LC / Performa · The Beige Era · 1992
Macintosh LC II
The LC II upgraded the beloved low-cost color Mac formula with a 68030, though the narrow data path kept it from feeling dramatically faster.
Brought a 68030 to the affordable LC pizza-box case.
Macintosh LC 475 (1993)
Macintosh LC II: key facts
When was the Macintosh LC II released?
The Macintosh LC II arrived in March 1992. Apple discontinued it in March 1993.
How much did the Macintosh LC II cost?
The Macintosh LC II launched at $1,699 in 1992, about $3,840 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Motorola 68030 at 16 MHz, 4 MB RAM, 40 MB storage, External display display.
Why does the Macintosh LC II matter?
Brought a 68030 to the affordable LC pizza-box case.
Full specifications
| CPU | Motorola 68030 · 16 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 4 MB (up to 10 MB) |
| Storage | 40 MB |
| Display | External display |
| GPU | Integrated / NuBus video |
| Ports | SCSI, ADB, serial |
| Weight | Varies by configuration |
| Dimensions | Desktop computer |
| Operating system | System 7 |
| Released | March 1992 |
| Discontinued | March 1993 |
| Launch price | $1,699 |
How the Macintosh LC II compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 4,100× 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 $1,699 in 1992, about $3,840 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.
Related LC / Performa models
Open the Macintosh LC II in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11