NeXTcube

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 It superseded the original NeXT Computer workstation and is housed in a similar cube-shaped magnesium enclosure. The workstation runs the NeXTSTEP operating system and was launched with a US$7,995 list price.[1]

The base NeXTcube model
DeveloperNeXT
ManufacturerNeXT, Fremont, California plant
TypeWorkstation
Release dateSeptember 18, 1990 (1990-09-18)
Introductory priceUS$7,995 (equivalent to about $15,650 in 2019)
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

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 $2,930 in 2019). 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
  • 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
  • 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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