Path: network.ucsd.edu!ucbvax!hplabs!sdd.hp.com!cs.utexas.edu!not-for-mail From: werner@rascal.ics.utexas.edu (Werner Uhrig) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.announce Subject: Apple Details PowerPC Technology Upgrade Options Message-ID: Date: 6 Jan 94 10:01:10 GMT Sender: daemon@cs.utexas.edu Followup-To: comp.sys.mac.misc Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway Lines: 66 Approved: werner@rascal.ics.utexas.edu (Comp.sys.mac.announce Moderator) NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu MOVED OVER PR NEWSWIRE ON MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 1994 AT 8:35 AM, EDT. Contact: Betty Taylor, Apple Computer, Inc., (408) 974-3983 Apple Details PowerPC Technology Upgrade Options for Current Macintosh Models SAN FRANCISCO, California--January 3, 1994--In anticipation of the debut of its next-generation PC platform, Macintosh with PowerPC , Apple Computer Inc. today unveiled how current Macintosh customers can upgrade to PowerPC technology. Specifically, Apple announced plans to offer both logic board and processor upgrades based on the PowerPC 601 chip for a wide range of Macintosh systems. The upgrades are designed to provide current Macintosh customers with access to the power and performance of the new PowerPC technology, developed jointly by Apple, IBM and Motorola. Both the logic board and processor upgrade products are designed with the PowerPC 601 chip to provide 2-4 times the performance of the existing Macintosh models when running native applications. Details on the upgrade options are as follows: - Apple expects to provide logic board upgrades for the Macintosh Quadra 840AV, 800, 660AV, 650 and 610 models, the Macintosh Centris 660AV, 650 and 610 computers, and the Macintosh IIvx, vi and Performa 600 products. Additionally, owners of the Apple Workgroup server 60, 80 and 95 will be offered logic board upgrades to PowerPC processor- based systems which will run a version of the Macintosh System 7.0 operating system for the PowerPC processor. Logic board upgrades will provide these existing Macintosh models with the full functionality of PowerPC technology. Dealer installation is required. - Apple plans to offer a lower cost processor upgrade card for the Quadra a950, 900, 800, 700, 650 and 610 models, as well as the Centris 650 and 610 computers. This processor card will provide customers with a low-cost upgrade option that is also user-installable. The processor upgrade card takes advantage of the Processor Direct Slot (PDS) in these Macintosh 68040-based systems. With the addition of this processor upgrade, systems run at twice the speed (megahertz) of the Motorola 68040- based system they are upgrading. For example, a 25 MHz system will run at 50 MHz with the addition of the PowerPC processor upgrade. Availability and Pricing Apple plans to ship the PowerPC technology upgrade products simultaneously with the introduction of the new Macintosh with PowerPC systems in the first half of 1994. Macintosh desktop upgrade products are expected to range in price from less than US $700 to $2,000. Apple and Third-Party Options Apple continues to work on upgrades for other Macintosh models. In addition, Apple is working in conjunction with selected third-party developers to provide an array of options for customers to upgrade to PowerPC technology. In November, 1993, Apple announced a licensing agreement with DayStar Digital, under which DayStar plans to develop a high-performance processor upgrade car for the Quadra 650, 700, 800, 900 and 950 systems, and the Macintosh Centris 650. .