Acorn Archimedes A420: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary Ā |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Infobox computer | {{Infobox computer | ||
| nameĀ Ā Ā Ā = Acorn Archimedes A420/1 | | nameĀ Ā Ā Ā = Acorn Archimedes A420/1 | ||
| imageĀ Ā Ā Ā = [[File:Acorn_Archimedes_A420 | | imageĀ Ā Ā Ā = [[File:Acorn_Archimedes_A420.jpg|250px]] | ||
| captionĀ Ā Ā = Acorn Archimedes A420/1 | | captionĀ Ā Ā = Acorn Archimedes A420/1 | ||
| manufacturer = Acorn Computers Ltd | | manufacturer = Acorn Computers Ltd | ||
Latest revision as of 17:18, 29 September 2025
 | |
| Acorn Archimedes A420/1 | |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Acorn Computers Ltd |
| Type | Personal Computer |
| Released | May-July 1989 |
| Discontinued | 1991 |
| Intro price | Ā£1,699 (excluding VAT, 1989) |
| CPU | ARM2 @ 8 MHz |
| Memory | 2 MB RAM (expandable to 4 MB) |
| Storage | 3.5" floppy drive (800 KB), 20 MB ST506 hard drive |
| Display | ā |
| Sound | 8-channel stereo, 8-bit |
| OS / Firmware | RISC OS 2.00 |
| Predecessor | None (replaced original A400 series) |
| Successor | Acorn A5000 |
The Acorn Archimedes A420/1 was introduced in 1989 as part of the updated 400/1 series alongside the A410/1 and A440/1. It featured 2 MB RAM as standard and a 20 MB hard drive.
Overview
[edit | edit source]The A420/1 was introduced in 1989 alongside the A410/1 and A440/1, replacing the earlier 400 series models . The A420/1 was priced at Ā£1,699 excluding VAT . The A420/1 differed from the A410/1 only in having 2MB RAM installed instead of 1MB and included a 20MB ST506 hard disc .
The range consisted of the A410/1 with 1MB RAM and a floppy disc drive, the A420/1 with 2MB RAM, a 20MB ST506 hard disc and floppy disc drive, and the A440/1 with 4MB RAM and a 50MB ST506 hard disc and floppy disc drive .
Hardware Specifications
[edit | edit source]Processor and Architecture
[edit | edit source]The A420/1 was powered by an ARM2 processor running at 8 MHz, the same as other models in the range.
Memory
[edit | edit source]The A420/1 came with 2 MB RAM as standard . The motherboard showed that only the back row of RAM was populated, with the front row having sockets which could be used to upgrade to 4MB .
The A420/1 featured an upgraded MEMC1a memory controller which gave a slight performance improvement over the older systems .
Storage
[edit | edit source]The A420/1 included a 20 MB ST506 hard drive along with a standard 3.5" floppy drive supporting 800 KB capacity.
Operating System
[edit | edit source]The A420/1 shipped with RISC OS , specifically RISC OS 2.00. Earlier models which shipped with Arthur could be upgraded to RISC OS 2 by replacing the ROM chip containing the operating system .
Legacy
[edit | edit source]The A420/1 represented the middle tier of the updated Archimedes range, offering a balance between the entry-level A410/1 and the high-end A440/1. With 2 MB RAM standard, it eliminated many of the memory constraints that affected 1 MB systems while remaining more affordable than the 4 MB A440/1.