Acorn A5000

The Acorn A5000 brought ARM3 performance, higher-density floppy storage, IDE hard discs and RISC OS 3 to Acorn’s mainstream desktop line. Later Alpha versions increased the processor clock to 33 MHz.

It replaced the original Archimedes workstation family and established the case and software platform used alongside Acorn’s lower-cost ARM250 machines.

Notable Features

• Acorn ARM3 at 25 MHz or 33 MHz on later models provides the system’s processing architecture.
• The standard memory configuration was 1MB to 4MB standard; expandable to 8MB.
• Storage was supplied as 1.6MB floppy drive and optional 40MB to 160MB IDE hard disc.

Historical Significance

• It replaced the original Archimedes workstation family and established the case and software platform used alongside Acorn’s lower-cost ARM250 machines.
• This record separates a genuine processor, memory, enclosure or storage model from software bundles and dealer-only configurations.

Collector’s Notes

• Confirm the exact model from its front badge and rear serial label because many Acorn systems were upgraded during their working lives.
• Original monitors, three-button mice, keyboards, expansion podules, manuals and installation media add historical value.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Acorn A5000
Manufacturer	Acorn Computers
Launched	Sunday, September 1, 1991
Discontinued	1994
Country	United Kingdom
CPU	Acorn ARM3 at 25 MHz or 33 MHz on later models
Units Sold
Operating System	RISC OS 3.0 or 3.1
I/O	Video, audio, serial, parallel, Econet/network option and four podule slots
Keyboard	Separate PC-style keyboard and three-button mouse
Storage	1.6MB floppy drive and optional 40MB to 160MB IDE hard disc
Sound	Eight-channel, eight-bit stereo sound
Graphics	Acorn VIDC supporting VGA and RISC OS display modes
Display	External RGB, VGA or multiscan monitor
ROM	2MB RISC OS ROM
RAM	1MB to 4MB standard; expandable to 8MB
CPU Speed	25 or 33 MHz