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Macintosh IIfx

Personal computer by Apple

Field	Value
name	Macintosh IIfx
family	Macintosh II
developer	Apple Computer
image	Macintosh IIfx.jpg
release_date
price
cpu	Motorola 68030
cpu_speed	40 MHz
os	System 6.0.5-7.1.1(Pro), 7.5-7.6.1
memory	4 MB, expandable to 128 MB
memory_type	80 ns 64-pin SIMMs
dimensions	Height: 5.5 in
Width: 18.7 in
Depth: 14.4 in
weight	24 lb
discontinued
predecessor	Macintosh IIx
successor	Macintosh Quadra 900
related	Macintosh Classic
Macintosh SE/30
Macintosh IIci
Macintosh IIsi

Width: 18.7 in Depth: 14.4 in Macintosh SE/30 Macintosh IIci Macintosh IIsi

The Macintosh IIfx is a personal computer designed, manufactured and sold by Apple Computer from March 1990 to April 1992. At introduction it cost from to , depending on configuration, and it was the fastest Macintosh available at the time.

The IIfx is the most powerful of the 68030-based Macintosh II family and was replaced at the top of Apple's lineup by the Macintosh Quadra in 1991. It is the last Apple computer released that was designed using the Snow White design language.

Overview

Dubbed "Wicked Fast"{{cite book | chapter-url-access = registration | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/macworldmacsecre00pogu/page/467 | author-link1 = David Pogue

The IIfx features specialized high-speed (80 ns) RAM using 64-pin dual-ported SIMMs, while all other contemporary Macintosh models use 30-pin SIMMs. The extra pins are a separate path to allow latched read and write operations. It is also possible to use parity memory modules; the IIfx is the only stock 68K Macintosh to support them along with special versions of the Macintosh IIci. The logic board has a total of 8 RAM slots; these must be populated four at a time with 1, 4, or 16 MB chips; this results in a maximum memory amount of 128 MB.{{cite web | access-date = October 31, 2017 | archive-date = February 22, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140222132911/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP203 | url-status = live

The IIfx includes two special dedicated processors for floppy disk operations, sound, ADB, and serial communications. These I/O chips feature a pair of 10 MHz embedded 6502 CPUs, which is the same CPU family used in Apple II machines.

The IIfx uses SCSI as its hard disk interface, as had all previous Macintosh models since the Macintosh Plus. DMA capability was added, improving disk I/O throughput, but is only supported in A/UX and not the Macintosh System Software. The IIfx requires a special black-colored SCSI terminator for external drives.{{cite web | access-date = March 21, 2018 | archive-date = March 22, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180322021140/https://www.fenestrated.net/mirrors/Apple%20Technotes%20(As%20of%202002)/dv/dv_15.html | url-status = dead

Industrial Light & Magic upgraded their image processing hardware to the IIfx by the time Terminator 2: Judgment Day entered post-production.

Models

When first introduced, the IIfx was offered in the following configurations:{{cite web | access-date = October 30, 2017 | archive-date = January 19, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170119115038/http://tech-insider.org/mac/research/acrobat/9003.pdf | url-status = live

Macintosh IIfx: 4 MB memory, 1.44 MB SuperDrive. US$8,969.{{cite web | access-date = October 31, 2017 | archive-date = January 19, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170119062110/http://tech-insider.org/mac/research/1990/0319.html | url-status = live
Macintosh IIfx 4/80: 4 MB memory, 80 MB HDD. US$9,869.
Macintosh IIfx 4/160: 4 MB memory, 160 MB HDD. US$10,969.
Macintosh IIfx 4/80 with Parity Support: 4 MB of parity error-checking RAM, 80 MB HDD.

Introduced May 15, 1990:

Macintosh IIfx 4/80 with A/UX: 4 MB memory, 160 MB HDD, A/UX 2.0 preinstalled. US$10,469. Shipments began in June.

Timeline

References

Thompson, Tom. (1990-09-01). "The Mac at 40 MHz".
Collyer, Rich. (April 1990). "Technote HW 09 – Macintosh IIfx: The Inside Story".
"Mac IIfx". Low End Mac.
[https://history.siggraph.org/animation-video-pod/terminator-2-computer-graphics-effects-by-cameron/ “”Terminator 2″ Computer Graphics Effects” by Cameron - ACM SIGGRAPH HISTORY ARCHIVES]
(May 15, 1990). "Apple Computer announces A/UX 2.0 pricing, availability". Apple.

Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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