The PowerPC 601-based Power Mac 7100-series has 8MBs of DRAM soldered on its logic board (aka "Carl Sagan," "BHA," & "LAW"). Using this board's four SIMM expansion slots (two banks of two slots), the total amount of DRAM useable by these computers is 136MB. The 7100-series also has 1MB of VRAM soldered onto the logic board, and can consequently acommodate a total of 2MBs of VRAM by filling the four VRAM expansion slots with 256k VRAM SIMMs.Note: The 7100's High-Speed Memory Controller (HMC) requires memory SIMMs to be installed in pairs. Like other Power Macs of its generation, (the 6100 and 8100), the 7100-series has a 64-bit internal memory path. Since 72-pin SIMMs are only addressable 32-bits at a time, they must be installed in matched pairs. When purchasing DRAM upgrades for the 7100, please ensure you purchase two at the same time. For best results, SIMMs used should have common chip sets, and come from the same manufacturer.
Specifications:
Logic Board RAM 8MBs Soldered Supported SIMMs 4MB, 8MB, 16MB, 32MB Number SIMM Slots Four (4) Logic Board VRAM 1MB Supported VRAM SIMMs 256k Number VRAM Slots Four (4) L2 Cache Supported? L2 SIMM: 1MB SIMM Type 72-pin, 32-bit, 80ns or faster
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 7100-series typically shipped with 2MB VRAM or 4MB VRAM PDS Video Cards, or 2MB Audio-Visual (AV) Cards, in their PDS slots. Additional VRAM configurations than those indicated by the table above are consequently possible. It should be noted that these computers, due to their on-board video circuitry and their included PDS video cards, were shipped from the factory with the capability of driving two monitors simultaneously. Other Macs of this generation typically required third-party NuBus video cards to enjoy this capability.
Please be advised that the microprocessor link above points to a page on Motorola's awesome website.