IBM PC Series
| Company type | Product line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Predecessor | Personal System/2, PS/ValuePoint |
| Founded | October 1994 |
| Defunct | October 2000 |
| Successor | IBM NetVista, IBM IntelliStation (for PC360 and PC365 models) |
Area served | Global (select markets for some models) |
| Products | Desktop personal computers |
The Personal Computer Series, commonly referred to as the PC Series, represented IBM's follow-up to the Personal System/2 and PS/ValuePoint lines. Introduced in October 1994 and discontinued by October 2000, the series was largely replaced by the IBM NetVista. However, the Pentium Pro-based PC360 and PC365 models were transitioned into the IBM IntelliStation. This lineup was primarily designed with business users in mind, distinguishing it from the consumer-oriented Aptiva range.
PC 100
The PC 100 served as an entry-level option, distributed only within select markets.
PC 140
Similarly positioned as a budget-friendly model, the PC 140 was limited to availability in certain regions.
PC Series 300
These systems embraced standard ISA/PCI architectures and marked IBM's initial implementation of USB connectivity on their PCs. Processor choices spanned from the 486DX2-50, 486SX-25, 486DX4-100, up to the Pentium 200, with the PC360 and PC365 models utilizing the Pentium Pro. The 486 variants incorporated SelectaBus technology through a removable riser card, enabling configurations between VESA Local Bus/ISA or PCI/ISA setups.
Within the 300 series:
PC 330
Later models in this category employed the Pentium P54C processor running at frequencies of 100, 133, 166, or 200 MHz. Configurations supported up to four ISA and/or three PCI expansion slots along with four drive bays—two external 5.25", one external 3.5", and one internal 3.5". The final iteration (model 6577) featured one DIMM-168 slot and four SIMM-72 memory slots paired with an IBM SurePath BIOS. The rear panel included two USB 1.0 ports. Supported operating systems ranged up to Windows XP, with Windows 2000 and Windows ME recommended for optimal performance.
Notably, the DIMM-168 slot is compatible exclusively with 5V EDO DRAM modules and cannot accommodate typical 3.3V SDRAM sticks due to differing keying mechanisms designed to prevent incorrect installation damage.
The lineup of submodels comprised:
| PC 330 submodels | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Model | CPU | MHz | Remarks | |
| Personal Computer 330 | Model 6571-Kxx, Lxx, Wxx | Intel 486 | 25-100 | OPTi chipset; equipped with ISA/VLB riser card | |
| Model 6573-Kxx, Lxx, Wxx | Intel i486 | 25-100 | OPTi chipset; equipped with ISA/PCI riser card | ||
| Model 6575-1xx | Intel Pentium P5 | 60-66 | Supports up to 133 MHz via Pentium OverDrive | ||
| Model 6576-3xx,4xx,5xx,7xx,9xx | Intel Pentium P54C | 75-100 | Capable of reaching 200 MHz with Pentium OverDrive | ||
| Model 6577-5xx,7xx,9xx,Gxx,Kxx,Lxx | Intel Pentium P54C | 75-166 | Up to 233 MHz achievable using Pentium MMX at reduced bus speeds | ||
PC 340
Debuting in 1996, the PC 340 was an economical model equipped with Pentium processors running at speeds of 100, 133, or 166 MHz. It featured four ISA slots alongside three PCI expansion slots, four drive bays (two external at 5.25 inches and one external plus one internal at 3.5 inches), four SIMM-72 memory slots, and utilized an IBM SurePath BIOS.
Submodels included:
- PC 300 Series Model 340 (Model 6560-1xx)
- PC 300 Series Model 340 (Model 6560-4xx)
- PC 300 Series Model 340 (Model 6560-5xx)
- PC 300 Series Model 340 (Model 6560-6xx)
- PC 300 Series Model 340 (Model 6560-7xx)
PC 350
Introduced between 1994 and 1995, the PC 350 targeted the mid-tier segment, utilizing the same motherboard as the PC 330 but housed in a larger chassis that provided extra drive bays. Processor configurations included Intel's 486DX2-50, 486SX-25, 486DX4-100, and Pentium models running up to 200 MHz. Expansion capabilities varied by model, offering up to five ISA slots and/or three PCI slots, alongside five drive bays (two external 5.25" bays plus both external and internal 3.5" bays). Later iterations incorporated one DIMM-168 slot and four SIMM-72 RAM slots, complemented by IBM SurePath BIOS.
Submodels:
| Name | Model | CPU | MHz | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Computer 350 | Model 6581-Kxx, Lxx, Wxx | Intel 486 | 25-100 | Equipped with OPTi chipset; shipped with ISA/VLB riser card | |
| Model 6583-Kxx, Lxx, Wxx | Intel 486 | 25-100 | OPTi chipset; included ISA/PCI riser card | ||
| Model 6585-1xx | Intel Pentium P5 | 60-66 | Supports up to 133 MHz via Pentium OverDrive | ||
| Model 6586-3xx,4xx,5xx,7xx,9xx | Intel Pentium P54C | 75-100 | Intel motherboard featuring Triton chipset; supports up to 128 MB RAM and 512k cache | ||
| Model 6587-5xx,7xx,9xx,Gxx,Kxx,Lxx | Intel Pentium P54C | 75-200 | Supports up to 192 MB RAM; CPU speeds up to 233 MHz using Pentium MMX at reduced clock rates |
PC 360
The PC 360 was a mini-tower system supporting ISA and PCI expansion with six available slots. It was powered by Pentium Pro processors at either 150 or 200 MHz. The system featured six drive bays and four SIMM-72 memory slots accommodating up to128 MB of RAM, along with IBM SurePath BIOS.
Submodels:
- PC 360 Series Model S150 (Model 6598-Cxx)
- PC 360 Series Model S200 (Model 6598-Fxx)
PC 365
Designed as a multiprocessor system with ISA and PCI slots, the PC 365 supported dual Pentium Pro CPUs running at either180 or200 MHz. Its chassis housed five drive bays and a mix of expansion slots: two dedicated and three shared between ISA and PCI. Memory expansion was facilitated through four DIMM-168 slots supporting up to512 MB RAM, managed by IBM SurePath BIOS.
Submodels:
- PC365 Series Model S180 (Model6589-10U,11U,17U)
- PC365 Series Model S200 (Model6589-12U,13U,15U,18U)
PC Series 700
This lineup utilized Intel's original Pentium processors clocked at frequencies of 75, 90, 100, 133, and166 MHz. Early versions featured selectable bus architectures (SelectaBus) via interchangeable riser cards that allowed for either PCI/ISA or PCI/MCA configurations. This flexibility enabled compatibility with operating systems lacking support for MCA when the MCA bus was disabled.
Two distinct form factors were available: the smaller PC730 with three expansion slots and three drive bays (3x3), and the larger PC750 offering five slots and five bays (5x5).
PC Series 3000
Released exclusively in Canada in April1996, this series incorporated Pentium CPUs ranging from100 to166 MHz and came equipped with a Mwave modem/sound card combo.
PC 300PL
The 300PL progressed through three generations of processors: Pentium MMX, Pentium II, and Pentium III. The Pentium MMX variants operated at speeds of166,200, and233 MHz; Pentium II models ranged from266 to450 MHz (including266,300,333,350,400); while Pentium III versions spanned from450 up to866 MHz.
Commonly outfitted with hard drives between2 GB and20 GB capacity alongside CD-ROM and floppy drives—and occasionally an IBM EtherJet10/100 Ethernet adapter—the300PL was available in both tower and desktop configurations.
Four different form factors were produced:
- Desktop with three PCI slots without AGP plus an additional bay for CD/DVD drives
- Desktop featuring three PCI slots including one AGP slot plus an extra bay
- Desktop offering four PCI slots with one AGP slot plus an additional bay
- Tower model equipped with six PCI slots including one AGP slot plus two extra bays
PC 300GL
The PC 300GL lineup incorporated Intel processors including the Celeron, Pentium, Pentium MMX, Pentium II, and Pentium III series. The Celeron variants operated between 333 and 533 MHz; Pentium CPUs ranged from 133 to 200 MHz; Pentium MMX models ran from 166 to 233 MHz; Pentium II processors spanned 350 to 450 MHz; while Pentium III versions delivered speeds from 450 up to 866 MHz.
These systems were offered in desktop, micro-tower, and mini-tower chassis:
- Desktop configurations included options with either four expansion slots and four drive bays or two slots paired with three drive bays
- Micro-tower models provided four expansion slots alongside four drive bays
- Mini-tower units featured six slots and six drive bays
Expansion slot arrangements differed across models—certain versions contained exclusively PCI slots plus a single AGP4x slot, whereas others utilized a desktop riser card combining one ISA and PCI slot along with two shared PCI-ISA slots. Storage solutions encompassed both SCSI and EIDE hard drives, with capacities ranging from 1.2GB to 30GB. Throughout its production, the series saw considerable advancements in video adapters, video memory, RAM capacity, Ethernet connectivity, CD-ROM drives, and audio hardware.
All configurations supported operation without a disk operating system and were shipped equipped with a standard 3.5" 1.44MB floppy disk drive; earlier releases also accommodated additional floppy formats. Certain two-slot desktop variants were delivered without any floppy drive installed.
PC 300XL
The PC 300XL is equipped with either a Pentium MMX processor running at 233 MHz or Pentium II processors at clock speeds of 233, 266, or 300 MHz. It features integrated 10/100 Mbps Ethernet capabilities tailored for corporate networking environments.
PC Power Series
IBM's PC Power Series represents the PowerPC-based alternative to the RS/6000 line, targeting professional and enterprise markets. Its main characteristics include:
- PowerPC 604 CPU available at frequencies of 100, 120, or 133 MHz
- ISA/PCI PReP (PowerPC Reference Platform) architecture
- Default memory of 16 MB parity RAM, expandable up to 192 MB
- Built-in 10baseT Ethernet alongside PCI graphics and audio components
- Compatibility with operating systems such as Windows NT (versions 3.51 and 4.0), OS/2 Warp PPC Edition, Solaris 2.5.1 PPC, as well as AIX versions 4 and 5XL
- ARC BIOS enabling versatile boot options
The series was offered in two chassis sizes: the smaller footprint 3x3 (PC830) and the larger form factor 5x5 (PC850).
| Name | Model | CPU | MHz | RS/6000 counterpart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Computer Power Series 440 | 6015 | PowerPC 601 (upgradeable to PowerPC 604) | 66 | Model 7020 (40P) |
| Personal Computer Power Series 830 | 6050 | PowerPC 604 | 100/120/133 | Model 7248 (43P) |
| Personal Computer Power Series 850 | 6070 | PowerPC 604 | 100/120/133 | Model 7248 (43P) |