PowerBook 540c Specs: EveryMac.com

Apple PowerBook 540c Specs

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Apple PowerBook 540c The Apple Macintosh PowerBook 540c features a 33 MHz 68LC040 processor, 4 MB or 12 MB of RAM, and a 320 MB or 500 MB hard drive in a sleek portable case with a 9.5" color active-matrix display.

The PowerBook 540c is similar to the PowerBook 520c, but has a faster processor and a higher quality 8-bit and active-matrix display.

The PowerBook 500 series introduced the "trackpad" -- where the cursor followed the movement of your finger on a "pad" rather than a plastic ball. The trackpad was a revolutionary input device and has been used since in the vast majority of modern notebooks. The PowerBook 500 series also introduced dual swappable "bays" that could be used to hold either one battery and a PCMCIA adapter or dual batteries to extend runtime.

Tech Specs
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Tech Specs

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Introduction Date:

May 16, 1994

Discontinued Date:

August 26, 1995

Processor Speed:

33 MHz*

Processor Type:

68LC040

Details:

*This model has a 32-bit processor and a 32-bit data path. Sometimes this model is designated as having a 66 MHz processor, since the clock input runs at 66 MHz. However, the processor itself is not "clock doubled," so technically it only is a 33 MHz processor.

Processor Upgrade:

Third-Party*

FPU:

None

Details:

*Third-party upgrades and accelerators were available.

System Bus Speed:

33 MHz

Cache Bus Speed:

N/A

ROM Type:

Macintosh ROM

ROM Size:

2 MB

L1 Cache:

L2 Cache:

N/A

RAM Type:

DRAM Card*

Min. RAM Speed:

70 ns

Standard RAM:

4 MB, 12 MB

Maximum RAM:

36 MB*

Details:

*With 4 MB of onboard memory and a 32 MB memory module.

Also see: Actual Max RAM of All G3 & Later Macs.

Motherboard RAM:

4 MB

RAM Slots:

Video Card:

Dedicated*

VRAM Type:

Onboard

Standard VRAM:

512k*

Maximum VRAM:

512k*

Built-in Display:

9.5" Color

Native Resolution:

640x480

Details:

9.5" color active-matrix (8-bit, 256 colors) LCD.

2nd Display Support:

Dual/Mirroring*

2nd Max. Resolution:

832x624*

Standard Hard Drive:

320 MB, 500 MB*

Int. HD Interface:

SCSI

Standard Optical:

None

Standard Disk:

1.44 MB (Manual)

Standard Modem:

19.6k (Optional*)

Standard Ethernet:

AAUI-15

Expansion Slots:

2 Type II PC Card*

Expansion Bays:

1**

Details:

*2 Type II PC Card (1 Type III) expansion slots provided by PCMCIA adapter in a "swappable" bay (M2995LL/A).

**This model has a custom "swappable" bay that can be used to hold a second battery or a PCMCIA adapter along with other options.

Case Type:

Notebook

Form Factor:

PowerBook 520

Apple Order No:

M2809LL/A*

Apple Subfamily:

PowerBook 540/540c

Apple Model No:

M4880

Gestalt ID:

Details:

Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model.

Also see: All Macs with the M4880 Model Number and 72 Gestalt ID.

For more about identifiers and how to locate them on modern Macs, please refer to EveryMac.com's Mac Identification section.

Battery Type:

NiMH

Battery Life:

2.5-4 Hours*

Original Mac OS:

7.1.1

Supported Mac OS:

7.1.1-8.1

Details:

Earlier and later versions of the Macintosh System/Finder and Mac OS are not supported.

Dimensions:

2.3 x 11.5 x 9.7

Avg. Weight:

7.3 lbs (3.3 kg)

Original Price (US):

US$4800, $5000, $5200

Est. Current Retail:

N/A*

Ports

Click on a category for additional details. The most commonly needed info is "open" by default, but all info is important. The icons correspond with the icons for each port on the computer.

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Video (Monitor):

1 (Mini-15)

Floppy (Ext.):

None

Details:

N/A

ADB:

SCSI:

1 (HDI-30)

Serial (Standard):

Serial (Geoport):

None

Modem:

1 (RJ-11)*

Ethernet:

1 (AAUI-15)

Details:

*An internal 19.6k modem was standard in the high-end M3121LL/A configuration. Optional in other configurations.

S-Video Input:

None

S-Video Output:

None

Microphone:

1 (Line Level)

Sound In:

None

Sound Out:

1 (16-Bit Stereo)

Headphone:

None

Security (Lock):

Joystick (PC):

None

Power:

N/A

Power Adapter:

Details:

110V-240V AC, 50-60 Hz Frequency, 40 Max Watts.

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