Apple Macintosh IIfx vs Apple Macintosh Quadra 900

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Macintosh IIfx compared with Macintosh Quadra 900

	AppleMacintosh IIfx	AppleMacintosh Quadra 900
Overview
Released
Released	1990	October 1991
Performance
Processor
Processor	68030 40 MHz (Macintosh IIfx)	68040 25 MHz (Macintosh Quadra 900)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Memory
Memory	4 MB	4 MB
Storage
Storage	80 MB to 160 MB	160 MB to 400 MB (better)
CPU
CPU	40 MHz Motorola 68030 with integrated memory-management unit and 68882 floating-point coprocessor; 0.5 KB L1 and 32 KB L2 cache	25 MHz Motorola 68040 with integrated memory-management and floating-point units and 8 KB on-chip cache; no standard L2 cache
GPU
GPU	No built-in video; a compatible NuBus video card is required for a display	Built-in video with 1 MB VRAM, expandable to 2 MB; Apple lists 8-bit colour at 640 × 480, 832 × 624 and 1152 × 870 with standard VRAM, and 24-bit at 640 × 480 and 832 × 624 with 2 MB
Memory type
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.	Sixteen 30-pin 80 ns SIMM slots in banks of four, with 4 MB standard. Apple's October 1991 catalogue supported 64 MB using 4 MB SIMMs; its later support sheet lists a 256 MB technical maximum using larger modules but notes 8 MB and 16 MB SIMMs are not supported by Apple. Original UK maker brochure explicitly advertises 256 MB using 16 MB SIMMs; that original maker qualification differs from the later support sheet's unsupported-module note.
Storage type
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	Internal 1.44 MB SuperDrive and optional 160 MB SCSI hard drive at launch; Apple listed a 400 MB version for January 1992. The case supports three further internal SCSI devices, including a removable-media device.
Expansion slots
Expansion slots	Six NuBus slots and one processor-direct slot	Five NuBus '90 slots and one processor-direct slot
Display
Screen
Screen	None built in	None built in
Connections
Ports
Ports	Headphone jack	Ethernet, headphone jack
Back ports
Back ports	Two Apple Desktop Bus ports, DB-25 SCSI, printer and modem serial ports and sound output; no built-in video or Ethernet	Apple Desktop Bus, DB-15 video, DB-25 SCSI, two serial ports, AAUI Ethernet, mono sound input and stereo sound output
External displays
External displays	A NuBus video card is required; resolution and colour depth depend on the fitted card	Built-in video supports Apple's monitor range, with colour depth depending on VRAM and resolution; Apple's launch catalogue also names VGA, NTSC and PAL monitor support
Speakers
Speakers	Internal speaker and sound output	Internal speaker, mono audio input and stereo sound output; Apple supplied a microphone
Design and power
Type
Type	Compact	Tower
Weight
Weight	10.9 kg (better)	16.7 kg
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	475 × 366 × 140 mm	226 × 523 × 473 mm
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Size and weight detail
Size and weight detail	Apple's 5.5 × 18.7 × 14.4 inch and 24 lb reference dimensions; metric fields are rounded conversions	Apple's 18.6 × 8.9 × 20.6 inch dimensions and 36.8 lb weight for the floppy-only model; metric fields are rounded conversions
Power supply
Power supply	Maximum 230 W; 100–240 V AC, 48–62 Hz; 3.6 V lithium clock battery and keyboard soft power	Maximum 303 W, 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz; 3.6 V lithium clock battery and keyboard soft power
In the box
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 Software 7.0.1, microphone and ADB mouse; Apple's October 1991 catalogue says the keyboard was sold separately