Macintosh II · The Beige Era · 1990
Macintosh IIfx
A no-compromise speed machine with extra processors just to handle I/O. Engineers nicknamed it "Wicked Fast," and the price matched.
"Wicked Fast": Apple’s fastest Mac, with dedicated I/O coprocessors.
Macintosh IIvi (1992)
Macintosh IIfx: key facts
When was the Macintosh IIfx released?
The Macintosh IIfx arrived in March 1990. Apple discontinued it in April 1992.
How much did the Macintosh IIfx cost?
The Macintosh IIfx launched at $9,900 in 1990, about $24,057 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Motorola 68030 + 68882 at 40 MHz, 4 MB RAM, 80 MB storage, External colour display.
Why does the Macintosh IIfx matter?
"Wicked Fast": Apple’s fastest Mac, with dedicated I/O coprocessors.
Full specifications
| CPU | Motorola 68030 + 68882 · 40 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 4 MB (up to 128 MB) |
| Storage | 80 MB |
| Display | External colour |
| GPU | NuBus video |
| Ports | SCSI, ADB, 6× NuBus |
| Weight | 11 kg |
| Dimensions | Desktop case |
| Operating system | System 6.0.5 |
| Released | March 1990 |
| Discontinued | April 1992 |
| Launch price | $9,900 |
How the Macintosh IIfx compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 4,100× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 40 MHz, the clock is roughly 80× 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 $9,900 in 1990, about $24,057 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 used unusual, expensive 64-pin RAM SIMMs found in almost nothing else.
Related Macintosh II models
Open the Macintosh IIfx in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11