The '''Acorn Archimedes A3000''' was a single-box home computer released in May 1989 as part of Acorn's Archimedes range. The first all-in-one Archimedes model, it integrated keyboard, motherboard, and floppy drive in a wedge-shaped case reminiscent of the earlier 8-bit machines while incorporating the revolutionary ARM RISC processor architecture.
The '''Acorn Archimedes A3000''' was a home computer that Acorn introduced in May 1989, when the company phased out the 300 series in favour of the new BBC A3000. The machine carried the distinction of being the last Acorn computer to be part of the BBC Computer Literacy Project and display the "British Broadcasting Corporation Microcomputer System" label.
== Architecture ==
== Design and pricing ==
The A3000 utilized either the discrete ARM2 processor with support chips or the later ARM250, a single-chip solution integrating the ARM2 core, MEMC memory controller, VIDC video controller, and IOC input/output controller into one package.
Acorn returned to an integrated keyboard design with the A3000, abandoning the separate keyboard and system unit configuration of earlier Archimedes computers. The case resembled those of the Amiga 500 and Atari ST , competitors that dominated the home computer market at the time.
=== System Architecture ===
At £649 plus VAT, reviewers considered the A3000 expensive compared to the Commodore Amiga and Atari ST, though they noted it ran much faster than similarly priced models from those ranges. Schools and education authorities could purchase the machine for £529, a price close enough to the BBC Master to persuade many institutions to upgrade to Acorn's 32-bit systems.
The computer ran on an 8 MHz ARM2 processor with 1 MB of RAM and stored RISC OS in 512 KB of ROM. The hardware closely matched an Archimedes 310 squeezed into a smaller case, though Acorn fitted the newer MEMC1a memory controller which delivered a 10-15% speed increase.
Cost-cutting measures affected expandability. Acorn left out the RS232 port and restricted expansion to one internal mini-podule slot and one external podule connection . Hard drives required external SCSI or IDE controller podules, as the motherboard lacked built-in support.
|+'''A3000 Memory Organization'''
! Address Range !! Size !! Function !! Access Type
|-
| $0000000 – $01FFFFF || 2 MB || Logical RAM space || User mode
| $3400000 – $35FFFFF || 2 MB || ROM (low) || Read only
|-
| $3600000 – $37FFFFF || 2 MB || ROM (high) || Read only
|-
| $3800000 – $3FFFFFF || 8 MB || ROM (expansion) || Read only
|}
== Hardware Specifications ==
The video system displayed 256 colors from a palette of 4096, while the sound hardware provided 8 channels of 8-bit stereo audio. Users ran RISC OS 2, which had replaced the original Arthur operating system from the first Archimedes machines.
Acorn developed the A3000 in nine months, using it to test an integrated CAD system from Valid Logic Systems. AB Electronics, Acorn's manufacturing partner, built the machines using surface mount technology—reportedly a first for home microcomputers.
! Feature !! Specification !! Notes
|-
| '''Architecture''' || 32-bit RISC || 26-bit address space
|-
| '''Registers''' || 27× 32-bit || 16 general + PC + status
The A3000's launch brought Acorn back to mainstream retail. Dixons agreed to stock the computer at their business centres, followed by deals with John Lewis and Alders . Schools provided the strongest market—one local education authority ordered 500 machines shortly after launch for their primary schools.
In 1990, Acorn offered The Learning Curve package at £699 plus VAT, bundling the A3000 with First Word Plus, the Genesis hypermedia application, and PC Emulator software worth about £200 total.
A second bundle called Jet Set targeted home users at £747.50, packaging the computer with Clares' Interdictor flight simulator, Domark's Trivial Pursuit, Superior Golf, the Euclid 3D modelling package, and a television modulator.
Third-party manufacturers produced numerous expansions including memory upgrades to 4 MB, external podule backplanes for additional expansion cards, and various interface cards for hard drives, networking, and MIDI.
=== Internal Expansion ===
Acorn replaced the A3000 with the A3010 and A3020 in 1992, dropping the Archimedes brand name, though users continued using the term until the RiscPC arrived in 1994 .
! Model !! Processor !! ROM Version !! Production Period
|-
| A3000 (early) || ARM2 + support chips || RISC OS 2.00 || May 1989 - Dec 1989
|-
| A3000 (mid) || ARM2 + support chips || RISC OS 2.01 || Jan 1990 - Jun 1990
|-
| A3000 (late) || ARM250 || RISC OS 3.00 || Jul 1990 - Dec 1991
|-
| A3000 (final) || ARM250 || RISC OS 3.10 || Jan 1991 - May 1991
|}
== Memory Timing ==
MEMC memory controller timing:
* '''Page mode:''' 2-1-1-1 cycles for sequential access
* '''Random access:''' 4 cycles (N-cycle)
* '''Video DMA:''' Steals 1 in 4 cycles during active display
* '''Sound DMA:''' On-demand, priority over CPU
* '''Refresh:''' 128 cycles every 4ms
Performance measurements:
* '''Sequential read:''' 16 MB/s
* '''Random read:''' 8 MB/s
* '''Video bandwidth:''' 4 MB/s (mode 13)
* '''Effective CPU bandwidth:''' 12 MB/s
== General Maintenance ==
{{Main|Acorn Archimedes A3000 General Maintenance}}
Critical maintenance includes replacing the CMOS battery before leakage occurs, cleaning the case ventilation slots to prevent overheating, and checking the PSU capacitors for bulging or leakage. The keyboard membrane should be inspected for wear, and the floppy drive requires periodic cleaning and lubrication. Internal dust should be removed with compressed air, particularly around the processor and PSU.
== Troubleshooting ==
{{Main|Acorn Archimedes A3000 Troubleshooting}}
Common faults include startup failures (check PSU voltages and CMOS battery), corrupted display (VIDC timing or RAM faults), and floppy drive errors (clean heads, replace belt). The "Machine startup held" message indicates CMOS corruption requiring battery replacement. Intermittent crashes often result from PSU capacitor degradation or thermal issues.
The Acorn Archimedes A3000 was a home computer that Acorn introduced in May 1989, when the company phased out the 300 series in favour of the new BBC A3000. The machine carried the distinction of being the last Acorn computer to be part of the BBC Computer Literacy Project and display the "British Broadcasting Corporation Microcomputer System" label.
Acorn returned to an integrated keyboard design with the A3000, abandoning the separate keyboard and system unit configuration of earlier Archimedes computers. The case resembled those of the Amiga 500 and Atari ST , competitors that dominated the home computer market at the time.
At £649 plus VAT, reviewers considered the A3000 expensive compared to the Commodore Amiga and Atari ST, though they noted it ran much faster than similarly priced models from those ranges. Schools and education authorities could purchase the machine for £529, a price close enough to the BBC Master to persuade many institutions to upgrade to Acorn's 32-bit systems.
The computer ran on an 8 MHz ARM2 processor with 1 MB of RAM and stored RISC OS in 512 KB of ROM. The hardware closely matched an Archimedes 310 squeezed into a smaller case, though Acorn fitted the newer MEMC1a memory controller which delivered a 10-15% speed increase.
Cost-cutting measures affected expandability. Acorn left out the RS232 port and restricted expansion to one internal mini-podule slot and one external podule connection . Hard drives required external SCSI or IDE controller podules, as the motherboard lacked built-in support.
The video system displayed 256 colors from a palette of 4096, while the sound hardware provided 8 channels of 8-bit stereo audio. Users ran RISC OS 2, which had replaced the original Arthur operating system from the first Archimedes machines.
Acorn developed the A3000 in nine months, using it to test an integrated CAD system from Valid Logic Systems. AB Electronics, Acorn's manufacturing partner, built the machines using surface mount technology—reportedly a first for home microcomputers.
The A3000's launch brought Acorn back to mainstream retail. Dixons agreed to stock the computer at their business centres, followed by deals with John Lewis and Alders . Schools provided the strongest market—one local education authority ordered 500 machines shortly after launch for their primary schools.
In 1990, Acorn offered The Learning Curve package at £699 plus VAT, bundling the A3000 with First Word Plus, the Genesis hypermedia application, and PC Emulator software worth about £200 total.
A second bundle called Jet Set targeted home users at £747.50, packaging the computer with Clares' Interdictor flight simulator, Domark's Trivial Pursuit, Superior Golf, the Euclid 3D modelling package, and a television modulator.
Third-party manufacturers produced numerous expansions including memory upgrades to 4 MB, external podule backplanes for additional expansion cards, and various interface cards for hard drives, networking, and MIDI.
Acorn replaced the A3000 with the A3010 and A3020 in 1992, dropping the Archimedes brand name, though users continued using the term until the RiscPC arrived in 1994 .
