Macintosh IIfx

The Macintosh IIfx was a Macintosh model from Apple Computer, introduced on March 19, 1990 as its flagship system, and discontinued on April 15, 1992.

History
At introduction it cost from 9,000 to 12,000, depending on configuration, earning it the derisive nickname "F##king eXpensive". However, it is now worth only a few hundred dollars US. The rapid acceleration of future Macs introduced after the IIfx, and the general depreciation of new, high-tech Macs, were factors contributing to the rapid depreciation of the IIfx. In China, a Mac IIfx went for well over 100,000 — well beyond the reach of the vast majority of Chinese in the early 1990s.

It was the fastest Macintosh on record when it debuted in 1990, and it stayed that way until the Macintosh Quadra was introduced in 1991.

Features
Apple called the computer "wicked fast", as it ran at a clock rate of a then-astounding 40 MHz, had 32KB of Level 2 cache, and included various complicated tweaks that were included in the name of speed. Interesting to note is that when Apple said 40 MHz, they really meant it. That speed referred to both the main logic board clock, as well as the speed of both processors (a Motorola 68030 CPU and a Motorola 68882 FPU).

The IIfx featured specialized high-speed RAM using 64-pin SIMMs, at a time when all other Macintosh models used 30-pin SIMMs. The extra pins were a separate path to allow latched read and write operations. The IIfx also included two special dedicated processors for sound and serial communications. These I/O chips featured a pair of 6502 CPUs, meaning that this Mac also had the core of two Apple II machines inside it (albeit at 10 MHz rather than the 1 MHz of the Apple II). However the machine's architecture did not expose these CPUs to developers. It made it a great choice for high-end applications, including 3D, professional DTP, and science-heavy applications. The integrated 32K static L2 cache also adds to the speed of the IIfx.

The IIfx used SCSI as its hard disk interface, as had all previous Macintosh models since the Macintosh Plus. However, the IIfx used a special SCSI chip for faster throughput, but required a special black-colored SCSI terminator for external drives. The power supply unit looks similar to the one used in the Macintosh II and IIx, but it contains a larger variable-speed fan that operates with less noise.

The IIfx contained a processor direct slot that was visually similar to the one in the Macintosh IIci, but differences in pinouts and bus mastering resulted in very limited use. However, a Dash 30fx custom upgrade overclocked it to 50-55 MHz. Radius Rockets could also be used in the NuBus slots to add Motorola 68040 processors that could independently operate on their own.

The IIfx was the apex of Apple's 68030 machines, and was replaced at the top of Apple's lineup by the Macintosh Quadra series.

Included software
* built-in to the system after May 1991
 * System 6.0.5 (March-October 1990) 6.0.7 (October 1990-May 1991) 7.0 (May-October 1991) 7.0.1 (after October 1991)
 * Finder 6.1.5 (March-October 1990) 6.1.7 (October 1990 - May 1991) 7.0 (May-October 1991) 7.0.1 (after October 1991)
 * Multifinder 6.0.5 (March-October 1990) 6.0.7 (October 1990-May 1991)*
 * LaserWriter 5.2 (March 1990-May 1991) 7.0 (May-October 1991) 7.1.1 (after October 1991)

Easter eggs
If you reset the IIfx to its date of its introduction — March 19, 1990 — and set the screen to 256 colors, then restart holding down command-option-F-X, you will be treated to a digitized color picture of the design team that made the Macintosh IIfx.