Apple Macintosh IIfx computer processing unit
Date: circa 1990
Inventory Number: 1999-1-0014a
Classification: Computer
Subject:
Maker: Apple Computer Inc. (1976-present)
User: Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments, Harvard University (founded 1948)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
City of Use:
Dimensions:
14.8 × 47.5 × 36.4 cm (5 13/16 × 18 11/16 × 14 5/16 in.)
Accessories: Apple extended keyboard (1999-1-0014b); Apple desktop bus mouse (1999-1-0014c); Allied Telesis Ethernet transceiver (1999-1-0014d )
DescriptionMain system unit of the Macintosh IIfx computer is a beige plastic rectangular box with two disc drives on the right-hand side of the front panel. The main system unit contains the core memory, hard drive and mother board and central processing unit. A vertical line ventilation grating is cut into the faces of the box. There is a band of shorter vertical lines cut around the entire bottom perimeter of the box.
The power button is located at the bottom left-hand corner of the back panel of the box. Above it is a long skinny beige button that opens the top of the case. Next to this button is a serial number and barcode on a white vertical strip. There is a ventilation and fan grate panel occupying most of the left half of the back panel. There are six connection jacks underneath it. The jacks, from left to right, are as follows: round audio jack (for speakers or headphones), two round jacks for plugs with four round pins and one rectangular pin (for mouse and keyboard), two round jacks for plugs with eight round pins (for printer and cable modem jack), one long trapezoidal jack with two rows of round pins, thirteen on top and twelve on the bottom with a tightening screw hole on either side (for twenty-fine pin D-subminiature plugs).
On the right hand side of the panel are six vertical panels for other optional connection jacks, each covered with a beige panel. The right-most two panels are removed, each revealing a fifteen pin D-subminiature connector. The external ethernet transceiver that accompanies this instrument attaches to one of these (1999-1-0014d). The leftmost open panel also provides a cable jack. There are two, power cable connection jacks, one female, and one male, next at the rightmost end of the back panel.
The power button is located at the bottom left-hand corner of the back panel of the box. Above it is a long skinny beige button that opens the top of the case. Next to this button is a serial number and barcode on a white vertical strip. There is a ventilation and fan grate panel occupying most of the left half of the back panel. There are six connection jacks underneath it. The jacks, from left to right, are as follows: round audio jack (for speakers or headphones), two round jacks for plugs with four round pins and one rectangular pin (for mouse and keyboard), two round jacks for plugs with eight round pins (for printer and cable modem jack), one long trapezoidal jack with two rows of round pins, thirteen on top and twelve on the bottom with a tightening screw hole on either side (for twenty-fine pin D-subminiature plugs).
On the right hand side of the panel are six vertical panels for other optional connection jacks, each covered with a beige panel. The right-most two panels are removed, each revealing a fifteen pin D-subminiature connector. The external ethernet transceiver that accompanies this instrument attaches to one of these (1999-1-0014d). The leftmost open panel also provides a cable jack. There are two, power cable connection jacks, one female, and one male, next at the rightmost end of the back panel.
Signedin black letters next to rainbow apple logo on main system unit front panel: Macintosh IIfx
Inscribedhand-written in black ink on a white label in bottom lefthand corner of main system unit front panel: CHSI 1
in black letters underneath barcode on back panel of main system unit: F3104MN9C41
in black letters underneath barcode on back panel of main system unit: F3104MN9C41
FunctionThe Macintosh IIfx is a re-programmable, electric, digital, stored-program personal desktop computer which is usually used to perform repetitive computations (as opposed to following a single long list of instructions). As such, its function is extremely variable and flexible. This particular device, however, was used by the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments. Click here for a complete description of the Macintosh IIfx, its improvements over other designs and its compatibility information.
Macintosh's outline of the IIfx's technical specifications is available here.
Macintosh's outline of the IIfx's technical specifications is available here.
Historical AttributesBelonged to and used by the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments.
ProvenanceFrom the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments.