Acorn Archimedes | 1987 ~ 1990

 The Acorn Archimedes is a personal computer family designed by Acorn Computers in Cambridge, England. The system uses Acorn's own ARM architecture processors, initially running the Arthur operating system, and later introducing RISC OS and a separate workstation model, RISC iX. The first Archimedes model was released in 1987, and the Archimedes range continued to be sold alongside Acorn's latest Risc PC and A7000 models until the mid-1990s.

The first Archimedes model featured the ARM2 RISC CPU running at 8 MHz, providing a significant performance boost compared to Acorn's earlier computers and 8-bit home computers. According to Acorn's marketing, the Archimedes boasted a performance of 4 MIPS. Later models featured the ARM3 CPU, leading to further performance improvements, and the first ARM system-on-chip, the ARM250, was introduced.

The Archimedes maintained some compatibility with Acorn's earlier machines, supporting BBC BASIC, running 8-bit applications, and offering display modes compatible with previous devices. Two of the first models, the A305 and A310, were branded under the BBC name, leveraging Acorn's experience with the BBC Micro.

The name "Acorn Archimedes" refers to all designs based on Acorn's ARM architecture at the time. This architecture is characterized by the first-generation chipset, which includes the ARM CPU, MEMC (Memory Controller), VIDC (Video and Audio Controller), and IOC (Input/Output Controller).

After releasing the BBC Micro in 1981, Acorn became a major supplier for primary and secondary education in the UK. However, despite success in the home computing market with the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron, it did not achieve significant success in the U.S. and West German markets.

In the early 1980s, as microprocessor and computer technology advanced, microcomputer manufacturers faced the need to develop product lines offering higher performance and capabilities. Acorn's business computer strategy and the introduction of more powerful machines included a line of "second processor" expansion products. One such product was the Z80 second processor running the CP/M operating system, fulfilling a promise Acorn made when securing the BBC Micro contract.

At the same time, systems based on the IBM PC and MS-DOS were competing in the market, with computers based on processors like the Motorola 68000 and Unix operating systems emerging. Apple released the Lisa and Macintosh computers, and Digital Research introduced GEM, a graphical user interface software based on Xerox's work.

Acorn's strategy seemed to involve collaboration with Torch Computers, which combined second processors and modems with BBC Micro hardware to create the Communicator product line. In 1984, Acorn introduced the ABC (Acorn Business Computer) product line, based on the BBC Micro architecture. This range offered various second processors and features to address the computing trends of the time. The model received generally positive reviews, but Acorn faced financial difficulties and was restructured by Olivetti in 1985, leaving the future of the ABC line uncertain. Ultimately, the only product to emerge from the ABC line was the Acorn Cambridge Workstation model, released in a form somewhat different from the original plans.

With the discontinuation of the Acorn Business Computer, Acorn was left with only its 8-bit microcomputer products, exposing vulnerabilities against competitors that had launched 16-bit and 32-bit systems. The dominance of MS-DOS in the business market and increasing calls for its use in education put Acorn at risk of being excluded from its core market. Meanwhile, competitive systems offered some degree of BBC Micro compatibility, allowing Acorn users to continue using existing software while upgrading to more powerful machines. Acorn faced criticism for falling behind in technological innovation in response to this competition.

In 1986, Acorn launched the BBC Master series, a modest improvement on its previous 6502-based platform, introducing the Master 128. This model featured an emphasis on second processors but faced challenges in terms of hardware limitations, compatibility, and price. The Master 512 system was underpowered compared to IBM PC-compatible systems. The planned Master Scientific model was never released, and the Cambridge Co-Processor expansion remained as the only option.

Attitudes toward Acorn and its technological position began to shift at the end of 1985 when news broke that Acorn was developing a RISC microprocessor. The expectation grew that Acorn's ARM RISC microprocessor might be incorporated into future computer products and evaluation boards for the BBC Micro. ARM evaluation systems were introduced in mid-1986 at a price of £4500, positioning Acorn ahead of its competitors in the industry.

In 1987, the A305, A310, and A440 models were launched, followed by the A3000, A410/1, A420/1, and A440/1 models in 1989. The A540 came in 1990, followed by the A5000 in 1991, and the A4, A3010, A3020, and A4000 models in 1992, which were the last of the Archimedes range.

The A300 and A400 series ran on the ARM2 processor and were praised as affordable first RISC-based machines suitable for home use. The series was released in June 1987, with the A400 series featuring four expansion slots and an ST-506 controller for internal hard drive support. In contrast, the A300 series required an additional backplane to gain expansion slots, with some third-party vendors offering four-slot backplanes. These models supported 256 colors and 8-channel 8-bit stereo sound. Initially running the Arthur operating system, they were later upgraded to RISC OS. The A400 series was replaced by the A410/1, A420/1, and A440/1 models in 1989.

The A540, released in late 1990, was the natural outcome of Acorn's Unix workstation development. This model offered the same specifications as Acorn's R260 Unix workstation but lacked built-in Ethernet support and ran RISC OS 2 instead of Unix. The A540 was the first to feature the ARM3 processor as standard, supporting up to 16MB of RAM. It also included features for faster SCSI connections and Genlock devices. The memory access frequency in the A540 increased from 8 MHz to 12 MHz, resulting in improved performance compared to previous ARM3-equipped models. The hardware design included different memory controllers and memory modules providing 4MB of RAM, as well as slots for the ARM3 processor and floating-point accelerator (FPA) chip, which was delayed until 1993.

The A5000, launched in late 1991, replaced the A440/1. The A5000 was initially perceived as the machine the A540 should have been, with an ARM3 processor and RISC OS 3. It featured a 25MHz ARM3 processor, 2 or 4MB of RAM, and 40MB or 80MB hard drives, and it adopted a more typical pizza box-style two-part case. While it initially ran RISC OS 3.0, it was released with several bugs, mostly fixed by RISC OS 3.10 or 3.11.

In 1992, Acorn launched the A4 laptop. The A4 featured a 24 MHz ARM3 processor, supported a 6 MHz power-saving mode, and offered 2.5 to 4 hours of battery life. It had a 9-inch passive-matrix LCD screen with a resolution of 640×480 and could display 15 levels of grayscale. The A4 lacked an integrated pointing device, requiring users to rely on cursor keys or an external mouse. Aimed at the education market, it was expected to be useful in environments where existing models were moved between classrooms or used for field trips.

In 1992, new models were introduced to complement the A3000 and replace the lower-end A400 series: the A3010, A3020, and A4000. These models featured the ARM250 microprocessor, offering higher performance than the ARM2 or ARM3. The A3010 was primarily aimed at home users and featured a TV modulator and standard 9-pin joystick port. The A3020 targeted the education market, and the A4000 was aimed at the secondary school and office markets.

The A3010 was extremely affordable, starting at £499, targeting the market between home gaming consoles and PC computers. It also came with Acorn's various software and was well-received due to its price competitiveness. The A3020 and A4000 were discontinued in 1995 when they no longer complied with European Union electronic regulations, and the A7000 model later became Acorn's entry-level desktop system.

The A7000, launched in 1994, closely followed the Archimedes naming convention but was essentially a later version of the Risc PC. The Risc PC was the successor to the Archimedes, featuring DEBI expansion slots and a multi-slice case, while the A7000 had a backplane capable of accommodating slots when the CD-ROM drive was removed.