Maintenance and Macintosh HDD Maintenance.
Documentation
[edit | edit source]Apple's Performa 500 Series Service Source (1995, 161 pages) covers the Performa 550, 560, 575, 577 and 578 at module level. The LC 575 is covered by Macintosh LC 520/550/575 Service Source, and its hardware is described in the Macintosh LC 575 Developer Note.
Download: Performa_500_series.pdf. Description page: Performa 500 Series Service Source.
Related pages
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Macintosh Performa 578: Technical Specifications, Apple—link(accessed 2026-09-30) Source for the introduction date, no FPU, one ADB port, 4.5 V alkaline battery, 4 MB on the logic board, 8 MB minimum, 36 MB maximum, 512K VRAM expandable to 1 MB, System 7.1P6 with System Enabler 364, 320 MB SCSI drive and 2× CD-ROM.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Mac LC 575 (Performa 575), Low End Mac—link(accessed 2026-09-30) Source for the US$1,700 price, discontinuation in April 1995, Mac OS 8.1 as the last supported version, the 64 MB SIMM note and the 4.5 V alkaline battery.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 Apple Computer, Performa 500 Series Service Source, 1995, Specifications chapter: Processor (p. 1), Memory (pp. 2–3), Disk Storage (p. 4), I/O Interfaces (pp. 5–6), I/O Devices (p. 7), Sound and Video (p. 8), Electrical (p. 9), Physical (p. 10). Hosted as File:Performa_500_series.pdf.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Macintosh Performa 578 Specs, EveryMac.com—link(accessed 2026-09-30)
- ↑ Apple Computer, Performa 500 Series Service Source, 1995, cover and Basics chapter, Product Information, pp. 1–2. Hosted as File:Performa_500_series.pdf; see Performa 500 Series Service Source.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Apple Computer, Macintosh LC 575 Developer Note, January 1994, Table 1-1 (p. 2) and Chapter 2, "The MC68LC040 microprocessor" (pp. 24, 26). Hosted as File:Macintosh_LC_575_Developer_Note.pdf; see Macintosh LC 575 Developer Note.
- ↑ Apple Computer, Performa 500 Series Service Source, 1995, Specifications (Memory, p. 2) and Additional Procedures chapter: Battery Verification (pp. 2–3), Battery Replacement (pp. 4–6). Hosted as File:Performa_500_series.pdf.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Apple Computer, Performa 500 Series Service Source, 1995, Troubleshooting chapter, Symptom Charts, pp. 2–17 (Trinitron line, p. 3). Hosted as File:Performa_500_series.pdf.
- ↑ Apple Computer, Performa 500 Series Service Source, 1995, Adjustments chapter: Geometry (pp. 1–8), Video (pp. 9–20), Light Meter Setup (pp. 21–26), Convergence (pp. 27–29), Geometric Distortion (pp. 30–34), Yoke (pp. 35–38). Hosted as File:Performa_500_series.pdf.