Macintosh Quadra 660AV
Encyclopedia
The Macintosh Quadra 660AV (Codename: "Tempest") is a personal computer
that is a part of Apple Computer
's Quadra
series of Macintosh computers. When it was originally introduced in July 1993 alongside the Quadra 840 AV
it was called the Macintosh Centris 660AV, but it was renamed without any major changes in the hardware when the Centris
line was abandoned in October 1993. It was discontinued in September 1994, with no immediate replacement - however, the AV versions of the Power Macintosh 6100
that had already been introduced had a very similar position in Apple's product lineup.
The 660AV uses the "pizza box
" case of the earlier Centris 610, which somewhat resembled the case of the Amiga 1000
, another computer commonly used in desktop video
during the era. The 660AV has a full Motorola 68040
instead of the 610's FPU
-less 68LC040. Like the 840AV, the 660AV features video input/output capability and an onboard AT&T
3210 digital signal processor
(here clocked at 55 MHz) to make the video handling less of a burden on the CPU.
Some of the earliest Centris 660AVs have the older 'auto-inject' floppy drive opening similar to the 610 (as seen in the image), but most of the Centris models and all of the Quadra models have a drive similar to the Power Macintosh 6100, lacking the ‘auto-inject’ feature. These models have a deep round indent at the center of the floppy drive slot to make it possible to insert the disk all the way.
The Quadra AV Macs introduced a new universal ROM (codenamed SuperMario) that would be later be used in all PowerPC Macs. It includes SCSI Manager 4.3 and Sound Manager 3.0. It also is "vectorized" making it easier to patch. http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=12733
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
that is a part of Apple Computer
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
's Quadra
Macintosh Quadra
The Macintosh Quadra series was Apple Computer's product family of professional high-end Apple Macintosh personal computers built using the Motorola 68040 CPU. The first two models in the Quadra line were introduced in 1991, and the name was used until the Power Mac was introduced in 1994...
series of Macintosh computers. When it was originally introduced in July 1993 alongside the Quadra 840 AV
Macintosh Quadra 840AV
The Macintosh Quadra 840AV is a personal computer that is a part of Apple Computer's Quadra series of Macintosh computers. It was introduced in July 1993 alongside the Centris 660AV, the "AV" after both model numbers signifying video input and output capabilities, as well as enhanced audio...
it was called the Macintosh Centris 660AV, but it was renamed without any major changes in the hardware when the Centris
Macintosh Centris
Macintosh Centris is a line of Macintosh computers, introduced in 1993, that were built around the Motorola 68LC040 and 68040 CPUs. The name was chosen to indicate that the consumer was selecting a Macintosh in the center of Apple's product line: lower performance than the Quadra computers, but...
line was abandoned in October 1993. It was discontinued in September 1994, with no immediate replacement - however, the AV versions of the Power Macintosh 6100
Power Macintosh 6100
The Power Macintosh 6100 was Apple Computer's first computer to use the new PowerPC RISC type processor created by IBM and Motorola. It came in the Centris 610's "pizza box" low-profile case, and superseded the Quadra series that used Motorola's 68040 processor, Apple's previous high end...
that had already been introduced had a very similar position in Apple's product lineup.
The 660AV uses the "pizza box
Pizza box form factor
In computing, a pizza box is a style of case for computers or network switches. Cases of this type tend to be wide and flat, normally one or two rack units in height, thus resembling pizza delivery boxes....
" case of the earlier Centris 610, which somewhat resembled the case of the Amiga 1000
Amiga 1000
The A1000, or Commodore Amiga 1000, was Commodore's initial Amiga personal computer, introduced on July 23, 1985 at the Lincoln Center in New York City....
, another computer commonly used in desktop video
Desktop video
Desktop video refers to a phenomenon lasting from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s when the graphics capabilities of personal computers such as Commodore's Amiga, the Apple Macintosh II and specially-upgraded IBM PC compatibles had advanced to the point where individuals and local broadcasters...
during the era. The 660AV has a full Motorola 68040
Motorola 68040
The Motorola 68040 is a microprocessor from Motorola, released in 1990. It is the successor to the 68030 and is followed by the 68060. There was no 68050. In keeping with general Motorola naming, the 68040 is often referred to as simply the '040 ....
instead of the 610's FPU
Floating point unit
A floating-point unit is a part of a computer system specially designed to carry out operations on floating point numbers. Typical operations are addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and square root...
-less 68LC040. Like the 840AV, the 660AV features video input/output capability and an onboard AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
3210 digital signal processor
Digital signal processor
A digital signal processor is a specialized microprocessor with an architecture optimized for the fast operational needs of digital signal processing.-Typical characteristics:...
(here clocked at 55 MHz) to make the video handling less of a burden on the CPU.
Some of the earliest Centris 660AVs have the older 'auto-inject' floppy drive opening similar to the 610 (as seen in the image), but most of the Centris models and all of the Quadra models have a drive similar to the Power Macintosh 6100, lacking the ‘auto-inject’ feature. These models have a deep round indent at the center of the floppy drive slot to make it possible to insert the disk all the way.
The Quadra AV Macs introduced a new universal ROM (codenamed SuperMario) that would be later be used in all PowerPC Macs. It includes SCSI Manager 4.3 and Sound Manager 3.0. It also is "vectorized" making it easier to patch. http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=12733
External links
- Centris 660AV and Quadra 660AV specifications at AppleSpec
- Quadra 660AV at apple-history.com
- Quadra 660AV at Low End Mac
- Centris 660AV and Quadra 660AV at EveryMac.com