Wikipedia

Power Macintosh 9600

The Power Macintosh 9600 (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 8600, and replaced the Power Macintosh 9500 as Apple's flagship desktop computer.

Power Macintosh 9600 / Workgroup Server 9650
DeveloperApple Computer
Product familyPower Macintosh
Release dateFebruary 17, 1997 (1997-02-17)
Introductory priceUS$3,700 (equivalent to $7,020 in 2023)
DiscontinuedMarch 17, 1998 (1998-03-17)
Operating systemSystem 7.5.5 - Mac OS 9.1
CPUPowerPC 604e, 200×1–2 and 233 MHz
PowerPC 604ev, 300 and 350 MHz
Memory32 MB, expandable to 1.5 GB (70 ns 168-pin DIMM)
PredecessorPower Macintosh 9500
Workgroup Server 9150
SuccessorPower Macintosh G3 (Mini Tower)
RelatedPower Macintosh 7300
Power Macintosh 8600

The 9600 was replaced by the Power Macintosh G3 Mini Tower in Apple's product lineup in November 1997, with sales of the 9600 continuing until March 1998.

Models

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When introduced, the Power Macintosh 9600 was available with three processor configurations: single-processor 200 MHz, dual-processor 200 MHz, and single-processor 233 MHz. The line was updated in August 1997 with a single-processor 300 MHz or 350 MHz "Mach 5" 604ev with a larger L2 cache, priced at $4,500 and $5,300, respectively.[1] An updated Workgroup Server 9650 was introduced at the same time with a 350 MHz CPU, and could be ordered pre-configured as an application server, AppleShare server or Internet server, with prices ranging from $6,800 to $7,500 USD depending on the software package chosen.[1]

The 350 MHz model was initially discontinued in October due to CPU supply problems,[2] but reintroduced on February 17, 1998[3] when the 300 MHz model was discontinued in favor of the new Power Macintosh G3 Mini Tower. 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 required it.

Hardware

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The "Tsunami" logic board the Power Macintosh 9600 inherited from the Power Macintosh 9500

The 9600 came in a new case identical to the 8600, but was internally similar to the 9500 that preceded it, with 12 memory slots and 6 PCI expansion card slots instead of the 8 memory and 3 PCI slots on the 8600.[4] The 9600 used the new PowerPC 604e CPU, an enhanced version of the 9500 604.

 
IMS IXMICRO TwinTurbo 128
video card

Like its predecessor, the Power Macintosh 9600 has no built-in video; instead, it shipped with an 8 MB 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 model with six or more expansion slots until the 2019 Mac Pro. No version of OS X was officially supported by Apple on the 9600; its installation and use required the use of the third-party software solution XPostFacto. Mac OS X 10.3 or 10.4 was only possible with a G3 processor upgrade installed, and OS X 10.5 was possible with a G4 upgrade. The 9600 was part of the final generation of Macs to ship with a SCSI hard drive as a standard feature; subsequent Macs adopted IDE for the internal hard drive bus.

Technical specifications

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According to Apple, all of these models are obsolete.[a][5]

Model Power Macintosh 9600 / 200[6] Power Macintosh 9600 / 200MP[7] Power Macintosh 9600 / 233[4] Power Macintosh 9600 / 300[8] Power Macintosh 9600 / 350[3]
Timeline Introduced February 17, 1997 August 5, 1997
Discontinued August 5, 1997 February 17, 1998 March 17, 1998
Model Model M5433
Order number (Cost $USD) M5456 ($3699) M4952 ($4699) M5883 ($4199) M5901 ($4599) M5906 ($5399)
Performance Processor PowerPC 604e Dual PowerPC 604e PowerPC 604e PowerPC 604ev
Clock speed 200 MHz 233 MHz 300 MHz 350 MHz
CPU cache 64 kB L1; 512 kB L2 64 kB L1; 1.0 MB L2
Front side bus 50 MHz 46.6 MHz 50 MHz
Memory 32 MB 168-pin DIMM
Supported Maximum 768 MB
Actual Maximum 1.5 GB 		64 MB 168-pin DIMM
Supported Maximum 768 MB
Actual Maximum 1.5 GB
Graphics Twin Turbo 128 M4A with 4 MB EDO SGRAM Twin Turbo 128 with 8 MB EDO SGRAM
Storage Hard drive 4 GB SCSI
Optical drive 12x CD-ROM 24x CD-ROM
Connectivity Networking AAUI, 10BASE-T
Expansion 6x PCI slots; 3x 5.25" bays (which can also accept 3.5" drives without adapters); 3x 3.5" bays (including two in base of PCI area and one above the PSU); 1x floppy bay 6x PCI slots; 3x 5.25" bays (which can also accept 3.5" drives without adapters); 3x 3.5" bays (including two in the base of the PCI area and one above the PSU) ; 1x floppy bay
Operating System Initial System 7.5.5 System 7.6.1
Latest Mac OS 9.1
Dimensions and weight 17.3 x 9.7 x 17.3
35.0 lbs (15.9 kg)

Timeline

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Timeline of Power Macintosh, Pro, and Studio models
Mac ProMac StudioMac ProMac StudioMac ProMac ProMac ProPower Mac G5Power Mac G5Power Mac G4Power Mac G5Power Mac G4Power Mac G4 CubePower Mac G4Power Macintosh G3#Blue and WhitePower Macintosh 9600Power Macintosh G3Power Macintosh 8600Power Macintosh 9500Power Macintosh 8500Power Macintosh 8100Power Macintosh G3Power Macintosh 7600Power Macintosh 7300Power Macintosh 4400Power Macintosh 7500Power Macintosh 7200Power Macintosh 7100Power Macintosh 6500Power Macintosh 6400Power Macintosh 6200Power Macintosh 6100Power Macintosh G3Twentieth Anniversary MacintoshPower Macintosh 5500Power Macintosh 5400Power Macintosh 5260Power Macintosh 5200 LC
See also: List of Mac models

Notes

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  1. ^ Apple products that have been discontinued for 7 years and no longer receive hardware support nor spare parts

References

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  1. ^ a b Walsh, Jeff (August 11, 1997). "350-MHz Mac among Apple's onslaught". InfoWorld Magazine. p. 15.
  2. ^ Tafael, Kathy (January 1998), "Power Macintosh G3 Kicks Ass", MacAddict, p. 42
  3. ^ a b Technical specifications of Power Macintosh 9600/350 from Apple's knowledge base and from EveryMac.com. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Technical specifications of Power Macintosh 9600/233 from Apple's knowledge base and from EveryMac.com. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  5. ^ "Obtaining service for your Apple product after an expired warranty". support.apple.com. March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  6. ^ Technical specifications of Power Macintosh 9600/200 from Apple's knowledge base and from EveryMac.com. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  7. ^ Technical specifications of Power Macintosh 9600/200MP from Apple's knowledge base and from EveryMac.com. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  8. ^ Technical specifications of Power Macintosh 9600/300 from Apple's knowledge base and from EveryMac.com. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
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