Personal Computer Museum

PersonalComputerMuseum.com

This was an update to the previous model, the PC1512, which increased the RAM to 640 KB and incorporated EGA graphics.

There was a version with a dual 5.5-inch floppy disk drive or a hard drive (PC1640HD20).

Technical specifications of computer Amstrad PC1640

Manufactured by: Amstrad
Launched: 1986
Manufactured in United Kingdom
CPU: Intel 8086 @ 8MHz
Memory: 640 KB
Support: Diskette 5¼"
Hard drive: None
Operating system: MS-DOS 3.2

Next ->

Compare with

← View other personal computers

Accessories for Amstrad PC1640


1986 Amstrad

9-pin printer that became very popular when sold as a set with the Amstrad PC1512 and Amstrad PC1640.

Contemporary computers of Amstrad PC1640


Manufacturer: Inves
CPU: Intel 8088

In 1986, Inves manufactured its first "IBM-compatible" PC, the first PC manufactured in Spain, and distributed by El Corte Inglés.

More ↓


Manufacturer: Amstrad
CPU: Intel 8086 @ 8 MHz


It could be purchased with a color (CM) or monochrome (MM) monitor.
And with floppy disk drives for low-density (PC1512SD) or double-density (PC1512DD) disks.
This computer initially didn't have a hard drive, but one could be included. Its floppy disk drives could also be replaced with high-density ones.

The keyboard:

When Amstrad manufactured the PC1512 in 1986, it was careful to avoid any conflict with IBM and made sure not to infringe any of IBM's patents on the IBM PC. In fact, there were very few patents registered other than the keyboard interface.

Therefore, Amstrad designed a new keyboard interface that was quite different (and therefore incompatible) with the IBM interface. The connector and protocols were different, so an Amstrad keyboard cannot be used (even with an adapter) with an IBM PC, or vice versa.

The proprietary keyboard interface was used on all machines in the 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 series. Later (from the 5000 series onwards), Amstrad followed what had become common practice and switched to the IBM PS/2 keyboard interface.

More ↓


Manufacturer: IBM
CPU: Intel 80386


More ↓


Manufacturer: Sinclair
CPU: Zilog Z80 @ 3.54 MHz


After the company was sold to Amstrad, the company began producing this model, based on the ROM of the Sinclair ZX Spectrum 128 model, and similar in appearance to it, but incorporating a cassette drive.
The +2A and +2B variants, produced in Taiwan and China, respectively, did not include the disk drive controller circuit.

More ↓


Manufacturer: Compaq
CPU: Intel 80286 @ 8 MHz


The Compaq Portable II is the fourth product in the Compaq Portable series to be released by Compaq Computer Corporation in 1986 at a price of $3499.

More ↓


Manufacturer: Bull
CPU: Intel 80286 @ 6 MHz


PC-AT compatible made in France.

More ↓


Manufacturer: Tandon
CPU: Intel 8086 @ 8 MHz



More ↓


Manufacturer: Commodore
CPU: MOS Tecnology 8502 @ 2 MHz


This is an improved version of the 128. Designed with a separate keyboard and a plastic casing for the CPU unit, it featured an integrated 1571 disk drive and a fan for cooling.
This model was sold primarily in Europe.

More ↓


Manufacturer: Oric
CPU: Synertek SY6502A o Rockwell R6502AP (clones de MOS6502) @ 1 MHz


Evolution of the Atmos, which included a 3" floppy disk drive, MIDI connector, and Minitel connector.

More ↓


Manufacturer: Mitsubishi
CPU: Z80A de NEC (D780C-1)

This computer arrived in Spain thanks to Mabel.

More ↓


Manufacturer: Apple
Launched: Jan 1986
CPU: Motorola 68000 @ 8 MHz


The Macintosh Plus is the third model in the Macintosh line. It was based on the case of the 128K and 512K Macintoshes with a 9-inch display (512x342 pixels, monochrome), but with more memory (1 MB, expandable to 4 MB), a larger ROM (128 KB instead of 64 KB), and a SCSI interface, through which external hard drives and data exchange drives could be connected, as well as a SCSI Ethernet adapter. The case was initially beige in color and later became available in platinum gray.

More ↓


Manufacturer: Tandon
Launched: Aug 1986
CPU: Intel 80286 @ 8 MHz


A clone of the IBM-PC AT.

More ↓

← View other personal computers