Macintosh LC: RAM Configurations and Limits


What is the maximum amount of memory possible in the Macintosh LC? Is
10MB an absolute limit? Will a future Macintosh LC be able to use 34MB
with the addition of two 16MB SIMMs?

There is a limit of 10MB of RAM on the Macintosh LC when running under
System 7. It will not be possible to use 16M SIMMs to achieve 34MB. This
is because the memory map for the Macintosh LC reserves only 10MB of
address space for RAM, regardless of if it is in 24-bit mode or 32-bit
mode. The memory map is as follows:

Function 24-bit mode 32-bit mode
-------- ----------- -----------
RAM $00 0000-$9F FFFF $0000 0000-$009F FFFF
ROM $A0 0000-$DF FFFF $40A0 0000-$40DF FFFF
Expansion space $E0 0000-$EF FFFF $FE00 0000-$FEFF FFFF
I/O space $F0 0000-$FF FFFF $50F0 0000-$50FF FFFF
VRAM $FC 0000-$FF FFFF $50FC 0000-$50FF FFFF


It is also not possible to use 256K or 512K SIMMs. The possible RAM
configurations, using 1MB, 2MB, and 4MB SIMMs, for the Macintosh LC are:

2MB -- soldered on the motherboard
4MB -- add two 1Mbit SIMMs in each of the SIMM connectors
6MB -- add two 2Mbit SIMMs in each of the SIMM connectors
10MB -- add two 4Mbit SIMMs in each of the SIMM connectors

The Macintosh LC requires 100ns or faster SIMMs.


Published Date: Feb 18, 2012