Amstrad ACL386SX

The Amstrad ACL386SX was an ambitious colour portable announced in 1991. Its 20 MHz Intel 80386SX processor and backlit active-matrix TFT VGA screen provided a level of colour display quality that remained expensive and unusual in early portable PCs.

Launch information described a 1MB RAM and 60MB hard-disk configuration, while later markets offered systems with 4MB RAM and a 120MB disk. Its high price reflected the cost of early colour TFT technology.

Notable Features

• Early backlit active-matrix TFT colour VGA display.
• 20 MHz 80386SX processor in a portable form factor.
• Launch and later configurations varied from 1MB RAM and 60MB storage to 4MB RAM and 120MB storage.

Historical Significance

• Demonstrated the high cost and technical ambition of colour portable computing in 1991.
• Extended Amstrad’s ALT laptop design into the emerging active-matrix colour market.

Collectors Notes

• The TFT panel, battery and hard disk are all likely restoration concerns.
• Because published configurations differ, record the exact specification of each surviving machine.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Amstrad ACL386SX
Manufacturer	Amstrad
Launched	Tuesday, January 1, 1991
Discontinued	Early 1990s
Launch Price	Approximately £3,999 at announcement
Country	United Kingdom
CPU	Intel 80386SX at 20 MHz
Units Sold
Sound	PC speaker
Ports	External PC-compatible interfaces
Power	Rechargeable battery and mains adaptor
Operating System	MS-DOS 5
Input	Built-in keyboard and micro-trackball
Storage	1.44MB 3.5-inch floppy drive; 60MB or later 120MB hard disk
Graphics	VGA with up to 256 colours
Display	Backlit active-matrix TFT colour VGA LCD
RAM	1MB at announcement; later configurations offered 4MB
CPU Speed	20 MHz