The Apple Macintosh II features a 16 MHz 68020 processor, a 68881 FPU, 1 MB or 4 MB of RAM, a 40 MB or an 80 MB hard drive, and the option of an Apple Macintosh II video card in a large, easy-to-open desktop case.

The Macintosh II was nicknamed the "Open Mac" because of its 6 NuBus slots which made expansion and customization easy. The Macintosh II also was the first color-capable Macintosh and set a new standard for color in the computer industry by supporting true color (16.7 million colors) courtesy of the new Color QuickDraw language in ROM.

• Tech Specs
• Ports

Click on the category for related details. The most commonly needed info is "open" by default, but all info is important.

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Introduction Date:

March 2, 1987

Discontinued Date:

January 15, 1990

Details:

The "Introduction Date" refers to the date a model was introduced via press release. The "Discontinued Date" refers to the date a model either was replaced by a subsequent system or production otherwise ended. Also see: All Macs introduced in 1987.

Processor Speed:

16 MHz

Processor Type:

68020

Details:

This model has a 32-bit processor and a 32-bit data path.

Processor Upgrade:

Third-Party*

FPU:

68881

Details:

*A variety of third-party processor upgrades and accelerators were available.

System Bus Speed:

16 MHz

Cache Bus Speed:

N/A

Details:

N/A

ROM Type:

Macintosh ROM

ROM Size:

256k*

Details:

*The Macintosh II ROM is "32-bit dirty."

L1 Cache:

0.25k

L2 Cache:

N/A

Details:

N/A

RAM Type:

30-pin SIMM*

Min. RAM Speed:

120 ns

Details:

*PAL SIMMs required for 4 MB and larger capacities.

Standard RAM:

1 MB, 4 MB

Maximum RAM:

128 MB*

Details:

*The ROM Is "32-bit dirty" and by default, the Macintosh II with its original ROM only supports 8 MB of RAM (1 MB SIMMs in each of eight slots). With the FDHD upgrade kit, the system is capable of supporting 68 MB of RAM (1 MB SIMMs in bank A and 16 MB SIMMs in bank B). Finally, with 32-bit addressing and the MODE32 system extension this model is capable of supporting 128 MB of RAM (16 MB SIMMs in all eight slots). Also see: Actual Max RAM of All G3 & Later Macs.

Motherboard RAM:

None

RAM Slots:

8*

Details:

*RAM SIMMs must be installed in groups of four.

Video Card:

Video Card*

VRAM Type:

Video Card*

Details:

*The standard video card options for the Macintosh II had either 256k or 512k of VRAM and supported multiple resolutions.

Standard VRAM:

256k, 512k*

Maximum VRAM:

256k, 512k*

Details:

*The standard video card options for the Macintosh II had 256k or 512k of VRAM, but numerous third-party video cards also were available.

Display Support:

Up to 6 Displays*

Resolution Support:

512x384, 640x480*

Details:

*The Macintosh II can support multiple displays -- originally at great cost -- using multiple video cards in NuBus expansion slots. The Macintosh II also can support multiple resolutions, 512x384 and 640x480 are common. Portrait (vertical orientation) displays also were popular.

2nd Display Support:

Dual/Mirroring*

2nd Max. Resolution:

Variable*

Details:

*The Macintosh II can support multiple displays with multiple video cards.

Standard Hard Drive:

40 MB, 80 MB*

Int. HD Interface:

SCSI

Details:

*By default, the Macintosh II was offered with either a 40 MB or an 80 MB 5.25" internal SCSI hard drive.

Standard Optical:

None

Standard Disk:

800k x2 (Auto)*

Details:

*Second floppy drive optional. The Macintosh II FDHD upgrade provided a 1.44 MB disk drive as well as Macintosh IIx ROMs for higher memory capacity.

Standard Modem:

None

Standard Ethernet:

None

Details:

N/A

Expansion Slots:

6 NuBus

Expansion Bays:

None*

Details:

*There are no free expansion bays with dual disk drives and one 5.25" hard drive installed. Third-party products were available to install additional and other storage options.

Case Type:

Desktop

Form Factor:

Macintosh II

Details:

N/A

Apple Order No:

M5333*

Apple Subfamily:

Macintosh II

Details:

*M5333 refers to a configuration with 1 MB of RAM and a single 800k floppy disk drive. Configured with 1 MB of RAM, an 800k floppy drive and a 40 MB hard drive is order number M5430, and configured with 4 MB of RAM, an 800k floppy drive, and a 40 MB hard drive is order number M5410.

Apple Model No:

M5000

Gestalt ID:

6

Details:

N/A Also see: All Macs with the M5000 Model Number and 6 Gestalt ID. For more about identifiers and how to locate them on modern Macs, please refer to EveryMac.com's Mac Identification section.

Battery Type:

3.6V Lithium x2*

Battery Life:

N/A

Details:

*The Macintosh II has two 3.6V Lithium batteries soldered to the motherboard.

Original Mac OS:

2.0

Supported Mac OS:

2.0-7.5.1, 7.5.3-7.5.5

Details:

Earlier and later versions of the Macintosh System/Finder and Mac OS are not supported.

Dimensions:

5.5 x 18.7 x 14.4

Avg. Weight:

24.0 lbs (10.9 kg)

Details:

In inches - height by width by depth, (14 cm, 47.5 cm, 36.6 cm).

Original Price (US):

US$5500

Est. Current Retail:

N/A*

Details:

*As a collector's item, this model may still retain value. Photo Credit: MacUser Magazine (Radius Advertisement).

Click on a category for additional details. The most commonly needed info is "open" by default, but all info is important. The icons correspond with the icons for each port on the computer.

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Video (Monitor):

1*

Floppy (Ext.):

None

Details:

*Video port provided by required video card. No onboard video port.

ADB:

2

SCSI:

1 (DB-25)

Details:

N/A

Serial (Standard):

2

Serial (Geoport):

None

Details:

Serial ports are marked by printer and modem icons.

Modem:

None

Ethernet:

None

Details:

N/A

S-Video Input:

None

S-Video Output:

None

Details:

N/A

Microphone:

None

Sound In:

None

Details:

N/A

Sound Out:

1 (8-Bit Mono)

Headphone:

None

Details:

N/A

Security (Lock):

1

Joystick (PC):

None

Details:

N/A

Power:

1

Power Adapter:

N/A

Details:

90V-270V AC, 48-62 Hz Frequency, 230 Max Watts. Icon Credit: Apple Computer, Inc.

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