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Acorn Archimedes A3010

1992–1993 · desktop

Specifications

Cpu: ARM250, 12 MHz (single-chip design integrating CPU, video, sound and memory controller)
Ram: max: 2 MB officially; third-party 4 MB expansions exist but are undocumented by Acorn · base: 1 MB
Ports: RGB/VGA video · TV modulator (RF out) · 9-pin analogue joystick port · Centronics printer port · RS-423 serial · Stereo audio out (8-voice synthesizer) · Single mini-podule expansion slot
Display: VGA 640x256, SVGA 800x600, up to 1152x896, 256 colours from a palette of 4096 in VGA and 16 colours in SVGA modes
Storage: base: Built-in 3.5" floppy disc drive, no hard disc · options: External hard disc via a single mini-podule expansion slot
Os Support: latest: RISC OS 3.11 via ROM upgrade · shipped: RISC OS 3.1
Release Price: £499 (inc VAT), later reduced to £399

Upgrade paths

RAM

2 MB officially; 4 MB via undocumented third-party expansion boards · The cheapest 32-bit machine Acorn ever sold, aimed squarely at the home/games market with a TV modulator and joystick port built in, unlike the education-focused A3000 it replaced.

~£60-£100 at the time for a third-party RAM board

MODERATE

storage

External hard disc via the single mini-podule slot · Only one expansion slot versus the A3000's backplane option, so a hard disc podule uses up the machine's only expansion path.

varies, period SCSI/IDE podules typically £100+

HARD