PowerBook 540 Specs: EveryMac.com

Apple PowerBook 540 Specs

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Apple PowerBook 540 The Apple Macintosh PowerBook 540 features a 33 MHz 68LC040 processor, 8 MB or 12 MB of RAM, and a 240 MB hard drive in a sleek portable case with a 9.5" grayscale active-matrix display.

The PowerBook 540 is similar to the PowerBook 520, but has a faster processor and a higher quality 6-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
Ports

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Introduction Date:

May 16, 1994

Discontinued Date:

October 17, 1994

Details:

The "Introduction Date" refers to the date a model was introduced via press release. The "Discontinued Date" refers to the date a model either was replaced by a subsequent system or production otherwise ended.

Also see: All Macs introduced in 1994.

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

Details:

N/A

ROM Type:

Macintosh ROM

ROM Size:

2 MB

Details:

N/A

L1 Cache:

L2 Cache:

N/A

Details:

N/A

RAM Type:

DRAM Card*

Min. RAM Speed:

70 ns

Details:

*Supports a single 70 ns DRAM card.

Standard RAM:

8 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:

Details:

*One PowerBook 500 series memory slot.

Video Card:

Dedicated*

VRAM Type:

Onboard

Details:

*Video function provided by onboard VRAM.

Standard VRAM:

512k*

Maximum VRAM:

512k*

Details:

*512k of VRAM supports an external color monitor (8-bit, 256 colors). The video cannot be upgraded.

Built-in Display:

9.5" Grayscale

Native Resolution:

640x480

Details:

9.5" grayscale active-matrix (6-bit, 64 grays) LCD. An upgrade to an active-matrix color display also was available (M3063LL/A).

2nd Display Support:

Dual/Mirroring*

2nd Max. Resolution:

832x624*

Details:

Simultaneously supports native resolution on the internal display and a maximum of 832x624 on a color external display. Other supported resolutions are 512x384, 640x400, 640x480 and 800x600, all at 8-bit color.

Standard Hard Drive:

240 MB

Int. HD Interface:

SCSI

Details:

N/A

Standard Optical:

None

Standard Disk:

1.44 MB (Manual)

Details:

N/A

Standard Modem:

19.6k (Optional*)

Standard Ethernet:

AAUI-15

Details:

*An internal 19.6k modem was standard in the high-end M3120LL/A configuration. AAUI-15 Ethernet standard.

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

Details:

N/A

Apple Order No:

M2807LL/A*

Apple Subfamily:

PowerBook 540/540c

Details:

*M2807LL/A refers to the configuration with 4 MB of RAM and a 240 MB hard drive. M3120LL/A refers to the configuration with 12 MB of RAM, a 240 MB hard drive and an internal modem.

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:

3-4 Hours*

Details:

*With one battery installed. With dual batteries installed, the runtime will be roughly twice as long.

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:

7.1 lbs (3.2 kg)

Details:

In inches while closed - height by width by depth, (5.8 cm, 29.2 cm, 24.6 cm).

Original Price (US):

US$3150, US$4580

Est. Current Retail:

N/A*

Details:

*As a collector's item, it still may retain value.

Photo Credit: Apple Computer, Inc.

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)

Details:

N/A

Serial (Standard):

Serial (Geoport):

None

Details:

Single serial port can be used with either a serial printer or modem.

Modem:

1 (RJ-11)*

Ethernet:

1 (AAUI-15)

Details:

*An internal 19.6k modem was standard in the high-end M3120LL/A configuration. Optional in other configurations.

S-Video Input:

None

S-Video Output:

None

Details:

N/A

Microphone:

1 (Line Level)

Sound In:

None

Details:

N/A

Sound Out:

1 (16-Bit Stereo)

Headphone:

None

Details:

N/A

Security (Lock):

Joystick (PC):

None

Details:

N/A

Power:

N/A

Power Adapter:

Details:

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

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