Power Macintosh · The Beige Era · 1997
Power Macintosh 6500
The 6500 pushed the consumer tower line faster just before the G3 era and Jobs-era simplification wiped the slate clean.
Faster consumer mini-tower near the end of pre-G3 Apple.
Power Macintosh G3 All-in-One (1998)
Power Macintosh 6500: key facts
When was the Power Macintosh 6500 released?
The Power Macintosh 6500 arrived on February 17, 1997. Apple discontinued it in March 1998.
How much did the Power Macintosh 6500 cost?
The Power Macintosh 6500 launched at $2,000 in 1997, about $3,980 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: PowerPC 603e at 225 MHz, 32 MB RAM, 2.9 GB storage, External display display.
Why does the Power Macintosh 6500 matter?
Faster consumer mini-tower near the end of pre-G3 Apple.
Full specifications
| CPU | PowerPC 603e · 225 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 32 MB (up to 128 MB) |
| Storage | 2.9 GB |
| Display | External display |
| GPU | Integrated / NuBus video |
| Ports | SCSI, ADB, serial |
| Weight | Varies by configuration |
| Dimensions | Mini-tower |
| Operating system | System 7 |
| Released | February 17, 1997 |
| Discontinued | March 1998 |
| Launch price | $2,000 |
How the Power Macintosh 6500 compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 512× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 225 MHz, the clock is roughly 14× 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 750 modern phone photos.
Launched at $2,000 in 1997, about $3,980 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 Power Macintosh models
Open the Power Macintosh 6500 in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11