Performa 630 has no CD-ROM?

[Dennis Nedry]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macintosh_Quadra_630

This page says that the Performa 630 is a 630CD without the CD-ROM drive. I have NEVER heard of a 63x without a CD-ROM, nor have I seen a picture. Does such a thing exist?? I think I would be literally FREAKED OUT to see a 630 like that. I just can't picture it, exactly how the front bezel would look without any CD-ROM cutout.

 

[Scott Baret]

They made some low-end models without CDs back then, including a Performa 630 and an LC 550 (which was sold only to schools). I have seen the LC 550 without a CD and I had to do a double-take at first--was it a CD-ROM-less LC 550 or a huge Color Classic? I'd imagine the 630 would look IIsi-like but a little more aerodynamic.

CD-ROMs were still considered somewhat optional equipment in 1994, especially on low-end machines. (The Quadra 605/LC475 comes to mind as a machine that didn't have a CD-ROM nor had room for one). CD-ROMs were still somewhat uncommon back then; I didn't even get a CD-ROM drive until Christmas 1994 because all the software I owned/wanted was on floppy (until I wanted A.D.A.M.)

 

[Dennis Nedry]

They made some low-end models without CDs back then, including a Performa 630 and an LC 550 (which was sold only to schools). I have seen the LC 550 without a CD and I had to do a double-take at first--was it a CD-ROM-less LC 550 or a huge Color Classic? I'd imagine the 630 would look IIsi-like but a little more aerodynamic.
CD-ROMs were still considered somewhat optional equipment in 1994, especially on low-end machines. (The Quadra 605/LC475 comes to mind as a machine that didn't have a CD-ROM nor had room for one). CD-ROMs were still somewhat uncommon back then; I didn't even get a CD-ROM drive until Christmas 1994 because all the software I owned/wanted was on floppy (until I wanted A.D.A.M.)

I've seen 550s without CD-ROMs. Actually I haven't seen an LC 550 that does have one. LC 520 and 575 usually do, though. But NEVER have I seen such a 630, even doing image searches. I am becoming quite curious about this.

 

[LCGuy]

Yeah, they most certainly made 630's without a CD-ROM drive, in fact I'd imagine that most 630's you see these days are probably CD-less 630's that have had CD-ROM drives retrofitted to them. Basically, they used the exact same bezel as a 630CD, although a blanking plate was installed in the hole where the tray comes out, pretty much the same as the blanking plates installed on car dashboards for features that are not installed on that model.

In fact, that 630 in the photo in that wiki article appears to have no CD-ROM drive, and instead has said blanking plate installed. Though Dana's photo is better. Basically, they use the exact same bezel, so that all you need to install a CD-ROM drive in a CD-less 630 is the drive itself, the sled, and the power/SCSI and audio connectors that go at the back and connect into the wiring loom. There's some clips on the back of the blanking panel on the front, which you simply press down on, and the blanking panel pops out the front, and the bezel can go back on.

 

[Danamania]

They looked like http://www.cc86.org/~hofmann/bilder%20mm/mm-performa630.jpg

Dana

 

[Dennis Nedry]

I see, this makes sense, they look very similar so that's why I never noticed. I was thinking there was a whole different front bezel without any cutout or eject button, like the LC 550.

Thanks for the pictures.

 

[Scott Baret]

The reason why the case is universal, unlike the LC 550, is because the 630 Series came out in 1994, not 1993. Apple began using a lot of standardized case parts to save money that year (a hallmark of Mike Spindler-era Macs).

You can even see this to a degree on the LC 500 series. The LC 520 has a plastic piece for its nameplate. The later 500 series had stickers.

IMO, 1993 was the last good year for Mac design (until 1998).

 

[Gil]

I'm almost positive I've seen a CD-less 630 before. I can't even begin to remember where, though.

As for the 1993 being the last good case design year, I have to disagree. I totally dig the PM 5xxx case design, and the 6400's "InstaTower" case is pretty cool too.

 

[Dennis Nedry]

1993 is my favorite Mac year, but I think all the beige/platinum years were good.

 

[crazyegg]

Hi All,

I just purchased my first MAC: a Performa 630!

However, it does NOT have a CD-Rom built in. I have an extra internal SCSI CD-Rom from an old PC but how do I connect it to the Performa 630?

FYI, at the back of the CD-Rom bay appears some kind of special SCSI and power and audio connector harness.

Do I need a special cable to hook my CD-Rom up? Where can I get these?

Regards......ed

 

[Gil]

Hi All,
I just purchased my first MAC: a Performa 630!

However, it does NOT have a CD-Rom built in. I have an extra internal SCSI CD-Rom from an old PC but how do I connect it to the Performa 630?

FYI, at the back of the CD-Rom bay appears some kind of special SCSI and power and audio connector harness.

Do I need a special cable to hook my CD-Rom up? Where can I get these?

Regards......ed

I've only dealt with the 630 style case once. I'd be willing to be that you'd need the "Blade" adapter. It has normal power, SCSI, and audio connections that snap into the drive, and then you get this blade-like connector that you just slide into the harness.

 

[Dennis Nedry]

Hi All,
I just purchased my first MAC: a Performa 630!

However, it does NOT have a CD-Rom built in. I have an extra internal SCSI CD-Rom from an old PC but how do I connect it to the Performa 630?

FYI, at the back of the CD-Rom bay appears some kind of special SCSI and power and audio connector harness.

Do I need a special cable to hook my CD-Rom up? Where can I get these?

Regards......ed

Here is a picture of the adapters necessary for an internal SCSI CD-ROM:

http://benboldt.spymac.com/cd-rom/internal-back.jpg

You will also need to attach a 5.25" bay sled to the bottom of the drive as seen here:

http://benboldt.spymac.com/cd-rom/internal-sled.jpg

If you get an external SCSI enclosure to put the drive into, you will only need a common SCSI cable and terminator as seen here:

http://benboldt.spymac.com/cd-rom/external.jpg

All the other connections (SCSI, Power, Audio) will be provided by the bay. You could probably just buy a whole external SCSI CD-ROM already put together for the same price, though. I can't imagine they're too expensive.

 

[crazyegg]

Hi Dennis,

Thanks for your reply! Any idea as to what the CD-Rom connector thing is called and where I might get one?

I imagine that it would be very difficult in procuring and that SCSI external (although less asthetically pleasing) may be best alternative?

Regards...ed..

 

[Dennis Nedry]

I think you might have better luck asking here in the trading post forum than most other places.

 

[stevep]

I've seen 550s without CD-ROMs. Actually I haven't seen an LC 550 that does have one. LC 520 and 575 usually do, though. But NEVER have I seen such a 630, even doing image searches. I am becoming quite curious about this.

I have an LC 575 without the CD-ROM. Apparently it is an educational only version.

 

[crazyegg]

Hi All,

After much searching, I managed to snag on of those 'blade' adapters from eBay for $5.

Just curious though but any ideas as to why on earth Apple chose to use of these 'non standard' adapters instead of just going with regular scsi/power/audio cables like everyone else?

Thanks again for all your help everyone!

Regards...ed

 

[Strimkind]

That was normal for apple in the day. Non-standard is probably what got them in trouble in the first place. Made it difficult for anyone to get parts for them. The only thing is that now macs are all generic parts with Apple slapped on it, a special BIOS, and OS X.