Amstrad PC9486i

The Amstrad PC9486i was the 486-based member of Amstrad’s PC9000 desktop family. The range began with 486SX-25 and 486DX2-50 or 66 configurations, then evolved to PCI-equipped 486DX2-66 and faster variants as the market changed.

With 4MB of RAM, local-bus Super VGA, larger IDE hard disks and DOS 6 with Windows 3.1, the PC9486 generation was designed to be easier to expand and upgrade than many earlier Amstrad PCs.

Notable Features

• Sold with 486SX-25 and 486DX2-50 or 66 processors; later PC9486i configurations added PCI and faster 486 options.
• 4MB RAM, local-bus SVGA with 1MB video memory and IDE hard disks from 130MB upward.
• Multimedia versions added a CD-ROM drive and 16-bit sound.

Historical Significance

• Designed around easier expansion and future processor upgrades after criticism of limited earlier Amstrad PCs.
• Represented Amstrad’s final major 486 desktop generation before its Pentium systems.

Collectors Notes

• Specifications vary widely across PC9486 and PC9486i configurations.
• Preserve case badges and internal labels when documenting an individual system.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Amstrad PC9486i
Manufacturer	Amstrad
Launched	Saturday, January 1, 1994
Discontinued	Mid-1990s
Launch Price	From approximately £849.99; multimedia models from £1,249.99
Country	United Kingdom
CPU	Intel 80486SX or 80486DX2, depending on configuration
Units Sold
Display	Typically supplied with a 14-inch SVGA monitor
Processor Upgrade	ZIF socket supported selected processor upgrades
Multimedia	Optional double-speed CD-ROM and 16-bit sound card
Software	Amstrad Desktop and PFS:WindowWorks 2.0
Operating System	MS-DOS 6 and Microsoft Windows 3.1
Expansion	Five 16-bit ISA slots; later PC9486i models added PCI
Storage	1.44MB floppy; 130MB, 214MB or 340MB IDE hard disk in early models
Graphics	Cirrus Logic local-bus SVGA with 1MB video RAM
RAM	4MB standard, expandable
CPU Speed	25, 50 or 66 MHz in early models; later configurations varied