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Some questions about Mac IIFX
- Thread starter Joad
- Start date
The IIfx is a really cool machine, and I'd like to get one myself, but it can be a difficult old mac to own. The ram is unique to the IIfx, it's unlike the ram for any other mac or pc and can be hard and expensive to get. This may not be an issue if the one you are buying has lots of ram. The fx also requires its own special scsi terminator, which can make hooking up external scsi devices a chore.
Is it worth $320? That depends on you. It seems a little high to me, but I haven't really been looking. It is fairly rare and quite desirable, so that price may be in line with what they're going for.
Is it worth $320? That depends on you. It seems a little high to me, but I haven't really been looking. It is fairly rare and quite desirable, so that price may be in line with what they're going for.
I think a IIfx is a very worthy addition to a collection, and one I am saving up for as well. It is the last of the big box desktops, and (if we don't include Quadra 700 in the cx series case) the most powerful in the series. Plus you get that super sexy dual floppy staring right at you. It has some nuances that make maintenance harder, like the 64-pin SIMMs, and the special unobtainium SCSI terminators. Recent sold units on eBay have fetched between 150 and 700 dollars. Depending on the condition of the IIfx, and any accessories included, I might entertain a 320 price point for a really good example, but would really look for something under 200.
Is it worth the price depends on the buyer really. Not too long ago you could get one under $50, who knows what they will cost in 10 years. 8MB of RAM is enough for most tasks on an 030, 32MB is what I have in both of mine and that's enough for all I do with them (massive amount compared to what they shipped with).
IIfx and 840AV are going to be the most collectable desktops so finding either one at a good price is a good idea.
IIfx and 840AV are going to be the most collectable desktops so finding either one at a good price is a good idea.
Worth it? Yes. I own one. And if it needs a recap, chances are it will, it's only 3 caps. One small one and 2 large ones.
The Mac IIfx is known as the Bull Moose Mac, and is one of the most powerful Mac made to date of the time and up to the Quadra 950 in terms of speed and expandability. Yes, there were faster Macs between the IIfx and the 950, like the Q700, but you only have 2 expansion slots compared to 6 on the IIfx.
Just look at the basics:
'030 40MHz CPU with matching FPU.
6 NuBus Expansion Slots.
200Watt(?) PSU.
Clean 32Bit ROMs.
It is a wickedly fast machine. And I own a Q950, and I can tell you that it is fast.
Now, is it worth $350? What condition is it in? What system it has? How much RAM? What Software is on it? How is the case itself? I would say that $300 is for just a base machine - working with a minimum of 8megs of RAM, with one 1 floppy drive and a 1gb hard drive. System 7.1 should be the minimum system on it though it can run System 6.
The Mac IIfx is known as the Bull Moose Mac, and is one of the most powerful Mac made to date of the time and up to the Quadra 950 in terms of speed and expandability. Yes, there were faster Macs between the IIfx and the 950, like the Q700, but you only have 2 expansion slots compared to 6 on the IIfx.
Just look at the basics:
'030 40MHz CPU with matching FPU.
6 NuBus Expansion Slots.
200Watt(?) PSU.
Clean 32Bit ROMs.
It is a wickedly fast machine. And I own a Q950, and I can tell you that it is fast.
Now, is it worth $350? What condition is it in? What system it has? How much RAM? What Software is on it? How is the case itself? I would say that $300 is for just a base machine - working with a minimum of 8megs of RAM, with one 1 floppy drive and a 1gb hard drive. System 7.1 should be the minimum system on it though it can run System 6.
Hi, when I got my IIfx I found out that the nubus videocard (it doesnt have built in graphics) didnt work well with newer lcd monitors. In some cases the odd resolutions (1152x882, 1152x870, 832x624 or even worse 704x512) didnt scale well, in other cases the refresh rate at certain resolutions was not supported and left the screen black. Eventually I got a really old Sony tft with a VGA port and it worked ok. Later I switched the ancient Radius card to a newer Thunder IV GX, wich is THE card to get if you are lucky to find it. With it you get "fast" quickdraw acceleration, 24bit 1280x1024 or even 1600x1200 with the highend version.
I had to by two though, since the first was afflicted with artifacts and flickering.
I had to by two though, since the first was afflicted with artifacts and flickering.
I still have a few IIfx terminators.
I think your best bet would be a Macintosh IIx. Relatively cheap to fill out the RAM, and you can easily upgrade the CPU to a faster 030 or even an 040. Overall, with upgrades, I think a IIx would be faster and possibly cheaper than a IIfx with a decent amount of RAM.
I've been on the lookout for a long while for a boxed IIx. It's the only machine that would replace my IIci, and only because it has 6 NuBUS slots (which I would like.) I'm 1 NuBUS slot short of my ideal setup. I'd even settle for a boxed II and a IIx motherboard, since that was an upgrade path.
I think your best bet would be a Macintosh IIx. Relatively cheap to fill out the RAM, and you can easily upgrade the CPU to a faster 030 or even an 040. Overall, with upgrades, I think a IIx would be faster and possibly cheaper than a IIfx with a decent amount of RAM.
I've been on the lookout for a long while for a boxed IIx. It's the only machine that would replace my IIci, and only because it has 6 NuBUS slots (which I would like.) I'm 1 NuBUS slot short of my ideal setup. I'd even settle for a boxed II and a IIx motherboard, since that was an upgrade path.
Hi,
I have a IIfx but mine came with 32MB RAM and the black terminator. Mine cost me the equivalent of $1 along with transport costs. I wouldn't get one now. If you do want one and you're prepared to pay over $200, I'd look on eBay in Germany and the U.K. I have seen them go there for around £70 and the like. The shipping will be around $100. It'll need re-capping anyway.
If you want a System 6 Mac II, then get yourself a Mac IIci. These are also desirable and $100 should get you one. The IIci is wonderfully expandable and the parts turn up more often than IIfx parts.
As for NuBus cards, all you really need is a network card and a good-ish graphics card - like the LeMans card or the Thunder GT - and you've a spare slot for an AudioMedia or other card.
Good luck with your search,
aa
I have a IIfx but mine came with 32MB RAM and the black terminator. Mine cost me the equivalent of $1 along with transport costs. I wouldn't get one now. If you do want one and you're prepared to pay over $200, I'd look on eBay in Germany and the U.K. I have seen them go there for around £70 and the like. The shipping will be around $100. It'll need re-capping anyway.
If you want a System 6 Mac II, then get yourself a Mac IIci. These are also desirable and $100 should get you one. The IIci is wonderfully expandable and the parts turn up more often than IIfx parts.
As for NuBus cards, all you really need is a network card and a good-ish graphics card - like the LeMans card or the Thunder GT - and you've a spare slot for an AudioMedia or other card.
Good luck with your search,
aa
You're forgetting the SCSI 2 Card, that leaves the IIci wanting at least another slot for any kind of content production work. Back in the day you could just squeak by using IIci onboard video, but that grew more and more pathetic from early to mid-nineties standards. Six slots, there are no substitutes!
The pet IIfx is my favorite toy for NuBus playtime, edging out the Radius 81/110 by a hair. 8MB is probably enough, the 32MB I have is plenty.
If you're only going to have just one box from the era, the IIci is the probably the most authentic as it was ubiquitous in THE DTP workhorse role, but the IIfx is a quirky Thoroughbred in a 40MHz '030 system bus class by itself. Gotta love it.
The pet IIfx is my favorite toy for NuBus playtime, edging out the Radius 81/110 by a hair. 8MB is probably enough, the 32MB I have is plenty.
If you're only going to have just one box from the era, the IIci is the probably the most authentic as it was ubiquitous in THE DTP workhorse role, but the IIfx is a quirky Thoroughbred in a 40MHz '030 system bus class by itself. Gotta love it.
I'm nearly there for my ideal IIci setup: Daystar 040, Radius Rocket, and FWB SCSI. The only thing I don't have that I really want is a Radius Thunder IV GX.
I have a Supermac Thunder II GX, but my Radius Rocket doesn't accelerate it. I'm also disappointed that I can't use 16 colors with the card like you can with the Radius Thunder, which breaks several of my games. So I've had to resort back to my little red Radius card.
If I had a IIx, I'd have 3x Radius Rockets, Radius Thunder IV GX, and an FWB SCSI card.
I don't bother with the ethernet card because I have a FastPath IV to convert all my machines' AppleTalk to MacIP, and nothing I have for my vintage Macs warrants needing ethernet. If I have anything that big, I'll just copy it over via my MO drive.
Only way, personally, that I'd even bother with a IIfx is if I stumbled upon a TokaMac 040 upgrade. I'd then pay top dollar for a IIfx.
I have a Supermac Thunder II GX, but my Radius Rocket doesn't accelerate it. I'm also disappointed that I can't use 16 colors with the card like you can with the Radius Thunder, which breaks several of my games. So I've had to resort back to my little red Radius card.
If I had a IIx, I'd have 3x Radius Rockets, Radius Thunder IV GX, and an FWB SCSI card.
I don't bother with the ethernet card because I have a FastPath IV to convert all my machines' AppleTalk to MacIP, and nothing I have for my vintage Macs warrants needing ethernet. If I have anything that big, I'll just copy it over via my MO drive.
Only way, personally, that I'd even bother with a IIfx is if I stumbled upon a TokaMac 040 upgrade. I'd then pay top dollar for a IIfx.
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OldPigeon: I have a IIx, if you're interested?
It requires new batteries, a recapping, and some new RAM slots (the clips are mostly broken) to get it operational, and some TLC with the case (the hold down for the PSU is shattered, and the clips that hold the front edge down are broken)to get it into tip-top shape. Definitely a fixer-upper.
It's yours if you want it.
c
p.s. Did I offer it to you once before? I don't think so, but I did offer it to someone at one point; I just can't remember who it was....
It requires new batteries, a recapping, and some new RAM slots (the clips are mostly broken) to get it operational, and some TLC with the case (the hold down for the PSU is shattered, and the clips that hold the front edge down are broken)to get it into tip-top shape. Definitely a fixer-upper.
It's yours if you want it.
c
p.s. Did I offer it to you once before? I don't think so, but I did offer it to someone at one point; I just can't remember who it was....
It is not worth it. Save your $320 and get a 900 series Quadra instead. Hell, even a Quadra 700 would be better over that 40mhz bleeding edge piece of crap.
Like mentioned the ram is proprietary. 8mb is nice when it's just the OS installed but once you start adding and customizing things you will run out pretty fast. I hope you were not planning on using it for Photoshop. Sure, more ram is an option but expect a bump to even 16mb to cost you half of what you paid for the machine.
If you are so demanding of an 030 machine just get a IIci. They're nasty and everyone overappreciates them but they are 32-bit "clean" machines and a lot more common.
The only reason I have seen so far to justify owning a IIfx was when you either had all the components to upgrade the snot out of it beforehand or you had a $5000 MacIvory card. Otherwise I suggest you avoid them at all cost.
Like mentioned the ram is proprietary. 8mb is nice when it's just the OS installed but once you start adding and customizing things you will run out pretty fast. I hope you were not planning on using it for Photoshop. Sure, more ram is an option but expect a bump to even 16mb to cost you half of what you paid for the machine.
If you are so demanding of an 030 machine just get a IIci. They're nasty and everyone overappreciates them but they are 32-bit "clean" machines and a lot more common.
The only reason I have seen so far to justify owning a IIfx was when you either had all the components to upgrade the snot out of it beforehand or you had a $5000 MacIvory card. Otherwise I suggest you avoid them at all cost.
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LOL! The IIfx or the IIx? ;D
The 700/900 are the beginning of the next period, interesting as well, but hardly unique.
Dunno, I don't think the point is to run the most powerful Mac overall, it's to have a period piece. The initial post asks about the fastest of the II series and that would be the IIfx with all its foibles. They make it a very interesting Mac indeed. While 8MB may not seem like much now, it's twice the standard IIfx config. This from an era of very expensive memory when its IIci stablemate was shipping with a mere 1MB allotment. Wicked fast was half the story, when it shipped the IIfx was the fastest Micro on the planet and for most purposes, upgrades outside of a more capable Video Card to run a TPD as a second monitor in 24bit weren't required for even high end applications such as CAD or DTP.
The 700/900 are the beginning of the next period, interesting as well, but hardly unique.
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700's unique in that it's the first '040 and the last Apple professional desktop to ship without an internal optical drive option for twenty two years.
I have never seen IIfx ram sell for sub-$100 in a capacity like that. It always has been and always will be expensive.
While I admit building the Absolutely Apple IIfx setup was fun that took me a decade to accumulate everything but the machine itself.
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