For sale is a Sonnet Presto '040 accelerator for vintage Apple Macintosh computers, fitted with a 33MHz full Motorola 68040 processor and 128KB onboard secondary cache. It has been tested successfully in an Apple Macintosh IIci running System 7.1 with Sonnet Presto 3.1 software.
This is a nice period upgrade for someone who wants more performance from their original Macintosh without replacing its logic board. The full 68040 includes a built-in floating-point unit, and the 128KB secondary cache helps the processor spend less time waiting for the computer's slower main full Motorola 68040 processor with built-in FPU
128KB onboard secondary cache
4KB instruction cache and 4KB data cache within the processor
Processor marked XC68040HRC33M
Fitted heatsink
Board marked Donoho Design Group, Inc., copyright 1992
Board part number 40-300 Rev A; Made in U.S.A.
The benchmark screenshots show the improvement over the standard Macintosh IIci reference included in Speedometer 4.02. The CPU score increased from 0.40 to 1.20, while the benchmark average increased from 0.36 to 1.36. That is roughly three times the CPU score and nearly four times the benchmark average in the comparison shown. The difference you see in everyday use will depend on the software and setup.
The card installs directly in the Macintosh IIci's cache/accelerator slot. The IIci-style Presto '040 was also offered for the IIvi, IIvx and Performa 600, with model-specific adapters required for the IIcx and IIsi. This card has been tested in a IIci only, so please check the requirements if you plan to use it in another model.
The correct Sonnet software is needed to enable the accelerator. Presto version 3.1 worked successfully with System 7.1 in my testing, and this is the setup shown in the screenshots.
The sale includes the accelerator card with its fitted processor, heatsink and onboard cache. No adapter, software disk, manual or other accessories are included.
Please see the photos for the exact card and its cosmetic condition, and the screenshots for the test setup and benchmark results.
Fast and careful shipping from Tokyo, Japan.Please be aware of any customs import duties or taxes in your country.
🇺🇸 US buyers: shipments are sent DDP (Delivered Duty Paid), which means there are no duty fees on delivery, as duties are included in the shipping rate.
Please also note that customs delays may occur, particularly within the EU.
This is vintage hardware/software for vintage computers. Use of this item requires era-appropriate knowledge and compatible hardware/software. Please carefully verify your intended use and compatibility before purchasing. I am happy to answer reasonable questions, but compatibility with every system or configuration cannot be guaranteed, and step-by-step installation support is not provided. Issues arising from incorrect installation, modification, or incompatible use are outside the seller’s responsibility.
I usually ship within 24 hours. If shipping falls on a Saturday in Japan, dispatch may occur the following Monday.
