Apple Macintosh IIci vs Apple Macintosh IIfx

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Macintosh IIci compared with Macintosh IIfx

	AppleMacintosh IIci	AppleMacintosh IIfx
Overview
Released
Released	September 1989	1990
Performance
Processor
Processor	68030 25 MHz (Macintosh IIci)	68030 40 MHz (Macintosh IIfx)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Memory
Memory	1 MB	4 MB (better)
Storage
Storage	40 MB	80 MB to 160 MB (better)
CPU
CPU	25 MHz Motorola 68030 with integrated memory management and 68882 floating-point coprocessor; 0.5 KB L1 cache	40 MHz Motorola 68030 with integrated memory-management unit and 68882 floating-point coprocessor; 0.5 KB L1 and 32 KB L2 cache
GPU
GPU	Built-in video uses 64–320 KB of system RAM and supports 8-bit colour at 512 × 384 or 640 × 480; NuBus graphics cards can also be fitted	No built-in video; a compatible NuBus video card is required for a display
Memory type
Memory type	Eight 30-pin SIMM slots in two banks of four; 80 ns fast-page memory, 1–128 MB supported by Apple; 512 KB ROM	Eight 64-pin SIMM slots in banks of four, using 80 ns or faster memory; Apple lists 4–128 MB and a 512 KB ROM. The 64-pin modules are specific to the IIfx.
Storage type
Storage type	Internal 1.44 MB floppy drive and space for one 40 or 80 MB SCSI hard drive; Low End Mac documents an original floppy-only offering and a 40 MB hard-drive configuration	One or two internal 1.44 MB floppy drives, with optional 40–160 MB SCSI hard drives; 4 MB floppy-only, 80 MB and 160 MB configurations are represented here
Expansion slots
Expansion slots	Three NuBus slots plus a cache/processor-direct connector; Apple's later support sheet lists 32 KB L2 cache, while its original developer note calls the cache card optional	Six NuBus slots and one processor-direct slot
Display
Screen
Screen	None built in	None built in
Connections
Ports
Ports	Headphone jack	Headphone jack
Back ports
Back ports	Two Apple Desktop Bus ports, DB-15 video, DB-19 external floppy, DB-25 SCSI, printer and modem serial ports and stereo sound output; no built-in Ethernet	Two Apple Desktop Bus ports, DB-25 SCSI, printer and modem serial ports and sound output; no built-in video or Ethernet
External displays
External displays	Built-in video supports Apple's 12-inch monochrome, 13-inch RGB and 15-inch portrait displays; other displays require a compatible NuBus card	A NuBus video card is required; resolution and colour depth depend on the fitted card
Speakers
Speakers	Internal speaker and stereo 8-bit sound output	Internal speaker and sound output
Design and power
Type
Type	Compact	Compact
Weight
Weight	6.2 kg (better)	10.9 kg
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	302 × 366 × 140 mm	475 × 366 × 140 mm
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Size and weight detail
Size and weight detail	Apple's 5.5 × 11.9 × 14.4 inch and 13.6 lb reference dimensions; metric fields are rounded conversions	Apple's 5.5 × 18.7 × 14.4 inch and 24 lb reference dimensions; metric fields are rounded conversions
Power supply
Power supply	Maximum 159 W; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz; 3.6 V lithium clock battery and keyboard soft power	Maximum 230 W; 100–240 V AC, 48–62 Hz; 3.6 V lithium clock battery and keyboard soft power
In the box
In the box	Original System Software 6.0.4. Apple lists 20 September 1989 as introduction; Low End Mac reports September availability without a separate first-sale day	Original System Software 6.0.5. Apple lists 19 March 1990 as introduction; a separate maker first-sale date was not established.