Amstrad PC2086

Released in late 1988, the Amstrad PC2086 was the entry model in Amstrad’s PC2000 business range and the direct successor to the PC1640. It retained an 8 MHz 8086 processor and 640KB of RAM but added integrated Paradise VGA graphics, internal power and modern 720KB 3.5-inch floppy drives.

Single-drive, dual-drive and 30MB hard-disk versions were offered with monochrome or colour monitors. MS-DOS 3.3, Windows 2.03 and GW-BASIC provided a complete software package, though hard-disk reliability problems damaged the reputation of the wider PC2000 range.

Notable Features

• 8 MHz 8086 processor and 640KB parity RAM
• Integrated Paradise VGA graphics
• Single, dual-floppy and 30MB hard-disk configurations
• Internal power supply and four ISA expansion positions
• MS-DOS 3.3, Windows 2.03 and GW-BASIC supplied

Historical Significance

• Entry model in Amstrad’s PC2000 business range
• Modernized the successful PC1640 platform with VGA and 3.5-inch storage
• Hard-disk controller and drive failures contributed to damaging publicity for the range

Collectors Notes

• Inspect AA backup batteries for leakage
• Hard-disk models may have disconnected or replacement controllers
• Keyboard and mouse use Amstrad-specific interfaces
• Original system disks are useful because configuration uses Amstrad software

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Amstrad PC2086
Manufacturer	Amstrad
Launched	Tuesday, November 1, 1988
Discontinued	Early 1990s
Launch Price	From approximately £569 for a single-drive monochrome system
Country	United Kingdom
CPU	Intel-compatible 8086
Units Sold
Power	Internal switch-mode power supply with cooling fan
Ports	Serial, parallel, mouse, VGA and external floppy connectors
Expansion	Three full-length and one half-length 8-bit ISA slots
Storage	One or two 720KB 3.5-inch floppy drives; PC2086/30 included a 30MB hard disk
Sound	Internal speaker with volume control
Operating System	MS-DOS 3.3, Windows 2.03 and GW-BASIC
RAM	640KB with parity
Graphics	Paradise PVGA1A VGA controller
Display	VGA-compatible output for Amstrad monochrome or colour monitors
CPU Speed	8 MHz