The Hardware Research 604e/233 DP was a high-performance Mac OS-compatible rackmount system powered by dual 233 MHz PowerPC 604e processors. Designed for professionals working in media, graphics, or compute-heavy environments, this machine offered a robust feature set in a 19″ rackmount chassis.
Released in January 1998, the 604e/233 DP leveraged Apple’s Tsunami architecture and provided SCSI-based storage, generous RAM expandability, and PCI slot flexibility. It shipped with either 64 MB or 80 MB of RAM, a 4.0 GB hard drive, and a 4 MB ATI XCLAIM 3D video card. Its powerful dual-CPU configuration and 64-bit architecture made it a favorite in studios and labs before being discontinued at the end of 1998.
Hardware Research 604e/233 DP – Specifications
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Model Name | Hardware Research 604e/233 DP |
| Architecture | Tsunami |
| Form Factor | 19″ Rackmount |
| Processor Type | PowerPC 604e (Dual) |
| Processor Speed | 233 MHz |
| System Bus Speed | 46.6 MHz |
| Lookaside Bus Speed | 46.6 MHz |
| Level 1 Cache | 64 KB |
| Level 2 Cache | 512 KB |
| FPU | Integrated (PowerPC 604e) |
| ROM Size | 4 MB |
| Data Path | 64-bit |
| RAM Type | 70 ns 168-pin DIMM |
| Standard RAM | 64 MB or 80 MB |
| Maximum RAM | 1040 MB |
| RAM Slots | 8 (interleaving supported for faster access) |
| Hard Drive | 4.0 GB SCSI |
| CD-ROM | 12X or 24X |
| Floppy Drive | 1.44 MB (manual eject) |
| Video Card | ATI XCLAIM 3D with 4 MB VRAM |
| Maximum VRAM | 8 MB |
| Expansion Slots | 6 PCI |
| Expansion Bays | 1 free external 5.25″ bay |
| Ethernet | AAUI, 10Base-T |
| Modem | Not included |
| Battery | 3.6V Lithium |
| Built-in Display | None |
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 10 x 17.25 x 17.75 inches |
| Average Weight | 52 lbs |
| Original Price | $5,400 USD |
| Mac OS Compatibility | 7.5.5, 7.6.1, 8.0 to 9.0 (official support ends at 8.1) |
Performance and Upgrade Highlights
The Hardware Research 604e/233 DP offered dual-CPU multitasking on Mac OS, rare for the time and ideal for workloads like video rendering and 3D design. RAM could be expanded up to 1.04 GB, and interleaving enhanced memory performance. Six PCI slots allowed expansion for audio/video capture, RAID, or additional networking cards. The system could also be upgraded to newer processor cards or dual configurations, adding to its lifespan.
