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On September 19, 1988, Apple introduced the Macintosh IIx, a powerful personal computer that was part of the Macintosh II series. The Macintosh IIx was designed, manufactured, and sold by Apple from 1988 to 1990, and it was considered a high-end computer at the time.
The Macintosh IIx featured a 16 MHz Motorola 68030 processor, which was a significant improvement over the Macintosh II’s 8 MHz processor. It also had a Motorola 68882 FPU coprocessor, which helped with floating-point calculations. The computer came with either 1 MB or 4 MB of RAM, a 40 MB or 80 MB hard drive, and one or two 1.44 MB floppy drives. An optional Macintosh II video card was also available.
However, despite its impressive specs, the Macintosh IIx was not a commercial success. It was discontinued on October 15, 1990, just two years after its introduction. Today, the Macintosh IIx is 34 years old and considered a vintage computer by collectors and enthusiasts.
Overall, the Macintosh IIx was a significant step forward for Apple in terms of hardware, but it did not catch on with consumers. Nevertheless, it remains a piece of computing history and a fascinating look into the evolution of personal computers.
Macintosh IIx Details
| Introduced | September 19, 1988 |
| Discontinued | October 15, 1990 |
| Model Identifier | 7 |
| Model Number | M5840 |
| Order Number | M5820 M5840 M5850 |
| Original Price | $7,769 $9,300 |
| Colors | Platinum |
| Weight | 24 Ibs. 10.886 KG |
| Dimensions | 5.5” H x 18.7” W x 14.4” D 13.97 cm H x 47.49 cm W x 36.57 cm D |
Mac IIx Tech Specs
Processor
| Processor | Motorola 68030 |
| Processor Speed | 16 MHz |
| Architecture | 32-bit |
| Number of Cores | 1 |
| System Bus | 16 MHz |
| Cache | 0.25 KB L1 |
| Coprocessor | Motorola 68882 FPU |
Storage & Media
| Storage | 40 MB 80 MB |
| Media | 1 or 2 – 1.44 MB Floppy |
Memory
| Built-in Memory | 1 MB 4 MB |
| Maximum Memory | 128 MB |
| Memory Slots | 8 – 30 pin SIMMs (Groups of 4) (4 MB or larger modules must be PAL SIMMs) |
| Minimum Speed | 120 ns |
| ROM | Unknown |
| Interleaving Support | No |
Display
| Built-in Display | None |
Graphics
| Graphics Card | None |
| Graphics Memory | None |
| Display Connection | Unknown |
Expansion
| Expansion Slots | 6 – NuBus |
| Hard Drive Interface | SCSI |
Software
| Original OS | System Software 6.0.1 |
| Maximum OS | System 7.5.5 |
| Firmware | Macintosh ROM |
Connections
| Ethernet | None |
| Modem | None |
| ADB | 2 |
| Serial | 2 |
| SCSI | 1 – DB-25 |
| Floppy Port | None |
| Audio In | None |
| Audio Out | 1 – 3.5-mm stereo output jack |
| Display | Unknown |
Accessories
Power
| Backup Battery | 3.6 V lithium |
| Maximum Continuous Power | 230 W |
| Line Voltage | Unknown |
Further Reading and References
- Macintosh IIx: Technical Specifications – Apple Support
- Macintosh IIx – Wikipedia
- Mac IIx – Low End Mac
- Macintosh II/IIx/IIfx Service Source (PDF) – Apple Repair Manuals
- Today in Apple history: Powerful, upgradeable Macintosh IIx arrives – Cult of Mac
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Disclaimer: The data presented in this article is under continuous development and has been manually collected from a variety of sources based on their availability. The author of this article may revise this dataset as additional research is conducted and reviewed. Please note that the information is provided “as is” and “as available” without any express or implied warranties. The author cannot be held responsible for any omissions, inaccuracies, or errors in the published information. Any warranties relating to this information are hereby disclaimed.
Last updated: May 14, 2023