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PowerPCs: Power Mac 8600
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History
Launched at the same time as the 9600, Apple's PowerMac 8600 looked, from the outside, to be pretty much more of the same. The two machines certainly shared the same case and under the hood they were practically identical. The differences weren't major and while the 9600 boasted 12 memory slots and 6 PCI slots, the 8600 came with 8 slots for RAM and just three PCI slots - hardly a major problem for the vast majority of users.
And that was where the differences ended (save for the fact that the 9600 was available running at 233MHz through to 350MHz, while the 8600 ran at 200MHz through to 300MHz). With the PPC 604e CPU, upgrading to newer processors (eventually allowing up to a G4 500MHz processor to be fitted) was just as easy and both machines could happily swap parts and upgrades.
Performance wise the 8600 was an excellent machine which was just as spritely and solid as it's 'bigger' brother. Users on a budget who didn't need the full expansion offered by the 9600 could, for once, get the same machine for less...and without having to sacrifice performance.
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Specifications
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Machine |
Power Macintosh 8600 |
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Introduced |
17/02/1997 |
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Retired |
17/02/1998 |
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Cost |
$2700 |
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System |
7.5.5(200MHz)/7.6.1(250MHz, 300MHz)-9.1 |
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Code Name(s) |
Kansas, Montana |
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CPU/Speed |
Motorola PPC 604e @ 200MHz-300MHz |
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RAM Min/Max |
32Mb/1Gb (70ns - 8x168 pin DIMM slot) |
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ROM (Size) |
4Mb |
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Floppy Drive |
1xSuperdrive |
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Hard Drive |
2Gb or 4Gb SCSI |
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CD Drive |
12xCD-ROM |
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Drive Bay(s) |
3x3.5" Half-height, 2x5.25" Half-height |
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Network |
LocalTalk, Ethernet (AAUI and RJ-45) |
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Audio |
16 bit stereo, stereo in |
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Video |
2Mb (expandable to 4Mb) |
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Resolution(s) |
512x384, 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1152x870, 1280x1024 (8 bit), 1280x1024 (16 bit - 4Mb VRAM) |
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Ports |
2xSerial, SCSI(25 pin), 1xADB, 1xAAUI, 1xRJ-45 |
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Expansion Slot |
3xPCI |
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Dimensions |
9.7" x 17.3" x 17.3" |
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Weight |
35 lb |
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From Experience...
 
Although a 9600 was already a part of the museum, the offer of an 8600 at a measly £10 was just too tempting to pass up. Well, maybe the 9600 was lonely (or some other sentimental slush).
Looks wise the 8600 is a 9600 and performance wise my 250MHz example was certainly no slouch. Yes an OS install got rid of a load of rubbish but it's 9Gb hard drive was hardly full. Elsewhere things got a little more interesting as this beauty came with an Iomega ZIP drive. I'd played with these many years earlier on a PC but so far never experienced a Mac version. Despite being sold as including a ZIP drive, my machine looked pretty ZIP free...until you pop the hood. Yes the previous owner had installed a ZIP drive and then not bothered with the correct faceplate, instead opting to use a solid plate and totally obscure the drive - huh?
Expansion wise it's obviously a little limited compared to the 9600 but, in reality, this would make absolutely no difference to all but the most extreme of users. A solid machine that's every bit as good as it's bigger brother and if one comes along at a decent price, take it.
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Links
LowEndMac.com - Looking for Apple info? Always start here
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