LC / Performa · The Beige Era · 1993
Macintosh LC 520
The LC 520 merged the school-friendly LC line with a built-in color display and CD-ROM options, foreshadowing the education all-in-ones that followed.
First LC all-in-one for education.
Macintosh LC 575 (1994)
Macintosh LC 520: key facts
When was the Macintosh LC 520 released?
The Macintosh LC 520 arrived on June 28, 1993. Apple discontinued it in February 1994.
How much did the Macintosh LC 520 cost?
The Macintosh LC 520 launched at $1,999 in 1993, about $4,358 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Motorola 68030 at 25 MHz, 5 MB RAM, 80 MB storage, 14" color CRT all-in-one display.
Why does the Macintosh LC 520 matter?
First LC all-in-one for education.
Full specifications
| CPU | Motorola 68030 · 25 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 5 MB (up to 36 MB) |
| Storage | 80 MB |
| Display | 14" color CRT all-in-one |
| GPU | Integrated / NuBus video |
| Ports | SCSI, ADB, serial |
| Weight | Varies by configuration |
| Dimensions | All-in-one desktop |
| Operating system | System 7 |
| Released | June 28, 1993 |
| Discontinued | February 1994 |
| Launch price | $1,999 |
How the Macintosh LC 520 compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 3,280× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 25 MHz, the clock is roughly 128× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
All of this storage holds about 20 modern phone photos.
Launched at $1,999 in 1993, about $4,358 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Sources
Specs checked against Apple technical specifications archive, EveryMac, Mactracker, Wikimedia Commons image credits.
Related LC / Performa models
Open the Macintosh LC 520 in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11