Resources
I’ve always loved making things myself and modifying whatever I own—whether it’s a computer, a watch, or even a car. Among them, the Macintosh has been especially fun. Even when I bought one brand new, I loved the fact that with some tweaks and modifications, it could turn into something far beyond what I expected. Through tinkering with the Macintosh, I was able to create all sorts of hacking hardware items.
Looking ahead, I think the natural direction is to introduce a menu of modifications for each model. That, in the truest sense, is what I believe Kero’s Mac Mods is all about.
*It's currently under construction but will be uploaded soon.
Most of the mods you see in these resources are ones I’ve actually done myself, not just something I read or heard somewhere and copied down. Of course, my own work isn’t perfect and there might still be rough edges, so if you spot anything, I’d really appreciate it if you let me know.
New!! Mods by Mac Models
I'll be adding pages to cover all vintage Mac models in the future, and I'll keep trying to keep my passion alive...
Knowing this, I think you'll understand why I make Classic Mac parts. Let's start with the compact Macs!
Compact Macs
Released in 1984, Mac 128K is the ancestor of the Mac model, and it all started here. Within a year, the 512K was released with improvements to compensate for RAM capacity and was positioned as the FatMac. The GUI has been improved over time, so it still contains some parts that are quite difficult to use. It can be said to be an incomplete specification, but at the same time, even a little modification can increase the fun.
Released in 1986, the Macintosh Plus was the third-generation Macintosh. Aside from expanded memory, it carried over most of its features from the earlier 128K and 512K models. Its most significant improvement was the addition of SCSI, which transformed the platform by enabling faster and more versatile storage options. It was also the first Macintosh to support up to 4MB of RAM—a major advantage at the time.
Released in 1987, This is an enhanced version of the MacPlus, and the motherboard has been updated to include ADB (same as the IIgs) and a PDS slot for expandability. It also has an exhaust fan, improved bus arbitration, and more cycles for the CPU to access memory than the Plus.
Released in 1989, A well-known Macintosh masterpiece. If the 128K is a Macintosh with historical value, this is called "the pinnacle of compact Macintosh." It had a 32-bit address bus, MMU, and FPU on board, and memory could be increased to 128MB. My favorite Macintosh of all time...
Released in 1990, This is a model that follows the lineage of the earlier Macintosh SE/Plus. It was the first low-end Mac priced under $1,000. Although internal expansion is limited, performance can be slightly improved through hard drive or memory upgrades. Its case features the curved front panel design first seen in the Quadra series.
Compact Macs
Released in 1991, It is the successor to the Classic and, compared to the SE/30, is positioned as a low-end model with cost savings. Although it shares the same 16 MHz 68030 CPU as the SE/30, the SE/30 has a 32-bit bus and faster memory access, whereas the Classic II has a 16-bit bus, limiting internal bandwidth.
Compact Macs
Released in 1993, This is the first compact Mac with a color CRT. Its shell case is charming, almost like a puppy sitting there. The CPU is a 68030 running at 16 MHz, but it inherits the 16-bit memory bus from the Classic lineage, making memory access slow. Expansion slot is available, giving a wide range of possibilities for mods.
In the Color Classic II, featuring a redesigned logic board that improves overall performance. It is equipped with a 33 MHz 68030 CPU, and memory can be expanded up to 32 MB, making it an excellent machine even as-is.
Compact Macs
Mystic and
Takky
In Color Classic, it was popular to change the logic board itself to another models,
The phantom machine that was supposed to be Apple's codename "Mystic"... Using the LC575 logic board makes it the pinnacle of 68K.
To make it even more exciting, install a Performa 6400 or 5500 Alchemy or Gazelle board to turn it into a PPC603e machine. Some Japanese geeks have named it "Takky".
- This is under construction...-
Compact Macs
Desktop and Tower 68K Macs
It was the first desktop business model in the Macintosh series to feature color display. The CPU was the then high-end Motorola 68020 running at 16 MHz, and it even came with an FPU as standard. If I remember correctly, the 68030 was introduced shortly after that.
Like the Macintosh SE released around the same time, it used ADB for connecting the keyboard and mouse—this was carried over from the Apple IIgs.
Mac IIcx
This is a mini desktop that follows the “frog design” of the Macintosh II. Unlike the IIci, which was released after it and came with onboard graphics, this model required a graphics card in a NuBus slot. I remember being a little confused at the time, since I had already gotten a IIci first. The CPU is a 16 MHz 68030, sharing nearly the same platform as the SE/30. Even the ROM contents are identical.
Mac IIci
It’s probably the second most popular 68K mini desktop Mac after the Quadra 700. I actually got mine from a friend in France—but that doesn’t mean it’s a French-specific model! There are plenty of upgrades available for the cache card slot(040 PDS), including PPC 601 and 68040 accelerator cards. Like many Macs of this era, the electrolytic capacitors tend to fail quickly and leak, but unlike the SE/30, the leakage here is usually less severe.
Mac IIfx
For our generation, this was the high-end machine we dreamed of. It came standard with a 68030 running at 40 MHz, making it a top-class business model. It was also favored by leading researchers in academic institutions. Although it uses a large number of tubular electrolytic capacitors, which rarely leak, I once had the tantalum capacitors in the power supply burn out right after a recap. The soft power switch is also prone to failure, often due to internal layer breaks. I suspect many of these issues stem from cracked solder joints caused by warping of the massive logic board. In short, it’s a machine with plenty of repair challenges—but since it’s already fast enough stock, I’ve never felt the need to modify mine!
Quadra 700
This is the cool tower Mac that became famous thanks to Jurassic Park. In terms of design—or rather the case itself—it’s almost identical to the IIci, apart from the direction of the front lines. The main change was simply repositioning the logo to favor a vertical orientation instead of horizontal, yet somehow the Quadra 700 ended up looking much cooler. The back I/O panel layout and power connector are the same as the later Quadra 650, so upgrading is easy by swapping in a Quadra 650 logic board.
Compact Macs
Quadra 650
In sharp contrast to the Quadra 700, this model’s case reflected cost-cutting measures, resulting in a design that felt uncharacteristically un-Apple—more reminiscent of IBM or NEC computers. Its looks earned it a reputation as one of the uglier Macs. On top of that, the aging plastic has become extremely brittle and prone to cracking, which has further hurt its appeal in recent years. Still, with features like a built-in CD-ROM drive, the potential for overclocking, and ROM hacks, it can be turned into a surprisingly fun and fascinating machine.
Compact Macs
Quadra 800
Compared to the Quadra 650, I think this model still retains a sense of Apple-like elegance. It also features steel side panels, a design carried forward through to the Power Mac 8100 and 8500. Up until this generation, the developers’ signatures were still inscribed inside the case. While it shares the same logic board design as the Quadra 650, differences in connector layout and Gestalt ID distinguish it as a separate model.
Compact Macs
Quadra 950
From the Quadra 900 came the Macintosh’s first full tower design, culminating in the flagship Quadra 950. Starting it up was almost ceremonial: you first had to turn the front key clockwise, like putting a car key into the ACC-ON position, and only then press the power button. The key itself was wired into the logic board, and without pulling that line low, the soft power switch couldn’t activate—essentially a form of physical administrator privilege. It came with a 33 MHz 68040, though its performance may have felt a little underwhelming. At the time, this was the only Macintosh model offering more than five NuBus slots, making it a necessary business machine for users who required multiple expansion cards.