Macintosh SE
The Macintosh SE is a 68000-based all-in-one desktop computer that was released in March 1987. In August 1989, Apple replaced it with the SE FDHD, which shipped with a 1.44MB floppy drive. Some SE FDHD units were branded "SE SuperDrive"
Specifications
| Spec | Macintosh SE | Macintosh SE FDHD |
|---|---|---|
| Release Date | March 1987 | August 1989 |
| Discontinuation Date | August 1989 | October 1991 |
| Processor | Motorola 68000 @8MHz | |
| RAM | 4x 30-pin SIMM Slots - 1 or 2MB Standard - 4MB Maximum |
4x 30-pin SIMM Slots - 1MB Standard - 4MB Maximum |
| Hard Disk | 3.5" SCSI - 20MB, 40MB, or none standard. Units without a hard drive shipped with two floppy drives. |
3.5" SCSI - 20 or 40MB Standard |
| Display | 9-inch Monochrome CRT Display @512x342 | |
| Audio | Internal Speaker | |
| Internal Drives | 1 or 2 Auto-inject 3.5" 800KB Floppy Drives | 1 Auto-inject 3.5" 1.44MB Floppy Drive |
| Expansion | 1x SE PDS Slot | |
| Networking | None | |
| Other I/O | - 2x ADB - 2x Serial - 1x DB25 SCSI - 1x External Floppy Port - 1x Line Out |
|
| PRAM Battery | 1/2AA Lithium | |
| Minimum Mac OS | System 3.3 | |
| Maximum Mac OS | Mac OS 7.5.5 | |
Upgrades
CPU Upgrades
There were several upgrade boards made for the SE that would boost you from the stock 68000 CPU to a 68030.
SSD Upgrade
Check our page on SCSI SSD replacements for more info.
Resources
 Service Manual |
 Schematics |
Capacitor Reference |
|---|
Common Faults & Maintenance
PRAM Battery Leaks
The Lithium PRAM battery in the SE is very prone to leaking and should be removed. Early production SEs used a soldered 3V Varta Lithium battery that rarely leaks (still remove the original just in case). Later production units and all FDHDs used a socketed 3.6V Lithium battery, which are far more leak-prone.
Capacitors
The SE rarely experiences capacitor issues. The motherboard uses axial electrolytic caps instead of the surface mount type used in later Macintoshes, and the analog boards are usually reliable. Still, a recap is never a bad idea.
Page last updated (MM/DD/YYYY): 03/02/2025
Update Reason: page created
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