Commodore CBM 8032

The CBM 8032 introduced an 80-column display and business keyboard to the PET architecture. Its larger screen and BASIC 4.0 made it suitable for word processing, databases and commercial applications.

It was the central model of Commodore’s successful 8000-series business computers.

Notable Features

• An 80-column screen distinguishes it from the 40-column 4000 series.
• The business keyboard favoured text and numeric entry over PET graphics symbols.

Historical Significance

• It was the central model of Commodore’s successful 8000-series business computers.

Collector’s Notes

• PET revisions often share names while differing in motherboard, ROM, keyboard and display hardware; the serial number and internal board revision should be recorded.
• Memory, storage, displays and expansion hardware should be documented because configurations often changed during a system’s working life.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Commodore CBM 8032
Manufacturer	Commodore
Launched	Tuesday, January 1, 1980
Discontinued	Mid-1980s
Country	United States
CPU	MOS Technology 6502 at approximately 1 MHz
Units Sold
Form Factor	All-in-one metal desktop computer
Power	Internal mains supply
Networking	PET networking and shared-drive systems available from Commodore and third parties
Operating System	Commodore BASIC in ROM
Expansion / I/O	IEEE-488, cassette, user port and internal expansion connections
Keyboard	Business keyboard with numeric keypad
Storage	External cassette and high-capacity IEEE-488 disk drives; external IEEE-488 disk drives supported
Sound	Piezoelectric beeper on later models; early PETs have no dedicated sound
Colours	Monochrome green or white phosphor
Graphics	MOS 6545/CRTC or discrete PET video logic depending on model; character graphics
Display	Built-in 12-inch CRT; 80 x 25 text
ROM	BASIC 4.0
RAM	32KB
CPU Speed	Approximately 1 MHz