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IBM PC AT (5170): Difference between revisions

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| manufacturer  = IBM
| manufacturer  = IBM
| type          = Desktop personal computer
| type          = Desktop personal computer
| release date  = August 14, 1984
| release date  = August 1984
| discontinued  = April 2, 1987 (final units of model 339 left the assembly line in July 1987)
| discontinued  = 1987
| cpu          = Intel 80286 @ 6 MHz (Type 1/2 motherboards) or 8 MHz (Type 3)<br/>Optional Intel 80287 FPU
| cpu          = Intel 80286 @ 6 MHz (type 1 and 2 boards) or 8 MHz (type 3); optional Intel 80287
| memory        = 256 KB or 512 KB on-board (depends on motherboard revision); expandable to 16 MB total via 16-bit ISA memory cards
| memory        = 256 KB or 512 KB on the system board; IBM supports expansion to 3 MB with its own 512 KB options
| storage      = 1.2 MB 5.25" high-density floppy drive; optional 20 MB or 30 MB MFM hard drive (CMI 5616 or CMI 6426 on early units; later Seagate ST-225/ST-251)
| storage      = 1.2 MB 5.25" high-capacity diskette drive; optional 20 MB or 30 MB fixed disk
| display      = [[IBM Monochrome Display Adapter|MDA]] + [[IBM 5151]], [[IBM Color Graphics Adapter|CGA]] + [[IBM 5153]], EGA, or PGA (separate adapter card)
| display      = MDA, CGA, EGA or PGA on an adapter card
| sound        = Internal PC speaker, driven by Intel 8254 timer
| sound        = Speaker driven by the 8254 timer
| dimensions    = 21.3" W × 17.3" D × 6.4" H (54 × 44 × 16 cm)
| dimensions    = 540 mm L &times; 439 mm D &times; 162 mm H
| weight        = ~43 lb (19.5 kg) without keyboard or monitor
| weight        = 19.05 kg (42 lb) per IBM's service manual; 20.0 kg (44 lb) per IBM's Technical Reference
| os            = IBM PC DOS 3.0 and later; OS/2 1.x; PC/IX 1.1; IBM and SCO Xenix; Windows 1.0 &ndash; 3.1
| os            = IBM PC DOS 3.0 and later; OS/2 1.x; IBM and SCO Xenix; PC/IX
| predecessor  = [[IBM PC XT (5160)|IBM PC XT]]
| predecessor  = [[IBM PC XT (5160)]]
| successor    = IBM Personal System/2 (no direct AT replacement until the IBM PS/2 Model 30 286 in 1988)
| successor    = IBM Personal System/2
| model        = 5170
| model        = 5170
}}
}}


The '''IBM Personal Computer AT''' (model '''5170''', also known as the '''IBM AT''' or '''PC/AT''') was IBM's fourth Personal Computer, announced on August 14, 1984. It moved the IBM PC line from the 8088 to the '''Intel 80286''', introduced the '''16-bit AT bus''' (later standardised as ISA), and replaced the XT-era keyboard protocol and DIP-switch configuration with a bidirectional AT keyboard protocol and a battery-backed CMOS/RTC. The AT remained in production until early 1987 and was officially withdrawn on April 2, 1987, the day IBM announced the PS/2.
The '''IBM Personal Computer AT''' (model '''5170''') moved the IBM PC line to the '''Intel 80286''', introduced the '''16-bit AT bus''' that was later standardised as ISA, and replaced the DIP switches and one-way keyboard protocol of the [[IBM PC (5150)|5150]] and [[IBM PC XT (5160)|5160]] with a battery-backed clock and configuration memory and a bidirectional keyboard.


IBM never expanded the "AT" abbreviation on product packaging; it is generally taken to stand for "Advanced Technology."
IBM's own service manual summarises the machine as: 80286 processor, 7-channel DMA, 128 KB ROM, 256 KB or 512 KB of system-board RAM expandable to 3 MB with IBM's 512 KB Memory Expansion options, eight I/O slots, a 1.2 MB high-capacity diskette drive, a 20 MB or 30 MB fixed disk and a keylock.<ref name="fsim">IBM, ''IBM Personal Computer Family Service Information Manual'', SA38-0037-00 &mdash; hosted on this wiki as [[IBM Personal Computer Family Service Information Manual]]. Chapter 9 "5170 Personal Computer AT": Figure 9-1 (features), the base-model serial-number ranges, Figure 9-2 (specifications, including 162 &times; 540 &times; 439 mm and 19.05 kg, 1100 BTU/hr heat output and the electrical ranges), Figure 9-7 (input protection), Figure 9-8 (dc load requirements), Figure 9-9 (sense levels), the locked-cover removal procedure, the power-supply thermal-failure tip, the battery voltage check at the battery connector, the reversed math-coprocessor socket that gives a blank display and no beep, the parity check 1 and 2 distinction, the 10-character memory error code bank/module decode, ECA024 for the Parity Check 2 message on models 068 and 099, and the redesigned memory-module sockets on system boards P/N 8286112, 6480170 and 6480072.</ref>


== Architecture and Processor ==
== Base Models ==


The AT uses an '''Intel 80286''' CPU. Type 1 and Type 2 motherboards run at '''6 MHz''' (12 MHz crystal); the Type 3 motherboard, introduced in April 1986, runs at '''8 MHz''' (16 MHz crystal). A second socket accepts the matching '''Intel 80287''' floating-point coprocessor.
IBM recognises five base models, and they are told apart by '''serial number range''':<ref name="fsim" />


The 80286 has a 24-bit address bus that raises the addressable RAM ceiling from 1 MB (8088) to '''16 MB''', and it can operate in either real mode or '''protected mode'''.
<templatestyles src="Template:StyledTable/styles.css" />
{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:70%; text-align:center;"
|+'''IBM 5170 base models'''
! Model !! Serial number range
|-
| 068 || 5000000 &ndash; 5999999
|-
| 099 || 0000001 &ndash; 0999999
|-
| 239 || 6000000 &ndash; 6999999
|-
| 319 / 339 || 7000000 &ndash; 7999999
|}


The AT chip set on the motherboard includes:
An '''AT/370''' variant, carrying System/370 emulation hardware, is documented separately in the same manual.<ref name="fsim" />
* Two '''Intel 8259A''' programmable interrupt controllers, cascaded, providing 15 hardware IRQs.
* Two '''Intel 8237A''' DMA controllers, cascaded, providing 7 DMA channels.
* '''Intel 8254-2''' programmable interval timer (system tick, refresh trigger, speaker).
* '''Intel 82284''' clock generator and '''Intel 82288''' bus controller.
* '''Motorola MC146818''' real-time clock with 50 bytes of battery-backed CMOS RAM. Setup parameters (memory size, floppy and HDD type, etc.) are stored here in place of the DIP switches used on the 5150 and 5160.
* '''Intel 8042''' keyboard controller (an 8042-class microcontroller, also produced by IBM and others as the 8742).


The 5150/5160 cassette interface is removed entirely on the AT.
== System Board Revisions ==


== Motherboard Revisions ==
Three revisions exist, which IBM's documentation calls type 1, type 2 and type 3:<ref name="mzat">minuszerodegrees.net pages for the IBM 5170: [https://www.minuszerodegrees.net/5170/motherboard/5170_motherboard_revisions.htm Motherboard Versions] for the type 1, 2 and 3 boards with their speeds, form factors, crystals, RAM types and the jumper J18 note; [https://www.minuszerodegrees.net/5170/bios/5170_bios_revisions.htm BIOS Revisions] for the three BIOS dates, the mask-ROM and EPROM part numbers, the U131 shunt block, the IBM-supported 01/10/84 to 06/10/85 upgrade through the 30 MB hard drive kit, and the 601 POST error produced by the two 1985 BIOS revisions when the IBM Fixed Disk and Diskette Drive Adapter is not found; [https://www.minuszerodegrees.net/5170/psu/5170_psu.htm Power Supply] for the approximate 192 W rating and the minimum loading; and [https://www.minuszerodegrees.net/5170/misc/5170_load_resistor.htm Load Resistor] for the 5 ohm 50 W resistor drawing 2.4 A from the +12 V line.</ref>


There are three motherboard revisions, identified in IBM service documentation as Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3.
{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:95%; text-align:center;"
 
|+'''IBM 5170 system board revisions'''
<templatestyles src="Template:StyledTable/styles.css" />
! Type !! Clock !! Form factor !! Main crystal !! RAM !! BIOS as supplied
{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:70%; text-align:center;"
|+'''IBM 5170 motherboard revisions'''
! Type !! CPU speed !! Form factor !! On-board RAM !! BIOS shipped !! Main crystal !! Submodels fitted
|-
|-
| Type 1 || 6 MHz || 13.8" × 12" (full size AT) || 2 banks × 256 KB (stacked 41128) || 01/10/84 || 12 MHz || 5170-068, 5170-099
| 1 || 6 MHz || 13.8" &times; 12" || 12 MHz || Stacked/piggybacked 41128 128K-bit chips, 150 ns or faster || 01/10/84
|-
|-
| Type 2 || 6 MHz || 13.8" × 9.4" (Baby AT) || 1 bank × 512 KB (41256) || 06/10/85 || 12 MHz || 5170-239
| 2 || 6 MHz || 13.8" &times; 9.4" || 12 MHz || 41256 256K-bit chips, 150 ns or faster || 06/10/85
|-
|-
| Type 3 || 8 MHz || 13.8" × 9.4" (Baby AT) || 1 bank × 512 KB (41256) || 11/15/85 || 16 MHz || 5170-319, 5170-339
| 3 || 8 MHz || 13.8" &times; 9.4" || 16 MHz || As type 2 || 11/15/85
|}
|}


The Type 1 motherboard can operate with only bank 0 populated (256 KB); switching between single-bank and dual-bank operation also requires the BIOS to be reconfigured via SETUP and may need jumper J18 changed.
IBM's ''Technical Reference'' describes the memory arrangement by bank: the '''type 1''' board has four banks of nine 128K-by-1 modules, and the '''type 2''' board has two banks of nine 256K-by-1 modules &mdash; both totalling 512 KB with parity.<ref name="trat">IBM, ''IBM Personal Computer AT Technical Reference'' (September 1985) &mdash; hosted on this wiki as [[:File:IBM PC AT 5170 Technical Reference Sep85.pdf]] and documented as [[IBM PC AT 5170 Technical Reference (September 1985)]]; the March 1984 edition is also hosted. Section 1 "System Board" for the feature list, the eight I/O slots (six with a 36-pin and a 62-pin socket, two with only the 62-pin socket) and the type 1 and type 2 memory arrangements; Section 1 "Specifications" for the 540 &times; 439 &times; 162 mm size and the 20.0 kg weight; Section 3 "Power Supply", pages 3-3 to 3-7, for the input requirements, the dc load currents and regulation tolerances, the 20 ms output protection, output voltage sequencing, no-load operation, the 'power-good' signal and its one-second off requirement, and the 5 ohm 50 W load resistor on P10.</ref> minuszerodegrees describes the type 1 board as two banks of 256 KB, counting the piggybacked 41128 pairs as single positions; the two descriptions are of the same board.<ref name="mzat" />
 
A type 1 board can run with only bank 0 populated. Switching between single-bank and dual-bank operation needs the BIOS reconfigured through SETUP and may need '''jumper J18''' moved.<ref name="mzat" />
 
The memory module sockets on system boards P/N 8286112, P/N 6480170 and P/N 6480072 were redesigned: the contact surface sits below the top of the pin holes and is not visible from above. It is functionally equivalent to the old style, and a board that looks like it has no contacts is not faulty.<ref name="fsim" />


=== BIOS revisions ===
== BIOS Revisions ==


The 5170 BIOS (including ROM BASIC) is 64 KB. On very early motherboards it shipped as four 16 KB chips (27128) in sockets U17/U27/U37/U47. Later production used two 32 KB chips (27256) in sockets U27 and U47. On Type 1 boards, shunt block U131 selects which ROM type is installed.
The BIOS, including [[IBM Cassette BASIC|cassette BASIC]], is 64 KB. Very early boards carry four 16 KB 27128 devices at U17/U27/U37/U47; later production uses two 32 KB 27256 devices at U27 and U47. On type 1 boards, shunt block '''U131''' selects which ROM type is fitted.<ref name="mzat" />


{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:70%; text-align:center;"
{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:95%;"
|+'''IBM 5170 BIOS revisions'''
|+'''IBM 5170 BIOS revisions'''
! Date !! Mask ROM (U27/U47) !! EPROM part numbers !! Motherboard !! Floppy support !! HDD support
! Date !! Mask ROM !! EPROM !! Board
|-
|-
| 01/10/84 || U27=6181028, U47=6181029 || U17=6181024, U27=6181025, U37=6181026, U47=6181027 || Type 1 || 360 KB and 1.2 MB || 20 MB (type 1) only
| 01/10/84 || U27 = 6181028, U47 = 6181029 || U17 = 6181024, U27 = 6181025, U37 = 6181026, U47 = 6181027 || Type 1
|-
|-
| 06/10/85 || U27=6480090, U47=6480091 || U27=6448896, U47=6448897 || Type 2 || 360 KB and 1.2 MB; 720 KB || 20 MB and 30 MB (type 20)
| 06/10/85 || U27 = 6480090, U47 = 6480091 || U27 = 6448896, U47 = 6448897 || Type 2
|-
|-
| 11/15/85 || U27=62X0820, U47=62X0821 || U27=61X9266, U47=61X9265 || Type 3 || Adds 1.44 MB drive support || As above
| 11/15/85 || U27 = 62X0820, U47 = 62X0821 || U27 = 61X9266, U47 = 61X9265 || Type 3
|}
|}


IBM officially supported an upgrade from the 01/10/84 BIOS to the 06/10/85 revision (the 30 MB hard drive upgrade kit included the 06/10/85 ROMs because the 30 MB drive required the new HDD code). The 11/15/85 BIOS is desirable for 1.44 MB floppy support but was designed for 8 MHz motherboards; running it on a 6 MHz Type 1 or Type 2 has been reported as functional by experienced users.
IBM supported the 01/10/84 to 06/10/85 upgrade: the 30 MB hard drive upgrade kit for type 1 machines included 06/10/85 ROMs, because the 30 MB drive needed the newer code. Whether IBM ever endorsed an upgrade to 11/15/85 is not known; it is desirable because it adds 1.44 MB diskette support, and owners who have tried it on 6 MHz boards report no problems, but it was designed for an 8 MHz board.<ref name="mzat" />


== Storage and Expansion ==
=== The 601 that is not a fault ===


* '''Eight expansion slots''' on a '''16-bit AT bus''' (later standardised as ISA). The slot connector is a two-piece edge: an 8-bit XT-style portion plus a shorter 16-bit extension. Cards built for the XT (8-bit) fit in either piece, leaving the 16-bit portion unused.
With the '''06/10/85''' and '''11/15/85''' BIOS, removing the IBM Fixed Disk and Diskette Drive Adapter and fitting a third-party replacement can produce a '''601''' at POST. Those revisions expect that adapter, or something that identifies itself the same way; the 601 is the POST telling you it did not find one. It does not stop the boot &mdash; a prompt to press F1 follows &mdash; although diskette operation may be compromised. The 01/10/84 BIOS does not do this. Fitting a card that behaves like IBM's, such as a Western Digital WD1003A-WA2, avoids it.<ref name="mzat" />
* '''Floppy drive''': 1.2 MB 5.25" half-height high-density drive. The 1.2 MB drive cannot reliably write to 360 KB diskettes for later use in a 360 KB drive, because the 1.2 MB drive's head track width is half that of a 360 KB drive. The drive itself cannot detect the diskette type, so the user must use the correct media.
* '''Hard drive''': Optional 20 MB or 30 MB MFM hard drive on most submodels, connected through the '''IBM Fixed Disk and Diskette Drive Adapter''' (the "combo" controller, which combines the floppy and hard disk controllers on a single 16-bit card).
* '''Keyboard lock''': A keyed mechanical lock on the front panel disables the keyboard and holds the system unit's cover in place.


== Display ==
== Expansion ==


The AT has no on-board video. Common adapter cards used with the AT are MDA, CGA, EGA and PGA. The AT shipped most commonly with EGA from 1985 onwards.
'''Eight I/O slots, but they are not all the same.''' IBM's ''Technical Reference'' specifies "six with a 36-pin and a 62-pin card-edge socket, two with only the 62-pin card-edge socket" &mdash; so '''six 16-bit slots and two 8-bit slots'''.<ref name="trat" /> An 8-bit card fits either kind; a 16-bit card needs one of the six.


== Keyboard ==
== Storage ==


The AT shipped with a new '''84-key Model F AT''' keyboard. The numeric keypad is clearly separated from the main key group and three LEDs are present (Caps Lock / Scroll Lock / Num Lock). The connector is the same DIN-5 as the XT keyboard, but the electrical interface is '''bidirectional''' — the host can control the LEDs, reset the keyboard, set the typematic rate, etc. The scan code set is also different from the XT's. As a result, an XT keyboard cannot be used on an AT and vice versa without a protocol converter.
* '''Diskette''' &mdash; a 1.2 MB high-capacity 5.25-inch drive. The 1.2 MB drive's head is half the track width of a 360 KB drive's, so a 360 KB diskette written in a 1.2 MB drive is often unreadable in a real 360 KB drive afterwards. The drive cannot detect media type; the user has to use the right media.
* '''Fixed disk''' &mdash; an optional 20 MB or 30 MB drive on the '''IBM Fixed Disk and Diskette Drive Adapter''', the 16-bit "combo" card that carries both controllers.<ref name="fsim" />
* '''Keylock''' &mdash; a keyed front-panel lock disables the keyboard and holds the cover on. If the key is lost, the cover can still be removed: with the unit flat on the bench and the five rear cover screws out, insert a screwdriver into the gap between frame and cover from underneath, in line with the lock, and lift &mdash; this raises the cover lip over the latch. To run diagnostics in that state, remove one wire from the lock switch to re-enable the keyboard.<ref name="fsim" />


From April 1986 (Type 3 motherboard era), the AT shipped with the '''101-key Enhanced Keyboard''' (Model M).
== Display and Ports ==


== Power Supply ==
There is no video on the system board; MDA, CGA, EGA and PGA cards were all used.


The 5170 includes a '''192 W switching power supply''' with two motherboard connectors (P8/P9). It requires a minimum load of '''7.0 A on +5 V''' and '''2.5 A on +12 V''' to start. Because the AT motherboard provides little +12 V load on its own, entry-level submodels that did not include a hard drive shipped with a '''5 Ω 50 W resistor''' fitted to the +12 V line of the hard drive power connector to satisfy the minimum load. The resistor draws roughly 2.4 A (about 29 W) in normal operation and gets fairly hot.
'''There is no serial or parallel port on the system board either.''' Both are on the separate '''IBM PC AT Serial/Parallel Adapter''', whose serial side is built around an NS16450 UART &mdash; a single-byte-buffer part like the 8250 in the [[IBM PC (5150)|5150]], and the reason high-speed serial work on an AT wants a 16550-class replacement.<ref name="trat" />


The AT serial port is built around the '''16450 UART''', which (like the 8250 in the PC/XT) has only a single-byte buffer; high-speed serial work is problematic without a 16550-equivalent replacement.
== Keyboard ==


== Submodels ==
The AT introduced the '''84-key AT keyboard''', with the numeric keypad separated from the main group and three lock lamps. The connector is the same DIN-5 as the XT's, but the interface is '''bidirectional''' and the scan code set is different, so an XT keyboard will not work on an AT and an AT keyboard will not work on a [[IBM PC (5150)|5150]] or [[IBM PC XT (5160)|5160]] without a converter.<ref name="mzkbd">[https://www.minuszerodegrees.net/5150/keyboard/5150_keyboard_support.htm IBM 5150 &mdash; Keyboards], minuszerodegrees.net. Source for IBM's own name for this keyboard ("83-key keyboard"), the type 1 / type 2 distinction in reset behaviour, the point that "Model F" is a family name covering keyboards that will not work with a 5150, the reassembly warning, the cable metering diagram, and the incompatibility of AT-protocol keyboards.</ref> From the type 3 board era the AT shipped with the 101-key Enhanced Keyboard instead.


The following list of AT submodels is taken from the IBM Personal Computer Family Service Information Manual and the IBM Personal System/2 and IBM Personal Computer Publication Reference.
== Power Supply ==


{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
Approximately '''192 W'''.<ref name="mzat" /> IBM's own figures:<ref name="trat" /><ref name="fsim" />
|+'''Selected IBM PC AT submodels'''
 
! Submodel !! Clock !! Stock RAM !! HDD !! Notes
{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:90%; text-align:center;"
|-
|+'''IBM 5170 &mdash; dc load requirements and sense levels'''
| 5170-068 || 6 MHz || 256 KB || none || Base diskette-only configuration
! Rail !! Minimum load !! Maximum load !! Regulation !! Minimum sense level
|-
| 5170-099 || 6 MHz || 512 KB || 20 MB || Original "Enhanced" configuration
|-
| 5170-239 || 6 MHz || 512 KB || 30 MB || Type 2 motherboard
|-
| 5170-319 || 8 MHz || 512 KB || 30 MB || Type 3 motherboard, original Model F keyboard
|-
| 5170-339 || 8 MHz || 512 KB || 30 MB || Type 3 motherboard, ships with the Enhanced (101-key) Keyboard
|-
|-
| 5170-839 || 6 MHz || 512 KB || two 30 MB || Includes controllers for the IBM 4680 Store System (point-of-sale)
| +5 Vdc || 7.0 A || 19.8 A || +5% to &minus;4% || +4.5 V
|-
|-
| 5170-899 || 6 MHz || 512 KB || two 20 MB || As 839 with 20 MB drives
| &minus;5 Vdc || 0.0 A || 0.3 A || +10% to &minus;8% || &minus;4.3 V
|-
|-
| 5170-599 / -739 / -919 / -939 || 6 MHz || 512 KB || 20 MB or 30 MB || AT/370 — System/370 host emulation board
| +12 Vdc || 2.5 A || 7.3 A || +5% to &minus;4% || +10.8 V
|-
|-
| 5171-168 / -339 || 8 MHz || 512 KB || none or 30 MB || TEMPEST-shielded variants
| &minus;12 Vdc || 0.0 A || 0.3 A || +10% to &minus;9% || &minus;10.2 V
|}
|}
The supply also provides switched '''115 Vac or 230 Vac for the IBM Monochrome Display'''.<ref name="trat" /> Input is 100&ndash;125 Vac at up to 5 A, or 200&ndash;240 Vac at up to 3 A, selected by a switch above the power-cord socket; maximum in-rush current is 100 A.<ref name="trat" /><ref name="fsim" /> Heat output is 1100 BTU/hr.<ref name="fsim" />
Protection and behaviour:<ref name="trat" />
* If any output becomes overloaded the supply '''switches off within 20 ms'''. An over-current condition does not damage it.
* Output voltages track within 300 ms of each other at power-on and power-off, provided minimum loading is present.
* No damage occurs with no load, but the supply may switch off and need a power-on reset.
* '''Switch off for at least one second''' before switching on again, or 'power good' will not be generated. It has a turn-on delay of at least 100 ms and no more than 500 ms, and can drive six standard TTL loads.
=== The load resistor ===
The +12 V rail needs '''2.5 A minimum'''. An AT system board provides very little +12 V load on its own, so machines shipped without a fixed disk carry a '''5 ohm, 50 watt resistor''' on P10 in its place.<ref name="trat" /> At 12 V that draws about 2.4 A &mdash; roughly 29 W &mdash; and it gets hot in normal operation. That heat is not a fault.<ref name="mzat" />
=== A supply fault that only appears when warm ===
IBM's own service tip: some 5170 power supplies fail after two or more hours powered on, then work correctly again once the machine has been switched off and has cooled. IBM's instruction in that case is to replace the supply.<ref name="fsim" />
== The Battery and the 161 Error ==
The AT keeps its configuration in battery-backed CMOS alongside a Motorola MC146818 real-time clock. IBM's procedure for checking the battery:<ref name="fsim" />
# Switch the system unit off and remove the cover.
# '''Disconnect the battery from the system board.''' Measuring it while connected gives varying readings because of the board's drain.
# Meter on the 12 V dc range, common lead to pin 1 and voltage lead to pin 4 of the battery connector.
# Look for '''6.0 Vdc minimum'''.
A '''161''' ("battery defective or new battery installed") appears on the first POST after any battery change. If you have just fitted a new one, that is expected &mdash; run SETUP.<ref name="fsim" />
== Diagnosing Memory Errors ==
IBM's memory error reporting on the AT is more informative than it looks:<ref name="fsim" />
* '''Parity check 1''' &mdash; a system board parity error. '''Parity check 2''' &mdash; a Memory Expansion Adapter parity error.
* A '''10-character error code''' beginning 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06 or 07 is a system board memory failure. The first two characters give the bank &mdash; '''00 to 03 is bank 0, 04 to 07 is bank 1''' &mdash; and the last four characters identify the failing module within it. For example, 04002 8000 points at a specific chip in bank 1.
* If the first character of a parity check error is 8 or 9, replace the 18 memory modules of the base Memory Expansion Adapter; if the same code returns, replace the adapter.
* If a diagnostic passes on bare system-board memory, refit Memory Expansion Adapters one at a time, running SETUP each time so the memory size is right.
'''Models 068 and 099''' with system board P/N 8286112, an Enhanced Graphics Adapter and the 0.5 MB to 2 MB Memory Expansion Adapter produce a spurious '''Parity Check 2''' message after a soft boot (Ctrl-Alt-Del). IBM's fix is '''ECA024''', not a memory replacement.<ref name="fsim" />
== Blank Display, No Beep &mdash; Check the Coprocessor First ==
Some 5170 planars left the factory with the '''math coprocessor socket fitted the wrong way round''', notch to the rear of the board. An 80287 installed to match the socket notch then fails power-on diagnostics: blank display, no beep. '''Installing the coprocessor with its notch towards the front of the planar corrects it.'''<ref name="fsim" /> It is worth checking before condemning a board, and it is worth remembering when moving a coprocessor to a replacement board &mdash; IBM's own manual reminds engineers not to forget to transfer it.<ref name="fsim" />


== General Maintenance ==
== General Maintenance ==


PSU voltage checks, RTC battery replacement, cleaning and slot care for the AT are documented in [[IBM PC AT Maintenance Guide]].
Rail checks, battery replacement, cleaning and slot care are in [[IBM PC AT Maintenance Guide]].


== Troubleshooting ==
== Troubleshooting ==


POST beep codes, 1xx system-board errors, 161/162/163 CMOS battery errors, the 601 combo-card error, CMI hard-drive symptoms and other AT-specific known problems are documented in [[IBM PC AT Troubleshooting Guide]].
Beep codes, 1xx system board errors, the 161/162/163 cluster, the 601 combo-card message, CMI hard drive symptoms and other AT-specific problems are in [[IBM PC AT Troubleshooting Guide]].


== Capacitor Replacement ==
== Capacitor Replacement ==


Tantalum capacitor advice for the 5170 motherboard and the AT switching PSU is documented in [[IBM PC AT Capacitor Replacement Guide]].
Tantalum work on the system board and the switching supply is in [[IBM PC AT Capacitor Replacement Guide]].


== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:IBM PC AT 5170.jpg|IBM Personal Computer AT (5170)
File:IBM PC AT 5170.jpg|IBM Personal Computer AT (5170)
File:IBM 5170 front.jpg|Front view of an IBM 5170
File:IBM 5170 front.jpg|Front view
File:IBM 5170 back.jpg|Back view of an IBM 5170 showing keyboard, parallel, serial and video connectors
File:IBM 5170 back.jpg|Rear view
File:IBM 5170 motherboard Type 2.jpg|IBM 5170 motherboard, Type 2 (Baby AT form factor, 6 MHz)
File:IBM 5170 motherboard Type 2.jpg|Type 2 system board
</gallery>
</gallery>


== Related Pages ==
== References ==


* [[IBM PC AT Maintenance Guide]]
<references />
* [[IBM PC AT Troubleshooting Guide]]
* [[IBM PC AT Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
* [[IBM PC (5150)]]
* [[IBM PC XT (5160)]] &mdash; predecessor


== References ==
== Related Pages ==


* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Personal_Computer_AT IBM Personal Computer AT &mdash; Wikipedia]. Source for dimensions, release/withdrawal dates, submodel list and BIOS/keyboard history.
* [[IBM PC AT Maintenance Guide]] &middot; [[IBM PC AT Troubleshooting Guide]] &middot; [[IBM PC AT Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
* [https://minuszerodegrees.net/5170/motherboard/5170_motherboard_revisions.htm IBM 5170 &mdash; Motherboard Versions], minuszerodegrees.net. Source for the Type 1/2/3 revision data, form factor, RAM type and crystal frequencies.
* [[IBM PC (5150)]] &middot; [[IBM PC XT (5160)]]
* [https://minuszerodegrees.net/5170/bios/5170_bios_revisions.htm IBM 5170 &mdash; BIOS Revisions], minuszerodegrees.net. Source for BIOS dates, IBM part numbers and supported floppy/HDD types.
* [[IBM Monochrome Display Adapter]] &middot; [[IBM Color Graphics Adapter]] &middot; [[IBM 5151]] &middot; [[IBM 5153]]
* [https://www.dosdays.co.uk/computers/IBM%20PC-AT%20(5170)/ibm5170.php IBM PC-AT (1984) &mdash; DOS Days]. Reference for configuration and chronology.
* '''IBM documentation hosted here:''' [[IBM PC AT 5170 Technical Reference (March 1984)]] &middot; [[IBM PC AT 5170 Technical Reference (September 1985)]] &middot; [[IBM Personal Computer Family Service Information Manual]] &middot; [[IBM PS2 and PC BIOS Interface Technical Reference]]
* IBM, ''Personal Computer AT &mdash; Technical Reference'', IBM Part Numbers 1502243 (March 1984) / 1502494 / 6280070 (September 1985).


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[[Category:IBM]]
[[Category:IBM]]

Latest revision as of 00:20, 25 September 2026

IBM Personal Computer AT
IBM Personal Computer AT (5170)
Specifications
DeveloperIBM Entry Systems Division, Boca Raton
ManufacturerIBM
TypeDesktop personal computer
ReleasedAugust 1984
Discontinued1987
CPUIntel 80286 @ 6 MHz (type 1 and 2 boards) or 8 MHz (type 3); optional Intel 80287
Memory256 KB or 512 KB on the system board; IBM supports expansion to 3 MB with its own 512 KB options
Storage1.2 MB 5.25" high-capacity diskette drive; optional 20 MB or 30 MB fixed disk
DisplayMDA, CGA, EGA or PGA on an adapter card
SoundSpeaker driven by the 8254 timer
Dimensions540 mm L × 439 mm D × 162 mm H
Weight19.05 kg (42 lb) per IBM's service manual; 20.0 kg (44 lb) per IBM's Technical Reference
OS / FirmwareIBM PC DOS 3.0 and later; OS/2 1.x; IBM and SCO Xenix; PC/IX
PredecessorIBM PC XT (5160)
SuccessorIBM Personal System/2
Model no.5170

The IBM Personal Computer AT (model 5170) moved the IBM PC line to the Intel 80286, introduced the 16-bit AT bus that was later standardised as ISA, and replaced the DIP switches and one-way keyboard protocol of the 5150 and 5160 with a battery-backed clock and configuration memory and a bidirectional keyboard.

IBM's own service manual summarises the machine as: 80286 processor, 7-channel DMA, 128 KB ROM, 256 KB or 512 KB of system-board RAM expandable to 3 MB with IBM's 512 KB Memory Expansion options, eight I/O slots, a 1.2 MB high-capacity diskette drive, a 20 MB or 30 MB fixed disk and a keylock.[1]

Base Models

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IBM recognises five base models, and they are told apart by serial number range:[1]

IBM 5170 base models
Model Serial number range
068 5000000 – 5999999
099 0000001 – 0999999
239 6000000 – 6999999
319 / 339 7000000 – 7999999

An AT/370 variant, carrying System/370 emulation hardware, is documented separately in the same manual.[1]

System Board Revisions

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Three revisions exist, which IBM's documentation calls type 1, type 2 and type 3:[2]

IBM 5170 system board revisions
Type Clock Form factor Main crystal RAM BIOS as supplied
1 6 MHz 13.8" × 12" 12 MHz Stacked/piggybacked 41128 128K-bit chips, 150 ns or faster 01/10/84
2 6 MHz 13.8" × 9.4" 12 MHz 41256 256K-bit chips, 150 ns or faster 06/10/85
3 8 MHz 13.8" × 9.4" 16 MHz As type 2 11/15/85

IBM's Technical Reference describes the memory arrangement by bank: the type 1 board has four banks of nine 128K-by-1 modules, and the type 2 board has two banks of nine 256K-by-1 modules — both totalling 512 KB with parity.[3] minuszerodegrees describes the type 1 board as two banks of 256 KB, counting the piggybacked 41128 pairs as single positions; the two descriptions are of the same board.[2]

A type 1 board can run with only bank 0 populated. Switching between single-bank and dual-bank operation needs the BIOS reconfigured through SETUP and may need jumper J18 moved.[2]

The memory module sockets on system boards P/N 8286112, P/N 6480170 and P/N 6480072 were redesigned: the contact surface sits below the top of the pin holes and is not visible from above. It is functionally equivalent to the old style, and a board that looks like it has no contacts is not faulty.[1]

BIOS Revisions

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The BIOS, including cassette BASIC, is 64 KB. Very early boards carry four 16 KB 27128 devices at U17/U27/U37/U47; later production uses two 32 KB 27256 devices at U27 and U47. On type 1 boards, shunt block U131 selects which ROM type is fitted.[2]

IBM 5170 BIOS revisions
Date Mask ROM EPROM Board
01/10/84 U27 = 6181028, U47 = 6181029 U17 = 6181024, U27 = 6181025, U37 = 6181026, U47 = 6181027 Type 1
06/10/85 U27 = 6480090, U47 = 6480091 U27 = 6448896, U47 = 6448897 Type 2
11/15/85 U27 = 62X0820, U47 = 62X0821 U27 = 61X9266, U47 = 61X9265 Type 3

IBM supported the 01/10/84 to 06/10/85 upgrade: the 30 MB hard drive upgrade kit for type 1 machines included 06/10/85 ROMs, because the 30 MB drive needed the newer code. Whether IBM ever endorsed an upgrade to 11/15/85 is not known; it is desirable because it adds 1.44 MB diskette support, and owners who have tried it on 6 MHz boards report no problems, but it was designed for an 8 MHz board.[2]

The 601 that is not a fault

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With the 06/10/85 and 11/15/85 BIOS, removing the IBM Fixed Disk and Diskette Drive Adapter and fitting a third-party replacement can produce a 601 at POST. Those revisions expect that adapter, or something that identifies itself the same way; the 601 is the POST telling you it did not find one. It does not stop the boot — a prompt to press F1 follows — although diskette operation may be compromised. The 01/10/84 BIOS does not do this. Fitting a card that behaves like IBM's, such as a Western Digital WD1003A-WA2, avoids it.[2]

Expansion

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Eight I/O slots, but they are not all the same. IBM's Technical Reference specifies "six with a 36-pin and a 62-pin card-edge socket, two with only the 62-pin card-edge socket" — so six 16-bit slots and two 8-bit slots.[3] An 8-bit card fits either kind; a 16-bit card needs one of the six.

Storage

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  • Diskette — a 1.2 MB high-capacity 5.25-inch drive. The 1.2 MB drive's head is half the track width of a 360 KB drive's, so a 360 KB diskette written in a 1.2 MB drive is often unreadable in a real 360 KB drive afterwards. The drive cannot detect media type; the user has to use the right media.
  • Fixed disk — an optional 20 MB or 30 MB drive on the IBM Fixed Disk and Diskette Drive Adapter, the 16-bit "combo" card that carries both controllers.[1]
  • Keylock — a keyed front-panel lock disables the keyboard and holds the cover on. If the key is lost, the cover can still be removed: with the unit flat on the bench and the five rear cover screws out, insert a screwdriver into the gap between frame and cover from underneath, in line with the lock, and lift — this raises the cover lip over the latch. To run diagnostics in that state, remove one wire from the lock switch to re-enable the keyboard.[1]

Display and Ports

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There is no video on the system board; MDA, CGA, EGA and PGA cards were all used.

There is no serial or parallel port on the system board either. Both are on the separate IBM PC AT Serial/Parallel Adapter, whose serial side is built around an NS16450 UART — a single-byte-buffer part like the 8250 in the 5150, and the reason high-speed serial work on an AT wants a 16550-class replacement.[3]

Keyboard

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The AT introduced the 84-key AT keyboard, with the numeric keypad separated from the main group and three lock lamps. The connector is the same DIN-5 as the XT's, but the interface is bidirectional and the scan code set is different, so an XT keyboard will not work on an AT and an AT keyboard will not work on a 5150 or 5160 without a converter.[4] From the type 3 board era the AT shipped with the 101-key Enhanced Keyboard instead.

Power Supply

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Approximately 192 W.[2] IBM's own figures:[3][1]

IBM 5170 — dc load requirements and sense levels
Rail Minimum load Maximum load Regulation Minimum sense level
+5 Vdc 7.0 A 19.8 A +5% to −4% +4.5 V
−5 Vdc 0.0 A 0.3 A +10% to −8% −4.3 V
+12 Vdc 2.5 A 7.3 A +5% to −4% +10.8 V
−12 Vdc 0.0 A 0.3 A +10% to −9% −10.2 V

The supply also provides switched 115 Vac or 230 Vac for the IBM Monochrome Display.[3] Input is 100–125 Vac at up to 5 A, or 200–240 Vac at up to 3 A, selected by a switch above the power-cord socket; maximum in-rush current is 100 A.[3][1] Heat output is 1100 BTU/hr.[1]

Protection and behaviour:[3]

  • If any output becomes overloaded the supply switches off within 20 ms. An over-current condition does not damage it.
  • Output voltages track within 300 ms of each other at power-on and power-off, provided minimum loading is present.
  • No damage occurs with no load, but the supply may switch off and need a power-on reset.
  • Switch off for at least one second before switching on again, or 'power good' will not be generated. It has a turn-on delay of at least 100 ms and no more than 500 ms, and can drive six standard TTL loads.

The load resistor

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The +12 V rail needs 2.5 A minimum. An AT system board provides very little +12 V load on its own, so machines shipped without a fixed disk carry a 5 ohm, 50 watt resistor on P10 in its place.[3] At 12 V that draws about 2.4 A — roughly 29 W — and it gets hot in normal operation. That heat is not a fault.[2]

A supply fault that only appears when warm

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IBM's own service tip: some 5170 power supplies fail after two or more hours powered on, then work correctly again once the machine has been switched off and has cooled. IBM's instruction in that case is to replace the supply.[1]

The Battery and the 161 Error

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The AT keeps its configuration in battery-backed CMOS alongside a Motorola MC146818 real-time clock. IBM's procedure for checking the battery:[1]

  1. Switch the system unit off and remove the cover.
  2. Disconnect the battery from the system board. Measuring it while connected gives varying readings because of the board's drain.
  3. Meter on the 12 V dc range, common lead to pin 1 and voltage lead to pin 4 of the battery connector.
  4. Look for 6.0 Vdc minimum.

A 161 ("battery defective or new battery installed") appears on the first POST after any battery change. If you have just fitted a new one, that is expected — run SETUP.[1]

Diagnosing Memory Errors

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IBM's memory error reporting on the AT is more informative than it looks:[1]

  • Parity check 1 — a system board parity error. Parity check 2 — a Memory Expansion Adapter parity error.
  • A 10-character error code beginning 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06 or 07 is a system board memory failure. The first two characters give the bank — 00 to 03 is bank 0, 04 to 07 is bank 1 — and the last four characters identify the failing module within it. For example, 04002 8000 points at a specific chip in bank 1.
  • If the first character of a parity check error is 8 or 9, replace the 18 memory modules of the base Memory Expansion Adapter; if the same code returns, replace the adapter.
  • If a diagnostic passes on bare system-board memory, refit Memory Expansion Adapters one at a time, running SETUP each time so the memory size is right.

Models 068 and 099 with system board P/N 8286112, an Enhanced Graphics Adapter and the 0.5 MB to 2 MB Memory Expansion Adapter produce a spurious Parity Check 2 message after a soft boot (Ctrl-Alt-Del). IBM's fix is ECA024, not a memory replacement.[1]

Blank Display, No Beep — Check the Coprocessor First

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Some 5170 planars left the factory with the math coprocessor socket fitted the wrong way round, notch to the rear of the board. An 80287 installed to match the socket notch then fails power-on diagnostics: blank display, no beep. Installing the coprocessor with its notch towards the front of the planar corrects it.[1] It is worth checking before condemning a board, and it is worth remembering when moving a coprocessor to a replacement board — IBM's own manual reminds engineers not to forget to transfer it.[1]

General Maintenance

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Rail checks, battery replacement, cleaning and slot care are in IBM PC AT Maintenance Guide.

Troubleshooting

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Beep codes, 1xx system board errors, the 161/162/163 cluster, the 601 combo-card message, CMI hard drive symptoms and other AT-specific problems are in IBM PC AT Troubleshooting Guide.

Capacitor Replacement

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Tantalum work on the system board and the switching supply is in IBM PC AT Capacitor Replacement Guide.

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References

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  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 IBM, IBM Personal Computer Family Service Information Manual, SA38-0037-00 — hosted on this wiki as IBM Personal Computer Family Service Information Manual. Chapter 9 "5170 Personal Computer AT": Figure 9-1 (features), the base-model serial-number ranges, Figure 9-2 (specifications, including 162 × 540 × 439 mm and 19.05 kg, 1100 BTU/hr heat output and the electrical ranges), Figure 9-7 (input protection), Figure 9-8 (dc load requirements), Figure 9-9 (sense levels), the locked-cover removal procedure, the power-supply thermal-failure tip, the battery voltage check at the battery connector, the reversed math-coprocessor socket that gives a blank display and no beep, the parity check 1 and 2 distinction, the 10-character memory error code bank/module decode, ECA024 for the Parity Check 2 message on models 068 and 099, and the redesigned memory-module sockets on system boards P/N 8286112, 6480170 and 6480072.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 minuszerodegrees.net pages for the IBM 5170: Motherboard Versions for the type 1, 2 and 3 boards with their speeds, form factors, crystals, RAM types and the jumper J18 note; BIOS Revisions for the three BIOS dates, the mask-ROM and EPROM part numbers, the U131 shunt block, the IBM-supported 01/10/84 to 06/10/85 upgrade through the 30 MB hard drive kit, and the 601 POST error produced by the two 1985 BIOS revisions when the IBM Fixed Disk and Diskette Drive Adapter is not found; Power Supply for the approximate 192 W rating and the minimum loading; and Load Resistor for the 5 ohm 50 W resistor drawing 2.4 A from the +12 V line.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 IBM, IBM Personal Computer AT Technical Reference (September 1985) — hosted on this wiki as File:IBM PC AT 5170 Technical Reference Sep85.pdf and documented as IBM PC AT 5170 Technical Reference (September 1985); the March 1984 edition is also hosted. Section 1 "System Board" for the feature list, the eight I/O slots (six with a 36-pin and a 62-pin socket, two with only the 62-pin socket) and the type 1 and type 2 memory arrangements; Section 1 "Specifications" for the 540 × 439 × 162 mm size and the 20.0 kg weight; Section 3 "Power Supply", pages 3-3 to 3-7, for the input requirements, the dc load currents and regulation tolerances, the 20 ms output protection, output voltage sequencing, no-load operation, the 'power-good' signal and its one-second off requirement, and the 5 ohm 50 W load resistor on P10.
  4. ↑ IBM 5150 — Keyboards, minuszerodegrees.net. Source for IBM's own name for this keyboard ("83-key keyboard"), the type 1 / type 2 distinction in reset behaviour, the point that "Model F" is a family name covering keyboards that will not work with a 5150, the reassembly warning, the cable metering diagram, and the incompatibility of AT-protocol keyboards.
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