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Macintosh SE30 Custom Build BlueSCSI

Published March 10, 2022

About This Video

Follow along as a custom stealth Apple Macintosh SE/30 computer is assembled using a combination of vintage Macintosh hardware and modern retro computing upgrades including BlueSCSI solid-state storage and a BMOW ROM-inator II SIMM.

Widely considered one of the most powerful and desirable compact Macintosh systems ever produced, the Macintosh SE/30 combined the classic all-in-one compact Mac design with the power of a Motorola 68030 processor and advanced expandability for its era.

This custom build uses a Macintosh SE FDHD case paired with an SE/30 motherboard, creating a stealth-style hybrid system that externally resembles a standard Macintosh SE while internally operating as a significantly more capable Macintosh SE/30.

Featured Hardware:

Throughout the build, the Macintosh is assembled from the ground up, followed by initial power-on testing, memory verification, enabling 32-bit addressing, cache configuration, and final system checks to confirm everything is operating correctly.

The completed system is then demonstrated running with 32 MB of RAM under 32-bit addressing, showcasing how modern upgrade hardware can extend the usability, reliability, and convenience of a classic compact Macintosh while preserving its original appearance.

For vintage Macintosh collectors, MARCHintosh participants, retro computing enthusiasts, and fans of compact Mac upgrades, the Macintosh SE/30 remains one of the most iconic and upgrade-friendly Apple systems of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Watch on YouTube (external link)