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

2026-06-17T20:53:17Z

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

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{{Infobox computer
| name = Acorn System 5
| image = [[File:Acorn System 5.jpg|250px]]
| caption = Acorn System 5 (front): Eurocards on the left, two 5.25" drives on the right
| manufacturer = Acorn Computers Ltd
| type = Modular microcomputer (Eurocard)
| release date = Late 1982 (handbook dated 1 March 1983)
| cpu = 6502 @ 1 MHz (2 MHz 6502A option)
| memory = 32 KB DRAM (standard), expandable
| display = 80×25 or 40×25 teletext VDU
| storage = Two 5.25" floppy disc drives, disc controller (Intel 8271)
| os = Acorn DOS
| predecessor = [[Acorn System 4]]
| successor = [[Acorn Atom]] / [[BBC Micro Model A/B|BBC Micro]] (home line)
}}

The '''Acorn System 5''' was the last of Acorn's rack-mounted Eurocard machines, released in late 1982. It was housed in an extra-height single 19-inch frame holding two vertically-mounted 5.25-inch floppy drives and either seven or ten Eurocard slots, and was supplied complete with a power supply, fully assembled only.<ref name="wp">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acorn_System "Acorn System"], Wikipedia. Source for the System 5 frame (7 or 10 slots, two vertical 5.25-inch drives), the standard configuration (1 MHz 6502, 32K DRAM, disc controller, 80×25 or 40×25 VDU), the 2 MHz 6502A and Econet options, and the late-1982 release.</ref> After the System 5, Acorn sold the Eurocard business to its reseller Control Universal.

== Configuration ==

As standard the System 5 had a 1 MHz 6502 (a 2 MHz 6502A board was an option), 32 KB of DRAM, a floppy-disc controller and either the 80×25 or the 40×25 teletext VDU card; the remaining slots could take interface cards, a further 16 KB DRAM card and/or an Econet adapter.<ref name="wp" /><ref name="chris5">Whytehead, Chris. [https://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/System5.html "Acorn System 5"], Chris's Acorns / The Centre for Computing History. Source for the 10-slot card cage, the example configuration (2 MHz 6502A CPU, 80×25 VDU, 32K DRAM cards, Econet, Intel 8271 floppy controller, two 80-track drives) and the System keyboard plugging into the CPU card.</ref> A documented System 5 (an ex-school Econet server) has a 2 MHz 6502A card, an 80×25 VDU card, 32K DRAM cards, an Econet card and an Intel 8271 floppy-controller card driving two 80-track drives.

== Maintenance and repair ==

* [[Acorn System 5 Maintenance Guide]]
* [[Acorn System 5 Troubleshooting Guide]]
* [[Acorn System 5 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

== Documentation ==

* [[Acorn System 5 Handbook]]

== See also ==

* [[Acorn System 1]] · [[Acorn System 2]] · [[Acorn System 3]] · [[Acorn System 4]]
* [[Acorn System Catalogue]]

== References ==

<references />

{{Navbox-AcornComputers}}

[[Category:Acorn Computers]]

Acorn System 5 - Revision history

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