Quadra · The Beige Era · 1991
Macintosh Quadra 700
The flagship of the new Quadra line, with the powerful 68040 and ethernet on board. Apple’s answer to the workstation crowd.
First Mac with the fast 68040 and built-in ethernet.
Macintosh Quadra 950 (1992)
Macintosh Quadra 700: key facts
When was the Macintosh Quadra 700 released?
The Macintosh Quadra 700 arrived in October 1991. Apple discontinued it in March 1993.
How much did the Macintosh Quadra 700 cost?
The Macintosh Quadra 700 launched at $5,700 in 1991, about $13,338 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Motorola 68040 at 25 MHz, 4 MB RAM, 80 MB storage, External colour, on-board video display.
Why does the Macintosh Quadra 700 matter?
First Mac with the fast 68040 and built-in ethernet.
Full specifications
| CPU | Motorola 68040 · 25 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 4 MB (up to 68 MB) |
| Storage | 80 MB |
| Display | External colour, on-board video |
| GPU | Built-in video |
| Ports | SCSI, ADB, ethernet, 2× NuBus |
| Weight | 11 kg |
| Dimensions | Mini-tower / desktop |
| Operating system | System 7.0.1 |
| Released | October 1991 |
| Discontinued | March 1993 |
| Launch price | $5,700 |
How the Macintosh Quadra 700 compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 4,100× 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 $5,700 in 1991, about $13,338 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 memorably starred (as a "hacking" prop) in the film Jurassic Park.
Related Quadra models
Open the Macintosh Quadra 700 in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11