Apple Macintosh IIfx vs Apple Macintosh LC III+
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleMacintosh IIfx | AppleMacintosh LC III+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | 1990 | – |
| Performance | ||
| Processor | 68030 40 MHz (Macintosh IIfx) | 68030 33 MHz (Macintosh LC III+) |
| CPU cores | 1 | 1 |
| Memory | 4 MB | 4 MB |
| Storage | 80 MB to 160 MB | – |
| CPU | 40 MHz Motorola 68030 with integrated memory-management unit and 68882 floating-point coprocessor; 0.5 KB L1 and 32 KB L2 cache | Motorola 68030 at 33 MHz with integrated memory management and 32-bit data path; optional socketed 68882, 0.5 KB first-level cache and no second-level cache. Apple Service Guide identifies the Performa 460, 466 and 467 as the 33 MHz LC III family; these aliases are not separate product records |
| GPU | No built-in video; a compatible NuBus video card is required for a display | 512 KB built-in VRAM, expandable to 768 KB with a 256 KB SIMM. A 512 KB VRAM SIMM may be fitted but only 256 KB is used. At 640 × 480 and 832 × 624, standard memory supports 8-bit colour; upgraded VRAM supports 16-bit colour |
| Memory type | 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. | 4 MB soldered RAM plus one 72-pin SIMM socket, maximum 36 MB. Apple specifies 80 ns minimum memory speed and SIMM capacities 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 or 32 MB. 1 MB ROM |
| Storage type | 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 | Apple LC III+ support lists 80–160 MB internal SCSI hard disks and an automatic-inject 1.44 MB floppy drive. Exact original RAM/drive configuration pairing is unresolved, so structured storage capacity is omitted. Apple July 1994 Service Guide gives conflicting 80 MB and 180 MB values for Performa 460 in different tables; those are not silently assigned to this model. Performa 460-series bundles use a manual-insert SuperDrive |
| Expansion slots | Six NuBus slots and one processor-direct slot | One LC III processor-direct expansion slot. Ethernet requires an expansion card; no built-in Ethernet |
| Display | ||
| Screen | None built in | None built in |
| Connections | ||
| Ports | Headphone jack | Headphone jack |
| Back ports | Two Apple Desktop Bus ports, DB-25 SCSI, printer and modem serial ports and sound output; no built-in video or Ethernet | One ADB, DB-15 video, DB-25 SCSI, printer and modem serial ports, omnidirectional microphone input and speaker output. No external floppy connector |
| External displays | A NuBus video card is required; resolution and colour depth depend on the fitted card | Separate monitor required. Apple specifies 512 × 384 and 640 × 400 at 16-bit colour, plus 640 × 480 and 832 × 624 with colour depth depending on VRAM capacity |
| Keyboard and mouse | – | Performa 460-series bundles include an ADB keyboard and mouse and may include a monitor and modem; the museum photo shows the Performa 460-labelled computer alone. Exact LC III+ supplied-accessory bundle is unpublished in the recovered support record |
| Speakers | Internal speaker and sound output | – |
| Design and power | ||
| Type | Compact | Compact |
| Weight | 10.9 kg | – |
| Width × depth × height | 475 × 366 × 140 mm | – |
| Operating system | macOS | macOS |
| Size and weight detail | Apple's 5.5 × 18.7 × 14.4 inch and 24 lb reference dimensions; metric fields are rounded conversions | Apple LC III+ record publishes 8.8 lb and 2.9 inches high × 12.2 inches wide × 15.3 inches deep. Unpublished metric measurements are omitted |
| Power supply | Maximum 230 W; 100–240 V AC, 48–62 Hz; 3.6 V lithium clock battery and keyboard soft power | Apple LC III+ support lists 100–240 V, 47–63 Hz, 50 W maximum, 0.42 A and 171 BTU/hour. These are maker ratings, not measured consumption. 3.6 V lithium clock battery |
| In the box | Original System Software 6.0.5. Apple lists 19 March 1990 as introduction; a separate maker first-sale date was not established. | Original System 7.1 with System Enabler 003 v1.1. Apple introduction date 18 October 1993 is not established as an actual first retail sale, so released is omitted |
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