Macintosh LC

Released in October 1990, the Macintosh LC is a low-budget personal computer manufactured by Apple until the spring of 1992. The LC stands for "Low Cost" and Apple sold it to schools for almost the same price as an Apple IIGS.

• Initially sold for $2,399 ($5,320 in today’s money)
• The Apple IIe card enables LC to emulate an Apple IIe

LC AT A GLANCE

• Motorola 68020 running at 16 MHz (no FPU)
• 16-bit data path
• Shipped with a 12-inch Apple RGB color display
• 8-bit color palette (upgradable to the 16-bit palette)
• 2 MB of RAM, and up to 10 MB
• 512 KB of ROM
• 8-bit mono sound
• 1.44 MB Floppy drive
• 40/80 MB hard drive
• Original MACOS 6.0.6 (and up to 7.5.5)
• Pizza box case (easy-to-upgrade)
• Processor Direct Slot (PDS)
• No NuBus slots

Colors & Graphic Modes

Standard Configuration

• 256 KB of standard VRAM
• 8-bit color palette
• 512×384 pixels resolution

VRAM Upgrade

• The VRAM is upgradeable to 512 KB
• 512×384 pixels at 16-bit color
• 640×480 pixels at 8-bit color

Sound Capabilities

• 8-bit mono speaker
• Mono microphone

I/O Ports

• ADB port
• SCSI port (DB-25) on the back of the computer
• 2 serial ports (DIN-8 RS-422) on back of computer
• LocalTalk (built-in networking on the serial port)
• PDS slot (enables Ethernet)
• audio in: 8-bit mono
• The LC was the last Macintosh to allow dual internal floppy disk drives

Related Models

The Macintosh Performa Computers

The Macintosh Performa series re-branded some of Apple's computer models. These computers were sold through big-box stores such as Sears and Circuit City.

• Re-branded models such as the LC, Quadra, Centris, and Power Macintosh

The Macintosh LC II

The Apple Macintosh LC II features a 68030 CPU, 4 MB of RAM, and a 40/80/160 MB hard drive.

• 68030 running at 16 MHz (instead of the 68020)
• 4 MB of RAM (instead of 2 MB)
• Original MACOS 6.0.8 (and up to 7.6.1)

The Macintosh LC III

The Apple Macintosh LC III is an improved LC with a 68030 processor, 4 MB of RAM, and an 80 MB hard drive. It was released in 1993 for $1,349 ($2,800 in today’s money).

• 32-bit bus (instead of 16-bit)
• 68030 running at 25 MHz
• 4 MB of RAM, and up to 36 MB
• 1 MB of ROM (instead of 0.5 MB)
• 80 MB hard drive and a 1.44 MB Floppy drive
• Original MACOS 7.1 (and up to 7.6.1)

The Macintosh LC III+

The LC III+ is the same computer as the LC III with a faster CPU.

• 68030 running at 33 MHz
• Original MACOS 7.1 (and up to 7.6.1)

The Macintosh LC 580

Released in April 1995, the LC 580 model is a significantly improved Macintosh LC. The LC 580 features a 68040 CPU with more RAM, a larger hard disk, better graphics, and a CD-ROM drive.

• New All-in-One case
• Sold for $1,300 ($2,500 in today’s money)
• 68LC040 CPU at 33 MHz
• 8 MB of RAM, and up to 52 MB
• 1 MB of ROM
• 1 MB of VRAM (better graphics)

• 500 MB hard disk (IDE) and a 1.44 MB Floppy drive

• 2X CD-ROM

• Original MACOS 7.5

Macintosh LC 630 (PC Emulation)

The Macintosh LC 630 (PC) combines MACOS and a PC via hardware emulation (Intel 486DX emulation card).

• Sold for $2,080 ($4,060 in today’s money)
• New desktop case, different from other LCs
• 68LC040 CPU at 33 MHz
• 4 MB of RAM, and up to 36 MB
• 1 MB of ROM
• 1 MB of VRAM
• 250 MB hard disk (IDE) and a 1.44 MB Floppy drive
• 2X CD-ROM
• Original MACOS 7.1
• The LC 630 PC was bundled with an Intel 486DX2 CPU (66 MHz) and 32 MB of RAM for the DOS/Windows OS

■ Macintosh LC I/II/III/III+/580/630

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