Puneet Varma (Editor)

Acorn A7000

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Developer
  
Acorn Computers

Release date
  
1995 (1995)

CPU
  
32 MHz ARM7500

Manufacturer
  
Acorn Computers

Operating system
  
RISC OS

Memory
  
4 MiB - 132 MiB RAM

The A7000 and A7000+ were Acorn Computers' entry level computers based on the Risc PC architecture. Launched in 1995, they replaced some of the models of the Acorn Archimedes range. After the breakup of Acorn Computers in 1998, Castle Technology bought the rights to continue production of the A7000+. The A7000 used the ARM7500 system on chip which combined the separate ARM CPU, MMU, VIDC20 video chip and IOMD IO controller of the Risc PC into a single chip.

Contents

Specifications and technical details

  • CPU: A7000, ARM7500 clocked at 32 MHz. A7000+, ARM7500FE, with hardware floating point unit, clocked at 48 MHz or 56 MHz (Castle A7000+).
  • Memory type: 4 MiB FPM (8 MiB EDO A7000+) motherboard mounted and, 1 SIMM slot, supporting a maximum memory size of 132 MiB (136 MiB A7000+).
  • Video subsystem: VIDC20 controller integrated into ARM7500 core, display memory is shared with main memory.
  • Expansion: One Eurocard-sized Podule support in common with Archimedes-series machines. One internal network card socket.
  • Case: One 3.5 inch bay, with floppy drive, one 5.25 inch bay for a CD-ROM. Note, only one of a CD-ROM/DVD-ROM or a Eurocard Podule could be fitted.
  • Ports: RS-232 Serial, Parallel, PS/2 keyboard, PS/2 mouse, headphone audio out, DE15 VGA, network (optional).
  • Dimensions, HxWxD: 102 x 357 x 283 mm
  • Operating System: RISC OS 3.60 (A7000), RISC OS 3.71 (A7000+). RISC OS 4 is available as a replacement for the Acorn-implemented versions which came fitted as standard. Alternatively NetBSD or ARM Linux (historically)

    • Modifications

    A user modification (dubbed the A7KP) to rehouse an A7000+ as a portable weighing 5 lbs was seen in 2011.

    History

    The A7000 was launched in 1995, featuring a 32MHz ARM7500 processor. The more advanced A7000+ was launched in 1997, featuring a 48MHz ARM7500FE processor. When Acorn Computers was broken up in 1998 Castle Technology bought the rights to continue A7000+ production.

    References

    Acorn A7000 Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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