HP 9830A

The HP 9830A was a complete BASIC computer with a full keyboard and one-line alphanumeric display. ROM-resident software and extensive peripherals made it useful for engineering, laboratory control and business applications.

Its interactive BASIC environment helped define the desktop-computer form before microprocessors became dominant.

Notable Features

• A full keyboard and BASIC made it more computer-like than companion 9800 models.
• ROM modules and instrument interfaces supported specialised applications.

Historical Significance

• Its interactive BASIC environment helped define the desktop-computer form before microprocessors became dominant.

Collector’s Notes

• Original HP manuals, peripherals and software media are particularly useful because many interfaces and formats were proprietary.
• Memory, storage, displays and expansion hardware should be documented because configurations often changed during a system’s working life.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	HP 9830A
Manufacturer	Hewlett-Packard
Launched	Saturday, January 1, 1972
Discontinued	1977
Country	United States
CPU	HP proprietary serial processor
Units Sold
Form Factor	Desktop computer
Power	Internal mains supply
Networking	None
Operating System	BASIC in ROM
Expansion / I/O	HP-IB-compatible peripherals, printer, plotter and ROM modules
Keyboard	Full typewriter-style keyboard
Storage	Optional cassette and disk peripherals
Sound	No sound
Colours	Red LED
Graphics	Text with optional plotter output
Display	32-character alphanumeric LED display
ROM	Resident BASIC interpreter in ROM
RAM	Approximately 4KB–16KB depending on expansion
CPU Speed	Proprietary bit-serial architecture