Mac · The Beige Era · 1990
Macintosh IIfx
A no-compromise speed machine with extra processors just to handle I/O. Engineers nicknamed it "Wicked Fast," and the price matched.
Macintosh IIfx: key facts
When was the Macintosh IIfx released?
The Macintosh IIfx was released in March 1990. Apple discontinued it in April 1992.
How much did the Macintosh IIfx cost?
The Macintosh IIfx launched at $9,900 in 1990 — about $24,057 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What are the Macintosh IIfx’s specs?
The Macintosh IIfx used a Motorola 68030 + 68882 running at 40 MHz, with 4 MB of memory and 80 MB of storage. It ran System 6.0.5.
Why does the Macintosh IIfx matter?
"Wicked Fast" — Apple’s fastest Mac, with dedicated I/O coprocessors.
Full specifications
| CPU | Motorola 68030 + 68882 · 40 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 4 MB (up to 128 MB) |
| Storage | 80 MB |
| Display | External colour |
| GPU | NuBus video |
| Ports | SCSI, ADB, 6× NuBus |
| Weight | 11 kg |
| Dimensions | Desktop case |
| Operating system | System 6.0.5 |
| Released | March 1990 |
| Discontinued | April 1992 |
| Launch price | $9,900 |
How the Macintosh IIfx compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 4,100× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 40 MHz, the clock is roughly 80× 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 $9,900 in 1990 — about $24,057 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 used unusual, expensive 64-pin RAM SIMMs found in almost nothing else.
Related Mac models
Open the Macintosh IIfx in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-06-25