The Power Macintosh 2MB Video Card is a PDS device which communicates along a 64-bit data path with the Motorola PowerPC 601 microprocessors that shipped in the Power Macintosh 7100. Compatible with both the 66MHz and 80MHz variants of the PPC 7100, the 2MB Video Card has 1MB of soldered VRAM (visible above, directly below the VRAM SIMM Connectors).As Apple's intention was to ship first generation PowerPC Macintosh with fast, 64-bit graphics, these cards represented a quantum improvement over previous Macintosh, even those utilizing accelerated third-party video cards via the 16-bit NuBus interface. Accelerating video I/O in this manner also enhanced performance system-wide, making the original Power Macs snappy machines indeed, even in comparison to blistering progenitors like the 40MHz Quadra 840av.
Apple documentation is mute on whether the 4MB Video Card which shipped with the Power Macintosh 8100-series is compatible with the Power Mac 7100, but the two computers share a common PDS bus, so such cards should be interchangeable. It is also significant that the Power Mac 7100 and 8100-series, along with the AV version of the lower-end Power Mac 6100-series, supported dual displays out of the box, without the additional expense of purchasing third-party video cards.
Note: Apple service documention comments that 2MB and 4MB Video Cards can be distinguished by their part numbers (661-1748 & 661-1027, respectively) and by the color of their silkscreening. The 2MB card is silkscreened in yellow, and the 4MB card in white. The 2MB card additionally includes the numbers "128x8" in the lower lefthand corner of the card.
With four 68-pin SIMM slots, the 2MB Video Card accepts four (4) standard 256k 80ns VRAM SIMMs, which, in combination with the 1MB soldered onto the board, yield the maximum VRAM configuration of 2MBs.
Specifications Soldered Video Card VRAM 1MB. Supported Modules 256k. Number SIMM Slots Four (4).
While some of the products mentioned on this page may no longer be available, the information about these products remains available to those who may need it.
The following monitors can achieve the stated resolutions in either 1MB or 2MB configurations.
Monitor Resolution 1MB VRAM 2MB VRAM 12-inch Color 512 x 384 millions millions 12-inch Monochrome 640 x 480 256 256 13-inch Color 640 x 480 thousands millions 14-inch Color 640 x 480 thousands millions VGA 640 x 480 thousands millions 15-inch Portrait Monochrome 640 x 870 256 256 16-inch Color 832 x 624 thousands millions 19-inch Color 1024 x 768 256 thousands 21-inch Color 1152 x 870 256 thousands SuperVGA 800 x 600 thousands millions NTSC 640 x 480 thousands millions NTSC flicker-free 640 x 480 256 256 NTSC 512 x 384 thousands millions NTSC flicker-free 512 x 384 256 256 PAL 768 x 576 thousands millions PAL flicker-free 768 x 576 256 256 PAL 640 x 480 thousands millions PAL flicker-free 640 x 480 256 256
Note: Power Macintosh: VRAM Expansion Options (7/94): points out that "...VRAM expansion card(s) ...(do) NOT support resolutions below 8-bit (256 colors). In order to get 2, 4, or 16 colors, you must use the HDI-45 connector" on the rear of the logic board.