Macintosh IIci
The workhorse Mac II with built-in video and 25 MHz speed.
Overview
The Macintosh IIci kept the compact IIcx case but moved to a 25 MHz 68030 with a 68882 math chip. Its ROM was 32-bit clean, which let later systems address more than 8 MB of RAM without tricks.
It was the first modular Mac with built-in video: a display could connect directly, using a slice of system memory as the frame buffer, which left all three NuBus slots free. A cache card slot allowed a faster memory path, and the cache later became standard.
For a while the IIci was the fastest Mac available and it stayed in production for more than three years, serving as the reliable office machine of the early 1990s. Its case was recycled in the Quadra 700.
Why it mattered
It was the business workhorse of the early 1990s and removed the need for a separate graphics card.
At a glance
- Announced
- September 20, 1989
- Released
- September 20, 1989
- Discontinued
- February 10, 1993
- Launch price
- $6,269
- Chip / processor
- Motorola 68030, 25 MHz
- Storage
- 1.4 MB SuperDrive, 40 or 80 MB hard disk
- Status
- Vintage
Highlights
- Built-in video output
- 25 MHz 68030 with 68882 FPU
- 32-bit clean ROM
- Three NuBus slots and a cache slot
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Chip
- Chip
- Motorola 68030, 25 MHz
- Coprocessor
- Motorola 68882 FPU
Memory
- RAM
- 1 or 4 MB, expandable to 128 MB
- Storage options
- 1.4 MB SuperDrive; internal 40 or 80 MB SCSI hard disk
- Memory type
- 80 ns 30-pin SIMMs
Display
- Type
- External monitor via built-in video (up to 8-bit color)
Expansion
- Slots
- Three NuBus slots, one cache slot
Design
- Dimensions
- 14 x 30 x 37 cm (5.5 x 11.9 x 14.4 in)
- Weight
- 6.2 kg (13.6 lb)
Software
- Launch OS
- System 6.0.4
- Latest supported OS
- Mac OS 7.6.1
Availability
- Announced
- September 20, 1989
- Released
- September 20, 1989
- Discontinued
- February 10, 1993
- Launch price
- $6,269
Colors
- Finishes
- Platinum
How it compares
More in the Macintosh II family
Macintosh II
The first modular, color-capable Mac with six NuBus slots.
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 IIsi
A lower-cost Mac II with sound input and built-in video.