Macintosh II · The Beige Era · 1989
Macintosh IIci
A fast, expandable, dependable workhorse that businesses kept running for years. Built-in video meant you didn’t burn a slot just to see the screen.
First Mac with built-in video and a cache slot, and wildly long-lived in offices.
Macintosh IIfx (1990)
Macintosh IIci: key facts
When was the Macintosh IIci released?
The Macintosh IIci arrived in September 1989. Apple discontinued it in February 1993.
How much did the Macintosh IIci cost?
The Macintosh IIci launched at $6,269 in 1989, about $16,111 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Motorola 68030 + 68882 at 25 MHz, 1 MB RAM, 80 MB storage, External colour, on-board video display.
Why does the Macintosh IIci matter?
First Mac with built-in video and a cache slot, and wildly long-lived in offices.
Full specifications
| CPU | Motorola 68030 + 68882 · 25 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 1 MB (up to 128 MB) |
| Storage | 80 MB |
| Display | External colour, on-board video |
| GPU | Built-in video |
| Ports | SCSI, ADB, 3× NuBus |
| Weight | 11 kg |
| Dimensions | Desktop case |
| Operating system | System 6.0.4 |
| Released | September 1989 |
| Discontinued | February 1993 |
| Launch price | $6,269 |
How the Macintosh IIci compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 16,400× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 25 MHz, the clock is roughly 128× 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 20 modern phone photos.
Launched at $6,269 in 1989, about $16,111 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 stayed on Apple’s price list for an unusually long three-and-a-half years.
Related Macintosh II models
Open the Macintosh IIci in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11