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NeXTcube

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The base NeXTcube model
DeveloperNeXT
ManufacturerNeXT, Fremont, California plant
TypeWorkstation
Release dateSeptember 18, 1990; 34 years ago (1990-09-18)
Introductory priceUS$7,995 (equivalent to about $18,650 in 2023)
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
Display1120×832 2-bpp grayscale
Dimensions1-foot (305 mm) die-cast magnesium cube-shaped case
PredecessorNeXT Computer
SuccessorNeXTcube Turbo

The NeXTcube was 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 It superseded the original NeXT Computer workstation and is housed in a similar cube-shaped magnesium enclosure, designed by frog design.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 $3,490 in 2023). 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]

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.
  • Display: 1120×832 17 in (432 mm) 82 ppi grayscale MegaPixel Display
  • Operating System: NeXTSTEP 2.2 Extended or later
  • CPU: 25 MHz 68040 with integrated floating-point unit
  • Digital Signal Processor: 25 MHz Motorola DSP56001
  • RAM: 8 MB, expandable to 64 MB (Sixteen 30-pin SIMM slots)
  • Floppy Drive: 2.88 MB
  • Hard Drive: 105 MB, 340 MB, 400 MB, 660 MB, 1.4 GB or 2.8 GB SCSI drive
  • Network interface: 10BASE-T and 10BASE2 Ethernet
  • Expansion: four NeXTbus slots (mainboard uses one slot)
  • Size (H × W × D): 12 in × 12 in × 12 in (305 mm x 305 mm x 305 mm (±1 mm))[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ Webster, Bruce F. "NeXT on the Agenda". MacWorld (January 1991).
  2. ^ http://www.nextcomputers.org/NeXTfiles/Docs/Rare_NeXT_Hardware/pyro_installation.pdf
  3. ^ "NeXTcube brochure" (PDF).
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