Compact Mac · The Beige Era · 1991
Macintosh Classic II
The Classic II looked like a familiar compact Mac but gained a 68030 inside, making it a popular school and home machine near the end of the black-and-white compact era.
Brought 68030 performance to the budget compact Mac line.
Macintosh Color Classic (1993)
Macintosh Classic II: key facts
When was the Macintosh Classic II released?
The Macintosh Classic II arrived in October 1991. Apple discontinued it in September 1993.
How much did the Macintosh Classic II cost?
The Macintosh Classic II launched at $1,900 in 1991, about $4,446 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Motorola 68030 at 16 MHz, 2 MB RAM, 40 MB storage, 9" monochrome, 512×342 display.
Why does the Macintosh Classic II matter?
Brought 68030 performance to the budget compact Mac line.
Full specifications
| CPU | Motorola 68030 · 16 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 2 MB (up to 10 MB) |
| Storage | 40 MB |
| Display | 9" monochrome, 512×342 |
| GPU | Integrated / NuBus video |
| Ports | SCSI, ADB, floppy |
| Weight | Varies by configuration |
| Dimensions | Desktop computer |
| Operating system | System 7.0.1 |
| Released | October 1991 |
| Discontinued | September 1993 |
| Launch price | $1,900 |
How the Macintosh Classic II compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 8,190× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 16 MHz, the clock is roughly 200× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
All of this storage holds about 10 modern phone photos.
Launched at $1,900 in 1991, about $4,446 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Sources
Specs checked against Apple technical specifications archive, EveryMac, Mactracker, Wikimedia Commons image credits.
Did you know?
It was sold as the Performa 200 in some consumer channels.
Related Compact Mac models
Open the Macintosh Classic II in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11