Mac · The Beige Era · 1989
Macintosh IIci
A fast, expandable, dependable workhorse that businesses kept running for years. Built-in video meant you didn’t burn a slot just to see the screen.
Macintosh IIci: key facts
When was the Macintosh IIci released?
The Macintosh IIci was released in September 1989. Apple discontinued it in February 1993.
How much did the Macintosh IIci cost?
The Macintosh IIci launched at $6,269 in 1989 — about $16,111 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What are the Macintosh IIci’s specs?
The Macintosh IIci used a Motorola 68030 + 68882 running at 25 MHz, with 1 MB of memory and 80 MB of storage. It ran System 6.0.4.
Why does the Macintosh IIci matter?
First Mac with built-in video and a cache slot — wildly long-lived in offices.
Full specifications
| CPU | Motorola 68030 + 68882 · 25 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 1 MB (up to 128 MB) |
| Storage | 80 MB |
| Display | External colour, on-board video |
| GPU | Built-in video |
| Ports | SCSI, ADB, 3× NuBus |
| Weight | 11 kg |
| Dimensions | Desktop case |
| Operating system | System 6.0.4 |
| Released | September 1989 |
| Discontinued | February 1993 |
| Launch price | $6,269 |
How the Macintosh IIci compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 16,400× 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 $6,269 in 1989 — about $16,111 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Cross-architecture speed figures are clock-only and approximate; inflation figures use US CPI.
Did you know?
It stayed on Apple’s price list for an unusually long three-and-a-half years.
Related Mac models
Open the Macintosh IIci in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-06-25