Quadra · The Beige Era · 1991
Macintosh Quadra 900
A serious workstation tower with the new 68040 and room for expansion, aimed at high-end publishing, science and business users.
Apple’s first tower-style Quadra flagship.
Macintosh Quadra 950 (1992)
Macintosh Quadra 900: key facts
When was the Macintosh Quadra 900 released?
The Macintosh Quadra 900 arrived in October 1991. Apple discontinued it in May 1992.
How much did the Macintosh Quadra 900 cost?
The Macintosh Quadra 900 launched at $7,200 in 1991, about $16,848 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Motorola 68040 at 25 MHz, 4 MB RAM, 160 MB storage, External display display.
Why does the Macintosh Quadra 900 matter?
Apple’s first tower-style Quadra flagship.
Full specifications
| CPU | Motorola 68040 · 25 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 4 MB (up to 256 MB) |
| Storage | 160 MB |
| Display | External display |
| GPU | Integrated / NuBus video |
| Ports | SCSI, ADB, serial |
| Weight | Varies by configuration |
| Dimensions | Large tower |
| Operating system | System 7 |
| Released | October 1991 |
| Discontinued | May 1992 |
| Launch price | $7,200 |
How the Macintosh Quadra 900 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 40 modern phone photos.
Launched at $7,200 in 1991, about $16,848 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 900 in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11