personal computer by Apple, Inc

“With double its predecessor’s speed and more than triple the RAM capacity, the LC III is a significant entry into the low end of Apple’s line.” MacUser, April 1993

The LC III (a.k.a. Performa 450 and code named Elsie III and Vail) is a significantly faster computer than the LC II . Running at 25 MHz on a newly designed motherboard with a 32-bit data bus, the LC III offers nearly the same performance as the Mac IIci and twice the performance of the LC and LC II.

One big difference is that the LC III uses an extended version of the 16 MHz LC PDS slot – most cards were designed for 16-bit access, so adding a video card or ethernet port makes the computer run about 1/6 less efficiently than the IIci.

Specs (via Low End Mac)

• Cpu: 25 MHz 68030
• Fpu: 68882 (optional)
• Ram: 4 MB on motherboard, expandable to 36 MB using a single 100ns 72-pin SIMM; can use 1 MB, 2 MB, 4 MB, 8 MB, 16 MB, or 32 MB SIMM
• Rom: 1 MB
• L2 Cache: none
• Hard Drive: 40, 80, or 160 MB
• Floppy Drive: 1.4 MB double-sided
• Video: 512 KB VRAM onboard, expandable to 768 KB; supports 512 x 384, 640 x 480, 640 x 870, and 832 x 624 resolutions 512 x 384: 16-bit @ 512 KB 640 x 400: 16-bit @ 512 KB 640 x 480: 8-bit @ 512 KB, 16-bit @ 768 KB 640 x 870 (portrait): 4-bit @ 512 KB, 8-bit @ 768 KB 832 x 624: 8-bit @ 512 KB, 16-bit @ 768 KB
• Vram: accepts one 256 KB 100ns VRAM SIMM to upgrade VRAM to 768 KB total, other specs unknown, VRAM SIMM appears to be specific to early Macs.
• Addressing: 24-bit or 32-bit
• Gestalt Id: 27
• Upgrade Path: Quadra 605
• Adb Ports: 1
• Pram Battery: 3.6V half-AA
• Weight: 8.8 lb.
• Serial Ports: 2 DIN-8 RS-422 ports
• Scsi Ports: DB-25 connector on back of computer
• Power Supply: 50W
• See: Online resources and links for the Mac LC III