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{{Short description|Early 8-bit microcomputer}}
{{Refimprove|date=November 2011}}
{{Refimprove|date=November 2011}}
{{Infobox information appliance
{{Infobox information appliance
| name = Acorn Microcomputer
| name = Acorn Microcomputer
| logo =
| logo =
| image = [[File:AcornSystem1.jpg|300px]]
| image = Acorn-System-1-Front-Board.jpg
| caption = Upper board, featuring keypad and LED display.
| caption = Upper board, featuring keypad and LED display
| developer = [[Acorn Computers]]
| developer = [[Acorn Computers]]
| manufacturer =
| manufacturer =
| carrier =
| carrier =
| family =
| family =
| type = [[8-bit]] semi-professional
| type = [[8-bit]] semi-professional
| generation =
| generation =
| releasedate = {{Start date|1979|03|df=y}}<ref name="zdnet fallen">{{cite news | url=http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/it-strategy/2010/11/19/dead-it-giants-a-top-10-of-the-fallen-40090912/9/ | title=Dead IT giants: A top 10 of the fallen | work=[[ZDNet]] | date=November 19, 2010 | accessdate=March 7, 2012 | author=Meyer, David}}</ref>
| releasedate = {{Start date and age|1979|03|df=y}}<ref name="zdnet fallen">{{cite news | url=http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/it-strategy/2010/11/19/dead-it-giants-a-top-10-of-the-fallen-40090912/9/ | title=Dead IT giants: A top 10 of the fallen | work=[[ZDNet]] | date=November 19, 2010 | accessdate=March 7, 2012 | author=Meyer, David}}</ref>
| lifespan =
| lifespan =
| price = {{nowrap|£65 (kit)}}, {{nowrap|£75 (assembled)}}<ref name="ACL pricelist 1979 march">{{cite web | url=http://www.speleotrove.com/acorn/acornPriceList.gif | title=ACORN COMPUTERS. PRICE LIST MARCH 1979 | publisher=[[Acorn Computers]] | date=March 1979 | accessdate=March 7, 2012}}</ref>
| price = {{nowrap|£65 (kit)}}, {{nowrap|£75 (assembled)}}<ref name="ACL pricelist 1979 march">{{cite web | url=http://www.speleotrove.com/acorn/acornPriceList.gif | title=ACORN COMPUTERS. PRICE LIST MARCH 1979 | publisher=[[Acorn Computers]] | date=March 1979 | accessdate=March 7, 2012}}</ref>
| discontinued = <!-- {{End date|year here|df=y}} -->
| discontinued = <!-- {{End date|mid 80's|df=y}} -->
| unitssold =
| unitssold =
| unitsshipped =
| unitsshipped =
| media =
| media =
| os =
| power = 7.5V+ from external PSU through onboard 5V regulator
| os =
⚫
| cpu = [[MOS Technology 6502|6502]] @ 1MHz
| power =
| storage = CUTS cassette tape interface
⚫
| cpu = [[MOS Technology 6502|6502]]
| storage =
| memory = 1152 bytes
⚫
| display = [[light-emitting diode|LED]]
| memory =
| graphics = -
⚫
| display = [[light-emitting diode|LED]]
| graphics =
| sound = -
| sound =
| input = 25-key keypad
| input =
| controllers = -
| connectivity = INS8154 RAMIO Expansion chip (optional), CUTS cassette tape interface, socket for optional additional ROM/EPROM
| controllers =
| dimensions = 160 x 100mm two stacked boards
| output =
| connectivity =
| weight =
| dimensions =
| topgame =
| weight =
| compatibility =
| topgame =
| predecessor =
⚫
| successor = [[Acorn System 2]], [[Acorn Atom]]
| compatibility =
| predecessor =
| related =
⚫
| website =
⚫
| successor = [[Acorn System 2]], [[Acorn Atom]]
| related =
⚫
| website =
}}
}}
The '''Acorn System 1''', initially called the '''Acorn Microcomputer''' ('''Micro-Computer'''), was an early [[8-bit]] [[microcomputer]] for hobbyists, based on the [[MOS Technology 6502|MOS 6502]] [[central processing unit|CPU]], and produced by [[United Kingdom|British]] company [[Acorn Computers]] from 1979.
The '''Acorn System 1''', initially called the '''Acorn Microcomputer''' ('''Micro-Computer'''), was an early [[8-bit]] [[microcomputer]] for hobbyists, based on the [[MOS Technology 6502|MOS 6502]] [[central processing unit|CPU]], and produced by [[United Kingdom|British]] company [[Acorn Computers]] from 1979.


The system was designed by then-[[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]]-undergraduate student [[Sophie Wilson]].<ref name="zdnet system 1">{{cite news | url=http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/after-hours/2011/04/25/acorns-land-at-bletchley-park-40092287/ | title=Acorns land at Bletchley Park: PHOTO Acorn System 1 | work=[[ZDNet]] | date=April 25, 2011 | accessdate=November 23, 2011 | author=Goodwins, Rupert | quote=Acorn's first product was the Acorn System 1, based on an automated cow feeder designed by Sophie (nee Roger) Wilson as part of her degree course at Cambridge in 1977.}}</ref> It was Acorn's first product, and was based on an automated cow feeder.<ref name="zdnet system 1" />{{Disputed-inline|Based on cow feeder|date=April 2012}}
The main parts of the system were designed by then-[[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]]-undergraduate student [[Sophie Wilson]],<ref name="zdnet system 1">{{cite news | url=http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/after-hours/2011/04/25/acorns-land-at-bletchley-park-40092287/ | title=Acorns land at Bletchley Park: PHOTO Acorn System 1 | work=[[ZDNet]] | date=April 25, 2011 | accessdate=November 23, 2011 | author=Goodwins, Rupert | quote=Acorn's first product was the Acorn System 1, based on an automated cow feeder designed by Sophie (nee Roger) Wilson as part of her degree course at Cambridge in 1977.}}</ref> with a cassette interface designed by [[Steve Furber]].<ref>http://www.stairwaytohell.com/articles/SG-SophieWilson.html Sophie Wilson - 2007 Interview with Stuart Goodwin</ref> It was Acorn's first product, and was based on an automated cow feeder.<ref name="zdnet system 1" />{{Disputed inline|Based on cow feeder|date=April 2012}}


It was a small machine built on two [[Eurocard (printed circuit board)|Eurocard]]-standard [[circuit board]]s:
It was a small machine built on two [[Eurocard (printed circuit board)|Eurocard]]-standard [[circuit board]]s and it could be purchased ready-built or in kit form.
*one card (shown right) with the [[input/output|I/O]] part of the computer: a [[light-emitting diode|LED]] [[seven segment display]], a 25-key keypad ([[hexadecimal|hex]]+[[function key]]s), and a [[compact audio cassette|cassette]] interface (the circuitry to the left of the keypad)
*one card (shown right) with the [[input/output|I/O]] part of the computer: a [[light-emitting diode|LED]] [[seven segment display]], a 25-key keypad ([[hexadecimal|hex]]+[[function key]]s), and a [[compact audio cassette|cassette]] [[Kansas City standard|CUTS]] interface (the circuitry to the left of the keypad)
*the second card (the computer board), which included the CPU, [[random-access memory|RAM]]/[[read-only memory|ROM]] memory, and support chips.
*the second card (the computer board - see below), which included the CPU, [[random-access memory|RAM]]/[[read-only memory|ROM]] memory, and support chips
*the two boards were interconnected by a semi-flexible, multi-conductor cable, known by its commercial name 'Spectra Strip'
*the whole assembly was held together by four 2.5mm × 20mm nylon screws and clear plastic spacing tubes for rigidity.


[[File:Acorn-System-1-Rear-Board.jpg|thumb|center|upright=3|Acorn System 1 Rear (CPU) Board]]
Almost all CPU signals were accessible via the standard Eurocard connector.

'''Main Components (left to right)'''

* Top Row: INS8154 RAMIO Integrated Circuit (for keyboard and display), [[MOS Technology 6502|6502]] [[central processing unit|CPU]], 2 × 2114 1024×4 [[random-access memory|RAM]], 2 × 74S571 512×4 [[read-only memory|PROM]], RAM/ROM expansion socket, second INS8154 for peripheral expansion (optional extra with the kit version).
* Bottom row: 1&nbsp;MHz clock [[Crystal oscillator|crystal]], 4 × [[Transistor–transistor logic|TTL]] logic chips providing address decoding for the memory and I/O expansion, 5V regulator.
* The smaller empty socket in the middle of the board was used to set the memory map of the RAM, ROM and I/O expansion by fitting or soldering wires between various positions according to the instructions in the Acorn System 1 Technical Manual.
* The three semi-circular legends on the bottom left of the board marked positions for optional push switches to trigger the board's RESET, IRQ (Interrupt ReQuest) and NMI (Non Maskable Interrupt) lines.

Almost all CPU signals were accessible via the standard [[Eurocard (printed circuit board)|Eurocard]] connector on the right-hand side of the board. This connector was not fitted/supplied as standard with the kit version.

The System 1 front board was used as the control panel for the fictional computer Slave in the 1981 series of the [[BBC]] science-fiction series [[Blake's 7]].


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Acorn System 2]], [[Acorn System 3|System 3]], [[Acorn System 4|System 4]], [[Acorn System 5|System 5]]
*[[Acorn System 2]]
*[[Acorn System 3]]
*[[Acorn System 4]]
*[[Acorn System 5]]
*[[Acorn Atom]]
*[[Acorn Atom]]


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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://speleotrove.com/acorn/ Comprehensive information on the System 1, including an emulator] &ndash; Provided by [[Mike Cowlishaw]]
*[http://speleotrove.com/acorn/ Comprehensive information on the System 1, including an emulator] &ndash; Provided by [[Mike Cowlishaw]]
*[https://archive.org/details/acornsystem1manuals Acorn System 1 manuals and schematics at ARCHIVE.ORG]

&nbsp;


{{Acorn computers}}
{{Acorn computers}}

[[Category:Early microcomputers]]
[[Category:Early microcomputers]]
[[Category:Acorn Computers|System 1]]
[[Category:Acorn Computers|System 1]]

Latest revision as of 02:41, 14 April 2024

Acorn Microcomputer
Upper board, featuring keypad and LED display
DeveloperAcorn Computers
Type8-bit semi-professional
Release dateMarch 1979; 45 years ago (1979-03)[1]
Introductory price£65 (kit), £75 (assembled)[2]
CPU6502 @ 1MHz
Memory1152 bytes
StorageCUTS cassette tape interface
DisplayLED
Graphics-
Sound-
Input25-key keypad
Controller input-
ConnectivityINS8154 RAMIO Expansion chip (optional), CUTS cassette tape interface, socket for optional additional ROM/EPROM
Power7.5V+ from external PSU through onboard 5V regulator
Dimensions160 x 100mm two stacked boards
SuccessorAcorn System 2, Acorn Atom

The Acorn System 1, initially called the Acorn Microcomputer (Micro-Computer), was an early 8-bit microcomputer for hobbyists, based on the MOS 6502 CPU, and produced by British company Acorn Computers from 1979.

The main parts of the system were designed by then-Cambridge-undergraduate student Sophie Wilson,[3] with a cassette interface designed by Steve Furber.[4] It was Acorn's first product, and was based on an automated cow feeder.[3][disputed – discuss]

It was a small machine built on two Eurocard-standard circuit boards and it could be purchased ready-built or in kit form.

  • one card (shown right) with the I/O part of the computer: a LED seven segment display, a 25-key keypad (hex+function keys), and a cassette CUTS interface (the circuitry to the left of the keypad)
  • the second card (the computer board - see below), which included the CPU, RAM/ROM memory, and support chips
  • the two boards were interconnected by a semi-flexible, multi-conductor cable, known by its commercial name 'Spectra Strip'
  • the whole assembly was held together by four 2.5mm × 20mm nylon screws and clear plastic spacing tubes for rigidity.
Acorn System 1 Rear (CPU) Board

Main Components (left to right)

  • Top Row: INS8154 RAMIO Integrated Circuit (for keyboard and display), 6502 CPU, 2 × 2114 1024×4 RAM, 2 × 74S571 512×4 PROM, RAM/ROM expansion socket, second INS8154 for peripheral expansion (optional extra with the kit version).
  • Bottom row: 1 MHz clock crystal, 4 × TTL logic chips providing address decoding for the memory and I/O expansion, 5V regulator.
  • The smaller empty socket in the middle of the board was used to set the memory map of the RAM, ROM and I/O expansion by fitting or soldering wires between various positions according to the instructions in the Acorn System 1 Technical Manual.
  • The three semi-circular legends on the bottom left of the board marked positions for optional push switches to trigger the board's RESET, IRQ (Interrupt ReQuest) and NMI (Non Maskable Interrupt) lines.

Almost all CPU signals were accessible via the standard Eurocard connector on the right-hand side of the board. This connector was not fitted/supplied as standard with the kit version.

The System 1 front board was used as the control panel for the fictional computer Slave in the 1981 series of the BBC science-fiction series Blake's 7.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Meyer, David (November 19, 2010). "Dead IT giants: A top 10 of the fallen". ZDNet. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
  2. ^ "ACORN COMPUTERS. PRICE LIST MARCH 1979". Acorn Computers. March 1979. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
  3. ^ a b Goodwins, Rupert (April 25, 2011). "Acorns land at Bletchley Park: PHOTO Acorn System 1". ZDNet. Retrieved November 23, 2011. Acorn's first product was the Acorn System 1, based on an automated cow feeder designed by Sophie (nee Roger) Wilson as part of her degree course at Cambridge in 1977.
  4. ^ http://www.stairwaytohell.com/articles/SG-SophieWilson.html Sophie Wilson - 2007 Interview with Stuart Goodwin
[edit]
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