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Macintosh II
The first modular, color-capable Mac with six NuBus slots.
Overview
The Macintosh II was the open Mac that engineers had wanted since 1984. Its horizontal case held a 68020 processor, a 68881 math coprocessor and six NuBus slots, with video supplied by a card of the buyer's choice and connected to a separate display.
Color QuickDraw in ROM allowed up to 256 colors on a 640 x 480 screen with the 8-bit card, and the SCSI bus and an internal drive bay supported a 40 MB hard disk. Memory started at 1 MB with room for several megabytes more.
It was expensive, and a typical system with monitor and disk cost well over five thousand dollars, but it made the Mac a serious tool for publishing, engineering and graphics.
Why it mattered
It created the modular Mac line that served professionals for the next decade and brought color to the platform.
At a glance
- Announced
- March 2, 1987
- Released
- March 2, 1987
- Discontinued
- January 15, 1990
- Launch price
- Not available
- Chip / processor
- Motorola 68020, 16 MHz
- Storage
- 800 KB floppy, optional 40 MB hard disk
- Status
- Vintage
Highlights
- First Mac with color graphics
- Six NuBus expansion slots
- Motorola 68020 plus 68881 FPU
- Separate monitor and keyboard
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Chip
- Chip
- Motorola 68020, 16 MHz
- Coprocessor
- Motorola 68881 FPU
Memory
- RAM
- 1 MB, expandable to 8 MB
- Storage options
- 800 KB floppy; optional internal 40 MB SCSI hard disk
Ports
- Ports
- ADB, 2 serial, SCSI, headphone jack (video via card)
Expansion
- Slots
- Six NuBus slots
Display
- Type
- Separate monitor via 4-bit or 8-bit video card
Software
- Latest supported OS
- System 7.5.5 (Mac OS 7.6.1 with 32-bit upgrade)
Video
- Graphics
- Optional 4-bit or 8-bit video card; 12-inch mono or 13-inch color monitor
Availability
- Announced
- March 2, 1987
- Released
- March 2, 1987
- Discontinued
- January 15, 1990
Colors
- Finishes
- Platinum
How it compares
More in the Macintosh II family
Macintosh IIx
A 68030 upgrade to the Mac II with the SuperDrive as standard.
Macintosh IIcx
A compact, quiet Mac II you could stand on its side.
Macintosh IIci
The workhorse Mac II with built-in video and 25 MHz speed.
Macintosh IIsi
A lower-cost Mac II with sound input and built-in video.