Power Macintosh 9600

Power Macintosh 9600
Name	Power Macintosh 9600
Manufacturer	Apple Computer
Type	Desktop computer
Release date	February 1997
Discontinued	March 1998
Processor	PowerPC 604e
Os	System 7, Mac OS 8
Predecessor	Power Macintosh 9500
Successor	Power Macintosh G3

Power Macintosh 9600. The Power Macintosh 9600 was a high-end professional workstation introduced by Apple Computer in early 1997 as the final flagship of the company's long-running Power Macintosh line based on the PCI architecture. It was designed for demanding applications in fields like graphic design, scientific computing, and video editing, offering extensive expansion capabilities and powerful PowerPC 604e processors. The model was positioned at the top of Apple's professional desktop lineup before the transition to the new Power Macintosh G3 series later that year.

Overview

The Power Macintosh 9600 was unveiled during a period of significant transition for Apple Computer, following the return of Steve Jobs to the company and preceding the introduction of the revolutionary iMac. It represented the culmination of the "Outrigger" motherboard design philosophy that began with the Power Macintosh 9500, emphasizing modularity and serviceability for professional users. The system was marketed heavily toward creative professionals working with software from companies like Adobe Systems and Avid Technology, as well as researchers utilizing high-performance computing environments. Its release coincided with major industry events like the Macworld Conference & Expo, where it was showcased alongside updates to Mac OS 8.

Hardware

At the core of the Power Macintosh 9600 was a PowerPC 604e microprocessor, a chip co-developed by Apple Computer, IBM, and Motorola that offered significant performance improvements in floating-point arithmetic over its predecessors. The system utilized a robust PCI bus architecture, providing six expansion slots for adding high-performance cards for 3D graphics acceleration, digital video capture, or SCSI storage control. Standard configurations included a generous amount of DRAM, expandable via twelve dedicated slots, and large-capacity hard disk drives from manufacturers like Quantum Corporation or Seagate Technology. The computer's minitower case was designed for easy access to internal components, featuring a distinctive swing-open side panel and dedicated bays for multiple storage devices.

Models and specifications

Apple released several distinct models of the Power Macintosh 9600 throughout its production run, differentiated primarily by processor speed and bundled components. The initial lineup, announced in February 1997, included configurations with PowerPC 604e CPUs running at 200 MHz, 233 MHz, and a top-tier 300 MHz version, which was among the fastest Macintosh computers available at the time. Later in the product cycle, a specific 350 MHz "MP" model was introduced, featuring dual processors for enhanced performance in multithreaded applications. All models shared a common foundation, including a 50 MHz system bus, support for up to 768 MB of RAM, and built-in Ethernet connectivity via AAUI or 10BASE-T ports. The systems were often bundled with high-resolution AppleVision monitors and input devices like the Apple Desktop Bus keyboard and mouse.

Expansion and upgrades

The Power Macintosh 9600 was renowned in the Macintosh community for its exceptional upgradeability, a hallmark of Apple's professional desktops of the era. Users could install a wide array of PCI cards, including those from ATI Technologies for advanced graphics, Adaptec for SCSI connectivity, or Digital Equipment Corporation for Ethernet networking. The processor upgrade market was particularly active, with companies like Newer Technology and Sonnet Technologies offering aftermarket PowerPC G3 and even early PowerPC G4 upgrade cards that significantly extended the computer's usable life. Internal drive bays supported multiple IDE or SCSI hard drives, CD-ROM readers, and later, popular DVD-ROM drives from vendors like Pioneer Corporation.

Software and operating systems

The Power Macintosh 9600 shipped with System 7.6.1 and was fully compatible with the subsequent major release, Mac OS 8, which brought improved multithreading support and the new Platinum appearance. It was a capable platform for running professional creative suites such as Adobe Photoshop, QuarkXPress, and Avid Media Composer, leveraging its fast processor and ample RAM. The system also supported advanced development environments like Metrowerks CodeWarrior and server software such as AppleShare. Its robust hardware made it a viable machine for running alternative operating systems, including BeOS from Be Inc. and various distributions of Linux for the PowerPC architecture, appealing to a niche of technical users and software developers.

Reception and legacy

Upon its release, the Power Macintosh 9600 was praised by publications like Macworld and MacUser for its raw computational power, quiet operation, and unparalleled expansion capabilities within the Macintosh ecosystem. It quickly became a staple in professional post-production facilities, design studios, and university research labs. Its legacy is defined as the last and most powerful of the pre-Power Macintosh G3 PCI-based Power Macs, representing the end of an era for Apple's modular, user-upgradeable professional towers before the company's design focus shifted. Many units remained in service for years due to their upgrade potential, and the model is remembered fondly by enthusiasts and professionals as a pinnacle of Apple's engineering during the mid-1990s.

Category:Apple Inc. hardware Category:PowerPC-based computers Category:Desktop computers introduced in 1997