Quadra · The Beige Era · 1993
Macintosh Quadra 605
The Quadra 605 put 68040-era speed into a compact LC-like case, giving budget buyers a taste of the high-end Quadra name.
The smallest and least expensive Quadra.
Macintosh Quadra 630 (1994)
Macintosh Quadra 605: key facts
When was the Macintosh Quadra 605 released?
The Macintosh Quadra 605 arrived on October 18, 1993. Apple discontinued it in October 1994.
How much did the Macintosh Quadra 605 cost?
The Macintosh Quadra 605 launched at $1,199 in 1993, about $2,614 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Motorola 68LC040 at 25 MHz, 4 MB RAM, 80 MB storage, External display display.
Why does the Macintosh Quadra 605 matter?
The smallest and least expensive Quadra.
Full specifications
| CPU | Motorola 68LC040 · 25 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 4 MB (up to 132 MB) |
| Storage | 80 MB |
| Display | External display |
| GPU | Integrated / NuBus video |
| Ports | SCSI, ADB, serial |
| Weight | Varies by configuration |
| Dimensions | Slim pizza-box desktop |
| Operating system | System 7 |
| Released | October 18, 1993 |
| Discontinued | October 1994 |
| Launch price | $1,199 |
How the Macintosh Quadra 605 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 $1,199 in 1993, about $2,614 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 Quadra models
Open the Macintosh Quadra 605 in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11