Macintosh II Macintosh II

Macintosh II Explained

On March 2, 1987, Apple introduced the Macintosh II, a personal computer that marked a significant step forward in the Macintosh series. The Macintosh II was designed, manufactured, and sold by Apple from 1987 to 1990 and was considered a powerful and versatile computer at the time.

The Macintosh II was powered by a 16 MHz Motorola 68020 processor and featured a Motorola 68881 FPU coprocessor, providing users with a significant boost in performance. Additionally, the Macintosh II came with 1 MB or 4 MB of RAM, 40 MB or 80 MB hard drive, and two 800 KB Floppy drives. There was also an option for a Macintosh II video card for users who needed more advanced graphics capabilities.

At its launch, the Macintosh II had a starting price of $5,498, which was considered quite expensive at the time. However, the Macintosh II was well-received by users and was considered a solid investment for professionals and businesses.

Unfortunately, on January 15, 1990, Apple discontinued the Macintosh II. Today, the Macintosh II is 37 years old and is considered a classic piece of technology from the 80s. While it may not be as powerful as today’s computers, the Macintosh II was a significant step forward in the development of the Macintosh II series and helped pave the way for future innovations.

Macintosh II Details

IntroducedMarch 2, 1987
DiscontinuedJanuary 15, 1990
Model Identifier6
Model NumberM5000
Order NumberM5333
M5430
M5410
Original Price$5,498
ColorsPlatinum
Weight24 Ibs.
10.886 KG
Dimensions5.5” H x 18.7” W x 14.4” D
13.97 cm H x 47.49 cm W x 36.57 cm D

Mac II Tech Specs

Processor

ProcessorMotorola 68020
Processor Speed16 MHz
Architecture32-bit
Number of Cores1
System Bus16 MHz
Cache0.25 KB L1
CoprocessorMotorola 68881 FPU

Storage & Media

Storage40 MB or 80 MB (Optional)
Media2 x 800 KB Floppy

Memory

Built-in Memory1 MB
4 MB
Maximum Memory20 MB (68 MB via FDHD upgrade kit)
Memory Slots8 – 30 pin SIMMs (Groups of 4)
(4 MB or larger modules must be PAL SIMMs)
Minimum Speed120 ns
ROMUnknown
Interleaving SupportNo

Display

Built-in DisplayNone

Graphics

Graphics CardNone
Graphics MemoryNone
Display ConnectionUnknown

Expansion

Expansion Slots6 – NuBus
Hard Drive InterfaceSCSI

Connections

EthernetNone
ModemNone
ADB2
Serial2
SCSI1 – DB-25
Floppy PortNone
Audio InNone
Audio Out1 – 3.5-mm stereo output jack
DisplayUnknown

Accessories

  • Macintosh Mouse
  • Standard Keyboard
  • AppleColor High-Resolution RGB Monitor (Optional)

Software

Original OSMacintosh System Software 0.7
Maximum OSSystem 7.5.5
FirmwareMacintosh ROM

Power

Backup Battery3.6 V lithium
Maximum Continuous Power230 W
Line VoltageUnknown

Further Reading and References

Disclaimer: The data presented in this article is under continuous development and has been manually collected from various sources based on their availability. The author of this article may revise this dataset as additional research is conducted and reviewed. Please note that the information is provided “as is” and “as available” without express or implied warranties. The author cannot be held responsible for any omissions, inaccuracies, or errors in the published information. Any warranties relating to this information are hereby disclaimed.

Last updated: April 30, 2023