Acorn Archimedes A410: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 83: | Line 83: | ||
[[Category:Acorn Computers]] | [[Category:Acorn Computers]] | ||
Latest revision as of 17:24, 29 September 2025
 | |
| Acorn Archimedes A410/1 | |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Acorn Computers Ltd |
| Type | Personal Computer |
| Released | May-June 1989 |
| Discontinued | 1991 |
| Intro price | £1,199 (excluding VAT, 1989) |
| CPU | ARM2 @ 8 MHz |
| Memory | 1 MB RAM (expandable to 4 MB, 8 MB with third-party upgrades) |
| Storage | 3.5" floppy drive (800 KB), no hard drive standard |
| Display | — |
| Sound | 8-channel stereo, 8-bit |
| OS / Firmware | RISC OS 2.00 |
| Successor | Acorn A5000 |
The Acorn Archimedes A410/1 was introduced in 1989 as part of the updated 400/1 series, replacing the earlier 400 series models. It served as the entry-level machine in the range alongside the A420/1 and A440/1.
Overview
[edit | edit source]The Archimedes A410/1 was launched in June 1989 and was the entry level machine in the newly updated 400/1 series with the other two machines in the series being the A420/1 and A440/1 . Some sources indicate May 1989 as the launch date. The A410/1 was priced at £1,199 excluding VAT .
The only differences between the three machines in the series was the level of expansion fitted at the time of manufacture and the A410/1 could be expanded to the full A440/1 specification using official upgrade packages .
Hardware Specifications
[edit | edit source]Processor and Memory
[edit | edit source]The A410/1 featured an ARM2 processor running at 8 MHz. The A410/1 had 1 MB memory and no hard disc, shipping with RISC OS 2.00 . The machine could be upgraded from 1MB to 4MB RAM , and third-party solutions like the Simtec 4-8MB RAM upgrade could extend this to 8MB total .
Storage
[edit | edit source]The A410/1 was hard disc-less, although a hard drive interface was provided on the motherboard . Users could add ST506 hard drives or, more commonly, upgrade to SCSI or IDE controllers via podule expansions.
Expansion
[edit | edit source]All the A4xx/1 machines were provided with a four-slot backplane , allowing for significant expansion capabilities through podules (Acorn's proprietary expansion cards).
Operating System
[edit | edit source]RISC OS 2 was released in April 1989 . RISC OS 2 was a vast improvement over Arthur, allowing multitasking of programs with certain limitations . The application suite provided with Arthur was completely rewritten, with Draw, Edit and Paint applications introduced, along with an upgraded version of Maestro .
RISC OS was the first operating system to provide scalable anti-aliased fonts , a feature that distinguished it from contemporary operating systems.
Common Upgrades
[edit | edit source]The A410/1 was frequently upgraded by users:
Processor Upgrades
[edit | edit source]ARM3 CPU upgrades could improve the Archimedes raw throughput from 4.85 to 12.71 MIPS . The IFEL 36MHz ARM3 CPU upgrade could increase performance to 17.44 MIPS .
Storage Solutions
[edit | edit source]Common storage upgrades included: - ST506 hard drives (20-40 MB typical) - SCSI controllers like the Oak or Acorn AKA31/32 - IDE controllers from companies like Simtec or Baildon Electronics - Modern solutions using CompactFlash or SD card adapters
Memory Expansion
[edit | edit source]Memory could be upgraded to 4MB , with third-party solutions like the Simtec upgrade allowing up to 8MB total, effectively doubling the maximum memory that the Archimedes architecture typically supported .
Notable Uses
[edit | edit source]The A410/1 could be employed as a Level 4 Econet Fileserver providing a network filing system for connected Acorn computers . Many educational institutions used A410/1 machines in this capacity, serving BBC Micros and other Archimedes computers.
Market Context
[edit | edit source]In May 1989, a number of new machines were introduced along with RISC OS 2: the 300 series was phased out in favour of the new BBC A3000, and the 400 series were replaced by the improved 400/1 series models .
When introduced, the A410/1 cost £1,199, the A420/1 £1,699, and the A440/1 £2,499, all excluding VAT .
Legacy
[edit | edit source]The A410/1 served as an affordable entry point into the Archimedes range with RISC OS 2. Its expandability meant that many machines were upgraded over their lifetime, with some still in service as late as 1999, a full 10 years after manufacture .
The machine's four expansion slots and upgradeable architecture allowed it to remain viable well into the 1990s, particularly when upgraded with ARM3 processors and additional memory.