Power Macintosh · The Beige Era · 1994
Power Macintosh 8100
The 8100 was the high-end proof point for the PowerPC transition, aimed at users who needed every bit of speed Apple could offer.
Flagship of the first PowerPC Mac launch.
Power Macintosh 6200 (1995)
Power Macintosh 8100: key facts
When was the Power Macintosh 8100 released?
The Power Macintosh 8100 arrived on March 14, 1994. Apple discontinued it in August 1995.
How much did the Power Macintosh 8100 cost?
The Power Macintosh 8100 launched at $4,250 in 1994, about $9,053 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: PowerPC 601 at 80 MHz, 8 MB RAM, 500 MB storage, External display display.
Why does the Power Macintosh 8100 matter?
Flagship of the first PowerPC Mac launch.
Full specifications
| CPU | PowerPC 601 · 80 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 8 MB (up to 264 MB) |
| Storage | 500 MB |
| Display | External display |
| GPU | Integrated / NuBus video |
| Ports | SCSI, ADB, serial |
| Weight | Varies by configuration |
| Dimensions | Tower |
| Operating system | System 7 |
| Released | March 14, 1994 |
| Discontinued | August 1995 |
| Launch price | $4,250 |
How the Power Macintosh 8100 compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 2,050× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 80 MHz, the clock is roughly 40× 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 125 modern phone photos.
Launched at $4,250 in 1994, about $9,053 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 8100 in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11