Promoted as "up to twice as fast as the Macintosh IIfx," the Apple Macintosh Quadra 900 features a 25 MHz 68040 processor, 4 MB of RAM, and either no hard drive (just a 1.44 MB floppy disk drive) or a floppy disk and a 160 MB or 400 MB hard drive in a gigantic tower case design.

Most notably, the Quadra 900 was the first Macintosh to come in a proper tower case and accordingly packed sixteen RAM slots, three drive bays, and five NuBus slots to offer numerous expansion options.

In the picture, the Quadra 900 is on the left and the Quadra 700 is on the right.

• Tech Specs
• Ports

Tech Specs

Click on the category for related details. The most commonly needed info is "open" by default, but all info is important.

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Introduction Date:

October 21, 1991

Discontinued Date:

May 18, 1992

Details:

The "Introduction Date" refers to the date a model was introduced via press release. The "Discontinued Date" refers to the date a model either was replaced by a subsequent system or production otherwise ended. Also see: All Macs introduced in 1991.

Processor Speed:

25 MHz*

Processor Type:

68040

Details:

*The Macintosh Quadra 900 has a 32-bit processor and a 32-bit data path. Sometimes this model is designated as having a 50 MHz processor, since the clock input runs at 50 MHz. However, the processor itself is not "clock doubled," so technically it only is a 25 MHz processor.

Processor Upgrade:

Third-Party*

FPU:

Integrated

Details:

*A variety of third-party processor upgrades and accelerators were available.

System Bus Speed:

25 MHz

Cache Bus Speed:

N/A

Details:

N/A

ROM Type:

Macintosh ROM

ROM Size:

1 MB

Details:

N/A

L1 Cache:

8k

L2 Cache:

N/A

Details:

N/A

RAM Type:

30-pin SIMM

Min. RAM Speed:

80 ns

Details:

N/A

Standard RAM:

4 MB

Maximum RAM:

256 MB*

Details:

*Apple officially supports 64 MB of RAM in this model, but third-parties have been able to upgrade it to 256 MB with sixteen 16 MB SIMMs. Also see: Actual Max RAM of All G3 & Later Macs.

Motherboard RAM:

None

RAM Slots:

16*

Details:

*Four identical RAM SIMMs must be installed in a group.

Video Card:

Dedicated*

VRAM Type:

VRAM SIMM*

Details:

*This model has four 80 ns VRAM SIMM slots.

Standard VRAM:

1 MB*

Maximum VRAM:

2 MB*

Details:

*1 MB of VRAM onboard. Four slots support 256k 80 ns VRAM SIMMs for a maximum total of as much as 2 MB of VRAM. 512k VRAM SIMMs can be installed, but four identical ones must be installed and the system can only use 256k of each SIMM.

Display Support:

Single Display*

Resolution Support:

512x384-1152x870*

Details:

*By default, the Macintosh Quadra 900 only supports a single display, but a second one can be supported with the addition of a compatible NuBus video card. The onboard video can support 512x384 at 24-bit and 640x480, 832x624 and 1152x870 at 8-bit. With 2 MB of VRAM installed, it can support up to 832x624 at 24-bit and 1152x870 at 8-bit.

2nd Display Support:

Single Display*

2nd Max. Resolution:

Variable*

Details:

*This model can support a second display with the addition of a video card. By default, it only supports a single display.

Standard Hard Drive:

160 MB, 400 MB*

Int. HD Interface:

SCSI

Details:

*By default, this model is configured with either no hard drive, a 160 MB or 400 MB hard drive. All are SCSI.

Standard Optical:

None*

Standard Disk:

1.44 MB (Auto)

Details:

*A front-facing 5.25" drive bay is designed to support a CD-ROM drive, but one was not installed by default.

Standard Modem:

None

Standard Ethernet:

AAUI-15

Details:

AAUI-15 Ethernet standard.

Expansion Slots:

1 040 PDS, 5 NuBus*

Expansion Bays:

2 (5.25")**

Details:

*Three NuBus slots provide 15-watts of power and two provide 25-watts of power. **If a hard drive is not installed, a third internal bay is available.

Case Type:

Tower

Form Factor:

Mac Quadra 900

Details:

N/A

Apple Order No:

M4210LL/A*

Apple Subfamily:

Macintosh Quadra 900

Details:

*M4210LL/A refers to the configuration with just a floppy drive. Configured with a 160 MB hard drive, the order number is M4230LL/A.

Apple Model No:

M4200

Gestalt ID:

20

Details:

Please note that these identifiers commonly refer to multiple models. Also see: All Macs with the M4200 Model Number and 20 Gestalt ID. For more about identifiers and how to locate them on modern Macs, please refer to EveryMac.com's Mac Identification section.

Battery Type:

3.6V Lithium

Battery Life:

N/A

Details:

N/A

Original Mac OS:

7.0.1

Supported Mac OS:

7.0.1-7.5.1, 7.5.3-8.1

Details:

Earlier and later versions of the Macintosh System/Finder and Mac OS are not supported.

Dimensions:

18.6 x 8.9 x 20.6

Avg. Weight:

36.8 lbs (11.5 kg)

Details:

In inches - height by width by depth, (47.2 cm, 22.6 cm, 52.3 cm).

Original Price (US):

US$7200, US$8500

Est. Current Retail:

N/A

Details:

Photo Credit: Apple Computer, Inc (MacUser Advertisement).

Ports

Click on a category for additional details. The most commonly needed info is "open" by default, but all info is important. The icons correspond with the icons for each port on the computer.

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Video (Monitor):

1 (DB-15)

Floppy (Ext.):

None

Details:

N/A

ADB:

1

SCSI:

1 (DB-25)

Details:

N/A

Serial (Standard):

2

Serial (Geoport):

None

Details:

Serial ports are marked by printer and modem icons.

Modem:

None

Ethernet:

1 (AAUI-15)

Details:

AAUI-15 Ethernet standard.

S-Video Input:

None

S-Video Output:

None

Details:

N/A

Microphone:

1 (Omni)

Sound In:

None

Details:

N/A

Sound Out:

1 (8-Bit Stereo)

Headphone:

None

Details:

N/A

Security (Lock):

1 (Lockable Front)

Joystick (PC):

None

Details:

N/A

Power:

1

Power Adapter:

N/A

Details:

100V-240V AC, 50-60 Hz Frequency, 303 Max Watts. Icon Credit: Apple Computer, Inc.

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