Low End Mac Reader Specials
Download Typestyler, still the Ultimate Styling Tool for Internet, Print and Video Graphics. Works great in Classic with a Native OS X Version on the way. Free Tryout: www.typestyler.com
LA Computer Company: LA Computer Company: Specials on AppleCare, Apple Displays, MacBooks, iMac's, MacBook Pros, Laptop and iPod accessories and more. Apple A/C Adapters for laptops starting at $25.00 Call 1-800-941-7654 or Click Here.
OWC: OWC Mercury On-The-Go FW400/800/USB2/eSATA Portables High Performance A/V Rated, **Bus Powered** **Up to 500GB in the Palm of your Hand** Macworld Editor's Choice, CNET 'Very Good' - from $75.99!
Mac users can finally play Party Poker for Mac. Not only that, they can also learn how to play PokerStars for Mac.
Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.
Compare products like desktop computers, laptops, and LCD TVs side by side! All the information and reviews to make the best purchasing decision for a new cell phone GPS products or MP3 players. The Ciao network makes searching products easy for you.
New iMac 800Mhz Memory 4GB $98, 2GB $50. Click to Maximize your Macs...
Macintosh IIfx
Dan Knight - 1999.12.24
Second Class Macs are Apple's more compromised hardware designs. For the most part, they're not really bad - simply designs unable to work as well as they should have.
I resisted adding the Macintosh IIfx to the Second Class Macs list for a long time, but I finally concluded that it does belong on the same list as the upgrade-challenged IIsi.
Like the IIsi, the IIfx is a very competent machine. In fact, until
the Quadra 700 came out, it 
was by far the fastest computer Apple made. In fact, until a
lot of applications were recompiled for the 68040, they ran faster on
the IIfx than on any Quadra!
The IIfx was the first Mac to earn the label "wicked fast" - which it was. And it's still a very competent performer.
So what makes it a Limited Mac?
- SCSI voodoo: Some SCSI devices will work just fine (I've had very good luck using drives with active termination), but others have not been so fortunate. The IIfx needed a special "black" SCSI terminator for most devices, a terminator unique to the IIfx and difficult to find if lost.
- Memory: This was Apple's only computer to use very fast memory with latched read and write. The 64-pin SIMMs are harder to find every year. If you are in the market for a IIfx, be sure you can locate memory before you buy one.
- No upgrade path: There were a few accelerators that could boost the IIfx into the 45-55 MHz range, but it was the last Mac to use the big six-slot Mac II case.
- Unfilled promises: The IIfx had a pair of helper chips (10 MHz 6502 CPUs) designed to process I/O while leaving the 40 MHz 68030 free from handling I/O, but the OS was never optimized for this technology.
The IIfx is an incredible machine (we also rate it a best buy on the used market). It has six NuBus
slots, room for a 5.25" hard drive, a 40 MHz system bus, a built-in
level 2 cache (Apple's first), and room for 128 MB of memory - if you
can find it. It's a powerful server and still a very decent user's
machine. If not for the SCSI and memory issues, it wouldn't be
listed as a Second Class Mac. 
Details
- introduced March 1990 at $9,900; discontinued April 1992
- requires System 6.0.5 to 7.6.1
- CPU: 40 MHz 68030
- FPU: 68882 FPU
- bus: 40 MHz - fastest until Quadra 840av
- performance: 6.8, relative to SE; 4.60, MacBench 2.0 CPU; 11.45,
Speedometer 3.06; 0.71, Speedometer 4; 10.0 MIPS
see Benchmarks: IIfx for more details - ROM: 512 KB
- RAM: 4 MB, expandable to 128 MB using both 4-SIMM banks of 80ns 64-pin memory; can use 1 MB, 4 MB, 8 MB, and 16 MB SIMMs (the IIfx was the only Mac to use 64-pin SIMMs)
- video: requires video card
- L2 cache: 32 KB
- ADB: 2 ports for keyboard and mouse
- serial: 2 DIN-8 RS-422 ports on back of computer
- SCSI: DB-25 connector on back of computer
- six NuBus slots; 1 PDS slot (inline with a NuBus slot)
- size (HxWxD): 5.5" x 18.7" x 14.5"
- weight: 24 lb.
- PRAM battery: 3.6V half-AA
- Gestalt ID: 13
- addressing: 24-bit or 32-bit
- upgrade path: none
About LEM | Support | Usage | Privacy | Contacts
Have a question?
Ask an expert!
Navigation
Used Mac Dealers
Apple History
Best Used Macs
Video Cards
Email Lists
InfoMac's Low
End Mac Forum
Favorite Sites
MacSurfer
MacMinute
MacInTouch
MyAppleMenu
InfoMac
Macs Only!
The Mac Observer
Accelerate Your Mac
RetroMacCast
PB Central
MacWindows
The Vintage Mac
Museum
DealMac
DealsOnTheWeb
Mac2Sell
ramseeker
Mac Driver Museum
JAG's House
System
6 Heaven
System 7 Today
the pickle's Low-End
Mac FAQ
Abandonware
Petition
Mac vs. PC Info
Affiliates
The Apple
Store
Mac
Connection
MacMall
TechRestore
MacResQ
ExperCom
Crucial
Memory
batteries.com
Advertise
