Decades-Old Macintosh LC III Motherboard Error Confirmed
A vintage Mac enthusiast, Doug Brown, recently confirmed a long-suspected error on the Macintosh LC III motherboard, originally released in 1993. While restoring a Macintosh Performa 450 (a repackaged LC III), Brown discovered a mislabeled capacitor (C22) during a capacitor replacement procedure. This led to incorrect installation at the factory.
The error, discussed in forums as early as 2013, remained unconfirmed until Brown's recent discovery. Comparing the Performa 450 with other Macintosh LCs revealed the silkscreen marking the terminal on the Performa 450/LC III motherboard was indeed flawed. This motherboard issue is reminiscent of other hardware challenges faced by companies like Xiaomi with their Redmi Turbo 4.
Why the Macs Still Worked
The mislabeled capacitor, rated at 16V but only running -5V, was unlikely to cause catastrophic failure, though it could have eventually led to malfunction. Its limited use for the serial port and expansion cards, rarely utilized by owners, further minimized the impact. This highlights the importance of proper component labeling, similar to discussions around Samsung's security updates for Galaxy devices.
Caution for Restorers
Brown's discovery is crucial for computer restoration hobbyists. Replacing old electrolytic capacitors with tantalum capacitors, which are less tolerant of reverse installation, requires extra care with LC III restorations. For those interested in other Apple news, check out recent articles like Apple's UK class action lawsuit.