Josh: Create Acorn System series page (cited; sourced from System manuals/catalogue)

2026-06-17T20:53:10Z

Create Acorn System series page (cited; sourced from System manuals/catalogue)

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{{Infobox computer
| name = Acorn System 3
| image = [[File:Acorn System 3.jpg|250px]]
| caption = Acorn System 3
| manufacturer = Acorn Computers Ltd
| type = Modular microcomputer (Eurocard)
| release date = 1980
| price = £775 (£1075 with PSU and casing); keyboard £136 (1982)
| cpu = 6502 @ 1 MHz (6809 option)
| memory = 8 KB RAM + 4 KB BASIC ROM (minimum)
| display = 40×25 teletext VDU (40 or 80 column)
| storage = 5.25" floppy disc (100 KB), DOS in ROM
| os = Acorn DOS; Acorn System BASIC (FLEX on 6809)
| predecessor = [[Acorn System 2]]
| successor = [[Acorn System 4]]
}}

The '''Acorn System 3''' (1980) added a floppy-disc controller card, a 5.25-inch drive and a disc operating system to the Eurocard rack, replacing the cassette interface of the [[Acorn System 2]].<ref name="wp">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acorn_System "Acorn System"], Wikipedia. Source for the System 3 minimum configuration, the disc-based design, the 1982 prices, and the System 3's role as the Acorn lab workhorse from which the Atom was derived and the BBC Micro developed.</ref> The System 3 became the standard development machine in the Acorn lab: the [[Acorn Atom]] has been described as a cut-down System 3, and much of the [[BBC Micro Model A/B|BBC Micro]] development was done on it.

== Configuration ==

A minimum System 3 contained:<ref name="wp" /><ref name="chris3">Whytehead, Chris. [https://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/System3.html "Acorn System 3"], Chris's Acorns / The Centre for Computing History. Source for the minimum configuration (1 MHz 6502 CPU, VDU, 8K RAM + 4K BASIC ROM, floppy-disc controller, 100K 5.25-inch drive), the 6809/FLEX option, and the Intel 8271 floppy controller.</ref>

* A 1 MHz 6502 CPU card (a 6809 card was available for running FLEX)
* A 40×25 teletext VDU card (an 80×25 card was also used)
* 8 KB RAM with a 4 KB Acorn System BASIC ROM
* A floppy-disc controller card (Intel 8271)
* One 100 KB 5.25-inch disc drive mounted in the card frame

Further Eurocards could be added as required. In 1982 the System 3 cost £775, or £1075 with power supply, casing and two further 8 KB RAM cards, plus £136 for the keyboard.<ref name="wp" />

== Maintenance and repair ==

* [[Acorn System 3 Maintenance Guide]]
* [[Acorn System 3 Troubleshooting Guide]]
* [[Acorn System 3 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

== See also ==

* [[Acorn System 1]] · [[Acorn System 2]] · [[Acorn System 4]] · [[Acorn System 5]]
* [[Acorn Atom]] — the home computer derived from the System 3
* [[Acorn System Catalogue]]

== References ==

<references />

{{Navbox-AcornComputers}}

[[Category:Acorn Computers]]

Acorn System 3 - Revision history

Josh: Create Acorn System series page (cited; sourced from System manuals/catalogue)