NeXTcube
The base NeXTcube model
DeveloperNeXT
ManufacturerNeXT, Fremont, California plant
TypeWorkstation
Release dateSeptember 18, 1990 (1990-09-18)
Introductory priceUS$7,995 (equivalent to about $17,910 in 2022)
Discontinued1993 (1993)
Operating systemNeXTSTEP, OPENSTEP, NetBSD (limited support)
CPUMotorola 68040 @ 25 MHz, 56001 digital signal processor (DSP)
Memory8–64 MB
Storage400 MB, 1.4 GB or 2.8 GB SCSI drive
2.88 MB floppy drive
Display1120×832 2-bpp grayscale
Dimensions1-foot (305 mm) die-cast magnesium cube-shaped case
PredecessorNeXT Computer
SuccessorNeXTcube Turbo

The NeXTcube is a high-end workstation computer developed, manufactured, and sold by NeXT from 1990 until 1993. It superseded the original NeXT Computer workstation and is housed in a similar cube-shaped magnesium enclosure, designed by frog design. The workstation runs the NeXTSTEP operating system and was launched with a US$7,995 list price.[1]

Hardware

The NeXTcube is the successor to the original NeXT Computer. It differs from its predecessor in having a 68040 processor, a hard disk in place of the magneto-optical drive, and a floppy disk drive. NeXT offered a 68040 system board upgrade (and NeXTSTEP 2.0) for US$1,495 (equivalent to $3,350 in 2022). A 33 MHz NeXTcube Turbo was later produced.

NeXT released the NeXTdimension for the NeXTcube, a circuit board based on an Intel i860 processor, which offers 32-bit PostScript color display and video-sampling features.

The Pyro accelerator board increases the speed of a NeXTcube by replacing the standard 25 MHz processor with a 50 MHz one.[2][3]

Specifications

NeXTcube with original screen, keyboard and mouse
The mainboard of the NeXTcube with Motorola 68040 at the lower edge. To the right are the interfaces, to the left the system bus. In the enlarged version of the image, most chips and connectors are described.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Webster, Bruce F. "NeXT on the Agenda". MacWorld (January 1991).
  2. ↑ Spherical Solutions, Pyro Installation & Ordering
  3. ↑ Spherical Solutions, Pyro 50 mhz Accelerator Card
  4. ↑ "NeXTcube brochure" (PDF).


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