The A 5120 was an office computer produced by VEB Robotron in Karl-Marx-Stadt (now Chemnitz), East Germany starting in 1982.[1] The system featured an 8-bit microprocessor, the U880.[1] It was built for office work and had minimal graphics and sound capabilities. The price was between 27,000 and 40,000 East German marks (around 24,000-35,000 2016 US dollars) depending on equipment.
In 1986, a new version was produced, the A 5120.16. The system was identical to the A 5120, with the addition of two additional boards, one with a U8000 16-bit microprocessor (a Zilog Z8000 clone), and one with 256KiB DRAM. The original 8-bit system functioned as an I/O subsystem. In this configuration it could run the relatively powerful MUTOS8000 (Unix System III derivative). The price of this model was between about 32,000 and 48,000 East German marks.
In total, about 17,000 A 5120 and A 5120.16 units were manufactured.[2]
In March 1983, a stamp was issued by the German Democratic Republic featuring the A 5120. 4.5 million copies were printed.[3]
An A 5120 was featured in the 2015 television show Deutschland 83 as an example of technological disparity between East and West Germany in the early 1980s.
The original A 5120 had two U880 (ZilogZ80 clone) 8-bit processors, running at 2.25 MHz or 2.5 MHz. One was dedicated to I/O, while the other was used for normal work. Each was capable of about 625,000 operations per second. It normally came with 16KiB of RAM, but a few units shipped with less. When higher-capacity DRAM chips became available, most units shipped with at least 64KiB, and some with as much as 112KiB.
The A 5120.16 upgrade included two new circuit boards, one with a 16-bit U8001 processor (clone of Zilog Z8000), and the other with 256KiB of additional RAM. The original 8-bit system functioned as a terminal to the 16-bit system.
For storage, the first A 5120 units had dual magnetic cassette drives, but when the floppy disk version became available, all of these units were converted. The first floppy disk version of the machine included an 8-inch floppy disk drive, with two additional 8-inch drives available in a separate unit. Later, the A 5120 included up to three 5.25-inch drives in place of the 8-inch drive.[4]
Robotron KC 87, a home computer with similar core hardware introduced in 1987
Referencesedit
^ abcdef"Robotron A5120". 8-bit Nirvana (in German). Retrieved 28 March 2016.
^Preußler, Klaus; Weise, Klaus-Dieter (31 October 2008). "Zusammenstellung der im VEB Kombinat Robotron produzierten Erzeugnisse der Rechentechnik, Teil 1: Rechner und Rechnersysteme (S. 6/7)" (PDF) (in German). Retrieved 28 March 2016.
^"Stamp: Robotron microcomputer (Germany, Democratic Republic (DDR)) (Leipzig Spring Fair) Mi:DD 2780,Sn:DD 2329,Yt:DD 2425,AFA:DD 2469". colnect. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
^"Computer Robotron A5120". robotrontechnik.de (in German). Retrieved 28 March 2016.
April 17, 2024
5120, this, article, about, computer, other, uses, a5120, disambiguation, office, computer, produced, robotron, karl, marx, stadt, chemnitz, east, germany, starting, 1982, system, featured, microprocessor, u880, built, office, work, minimal, graphics, sound, c. This article is about the computer For other uses see A5120 disambiguation The A 5120 was an office computer produced by VEB Robotron in Karl Marx Stadt now Chemnitz East Germany starting in 1982 1 The system featured an 8 bit microprocessor the U880 1 It was built for office work and had minimal graphics and sound capabilities The price was between 27 000 and 40 000 East German marks around 24 000 35 000 2016 US dollars depending on equipment A 5120ManufacturerVEB RobotronRelease dateA5120 1982 1982 1 A5120 16 1986 1986 Introductory priceA 5120 27 000 40 000 marks A 5120 16 32 000 48 000 marksUnits shipped17 000 A 5120 and A 5120 16 Operating systemSCP CP M clone UDOS Z80 RIO clone CPUA 5120 U880 8 bit Z80 clone at 2 5 MHz 1 A 5120 16 U8000 16 bit Z8000 clone MemoryA 5120 normally 16KiB 64KiB more possible 1 A 5120 16 256KiBStoragetwo cassette drives then later one 8 floppy drive or up to three 5 25 floppy drives 1 DisplayIntegrated monochrome monitorPlatformK 1520 busSuccessorPC 1715In 1986 a new version was produced the A 5120 16 The system was identical to the A 5120 with the addition of two additional boards one with a U8000 16 bit microprocessor a Zilog Z8000 clone and one with 256KiB DRAM The original 8 bit system functioned as an I O subsystem In this configuration it could run the relatively powerful MUTOS8000 Unix System III derivative The price of this model was between about 32 000 and 48 000 East German marks In total about 17 000 A 5120 and A 5120 16 units were manufactured 2 In March 1983 a stamp was issued by the German Democratic Republic featuring the A 5120 4 5 million copies were printed 3 An A 5120 was featured in the 2015 television show Deutschland 83 as an example of technological disparity between East and West Germany in the early 1980s Contents 1 Technical details 2 Images 3 In Popular Culture 4 See also 5 ReferencesTechnical details editThe original A 5120 had two U880 Zilog Z80 clone 8 bit processors running at 2 25 MHz or 2 5 MHz One was dedicated to I O while the other was used for normal work Each was capable of about 625 000 operations per second It normally came with 16KiB of RAM but a few units shipped with less When higher capacity DRAM chips became available most units shipped with at least 64KiB and some with as much as 112KiB The A 5120 16 upgrade included two new circuit boards one with a 16 bit U8001 processor clone of Zilog Z8000 and the other with 256KiB of additional RAM The original 8 bit system functioned as a terminal to the 16 bit system For storage the first A 5120 units had dual magnetic cassette drives but when the floppy disk version became available all of these units were converted The first floppy disk version of the machine included an 8 inch floppy disk drive with two additional 8 inch drives available in a separate unit Later the A 5120 included up to three 5 25 inch drives in place of the 8 inch drive 4 Images edit nbsp The A 5120 configured with a 8 inch floppy disk drive nbsp The upgraded 16 bit version A 5120 16 introduced in 1986In Popular Culture editIt is featured in DEUTSCHLAND 83 SEASON 1 Episode 03 as showcase of difference in technology between East Germany and West Germany See also editHistory of computer hardware in Eastern Bloc countries Robotron KC 87 a home computer with similar core hardware introduced in 1987References edit a b c d e f Robotron A5120 8 bit Nirvana in German Retrieved 28 March 2016 Preussler Klaus Weise Klaus Dieter 31 October 2008 Zusammenstellung der im VEB Kombinat Robotron produzierten Erzeugnisse der Rechentechnik Teil 1 Rechner und Rechnersysteme S 6 7 PDF in German Retrieved 28 March 2016 Stamp Robotron microcomputer Germany Democratic Republic DDR Leipzig Spring Fair Mi DD 2780 Sn DD 2329 Yt DD 2425 AFA DD 2469 colnect Retrieved 28 March 2016 Computer Robotron A5120 robotrontechnik de in German Retrieved 28 March 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title A 5120 amp oldid 1168828628, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
