The Hardware Research 604e/250 DP was a high-performance, dual-processor rackmount system designed for professional environments during Apple’s Mac clone licensing era. This advanced Mac OS-compatible workstation offered the raw power of dual 250 MHz PowerPC 604e processors, and was ideal for studios, labs, and server rooms requiring robust, rackmount computing.
Like its siblings, the Hardware Research 604e/250 DP was built on Apple’s Tsunami architecture, delivering workstation-class reliability and expandability. It shipped with 64 MB or 80 MB of RAM, a 4.0 GB Ultra SCSI hard drive, and a 4 MB ATI XCLAIM 3D graphics card. The rackmount 19″ chassis housed 6 PCI slots, offering tremendous customization potential.
At a premium $5,700 USD price tag, it catered to organizations with high processing demands. Officially supporting Mac OS 7.5.5 through 8.1, with unofficial compatibility up to OS 9.0, this rare dual-CPU clone remains a landmark in Mac-compatible hardware history.
Hardware Research 604e/250 DP – Technical Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Introduction Date | January 1, 1998 |
| Discontinued Date | December 31, 1998 |
| Processor Type | PowerPC 604e (Dual) |
| Processor Speed | 250 MHz |
| Processor Upgrade | Daughtercard |
| FPU (Integrated) | PowerPC 604e |
| System Bus Speed | 50 MHz |
| Lookaside Bus Speed | 50 MHz |
| ROM Size | 4 MB |
| Data Path | 64-bit |
| L1 Cache | 64 KB |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB |
| RAM Type | 70 ns 168-pin DIMM |
| Standard RAM | 64 MB or 80 MB |
| Maximum RAM | 1040 MB |
| RAM Slots | 8 (supports interleaving for enhanced performance) |
| Standard VRAM | 4 MB (ATI XCLAIM 3D) |
| Maximum VRAM | 8 MB |
| VRAM Type | Video card |
| Hard Drive | 4.0 GB UltraSCSI |
| Standard CD-ROM | 12X or 24X |
| Floppy Drive | 1.44 MB (manual eject) |
| Modem | Not included |
| Ethernet | AAUI, 10Base-T |
| Case Type | Rack-Mountable |
| Form Factor | 19″ Rackmount |
| Expansion Slots | 6 PCI |
| Expansion Bays (Free) | 1 external 5.25″ bay |
| Battery Type | 3.6V Lithium |
| Built-in Display | None |
| Supported Mac OS | 7.5.5 to 9.0 (Apple support up to 8.1) |
| Dimensions | 10 x 17.25 x 17.75 inches (H x W x D) |
| Average Weight | 52 lbs (23.6 kg) |
| Original Price | $5,700 USD |
| Est. Current Value | Not Available – Rare Collector’s Unit |
| Architecture | Tsunami (used in Power Macintosh 9500 series) |
Why the Hardware Research 604e/250 DP Stood Out
The Hardware Research 604e/250 DP was designed for serious computing power in a compact rackmount form. Whether deployed in a broadcast suite, render farm, or server cluster, its dual-CPU setup provided real multitasking capability that few other Mac OS-compatible machines could match in 1998.
Though Apple shut down its Mac clone program that same year, this machine’s brief window of availability left a lasting mark. For those in need of rack-based Macintosh compatibility, few options came close to the capabilities of the 604e/250 DP.
