Amstrad PC3086

The Amstrad PC3086 was the entry-level model in Amstrad’s third generation of IBM-compatible desktop computers. Introduced in 1990, it combined an 8 MHz Intel 8086 processor with 640KB of RAM, built-in VGA graphics and a more conventional, expandable desktop design.

Available with floppy-only or optional hard-disk configurations, the PC3086 provided a lower-cost route into DOS business and home computing while retaining compatibility with the large IBM PC software library.

Notable Features

• Entry-level member of Amstrad’s PC3000 range.
• Built-in Paradise VGA graphics with compatibility for earlier PC display standards.
• Sold in floppy-only and optional 30MB hard-disk configurations.

Historical Significance

• Marked Amstrad’s move toward a more conventional and expandable PC design after the PC2000 series.
• Offered a budget DOS-compatible system for homes, education and small businesses.

Collectors Notes

• Surviving examples are less common than Amstrad’s PC1512 and PC1640.
• Original Amstrad keyboards, monitors and recovery disks add substantially to a complete system.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Amstrad PC3086
Manufacturer	Amstrad
Launched	Monday, January 1, 1990
Discontinued	Early 1990s
Launch Price	From approximately £550 plus VAT
Country	United Kingdom
CPU	Intel 8086 at 8 MHz
Units Sold
Sound	PC speaker
Drive Bays	Two 3.5-inch third-height and two 5.25-inch half-height bays
Operating System	MS-DOS 3.30A
Keyboard	102-key AT-style keyboard
Ports	Parallel, RS-232 serial, Amstrad mouse, VGA and monitor power
Expansion	Three full-length and one half-length 8-bit ISA slots
Storage	3.5-inch 720KB or 5.25-inch 360KB floppy drive; optional 30MB XT-IDE hard disk
Graphics	Built-in Paradise VGA; compatible with EGA, CGA, MDA and Hercules
RAM	640KB parity-checked RAM
CPU Speed	8 MHz