IBM Personal Computer 5150

The IBM Personal Computer model 5150 used readily available components and an Intel 8088 processor to reach the market quickly. Its documented expansion bus and Microsoft-supplied PC DOS encouraged an enormous software and hardware ecosystem.

The 5150 became the reference point for the IBM-compatible PC industry and one of the most consequential computer designs ever sold.

Notable Features

• The entry configuration had 16KB RAM and cassette support but no disk drive.
• Openly documented expansion interfaces encouraged third-party hardware.

Historical Significance

• The 5150 became the reference point for the IBM-compatible PC industry and one of the most consequential computer designs ever sold.

Collector’s Notes

• Original IBM documentation, matching display and keyboard, and an unmodified configuration add historical context.
• Memory, storage, displays and expansion hardware should be documented because configurations often changed during a system’s working life.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	IBM Personal Computer 5150
Manufacturer	IBM
Launched	Wednesday, August 12, 1981
Discontinued	1987
Launch Price	From $1,565
Country	United States
CPU	Intel 8088 at 4.77 MHz
Units Sold
Form Factor	Desktop system unit with separate monitor
Power	Internal mains supply
Networking	Optional serial, modem and network adapters
Operating System	IBM PC DOS, CP/M-86, UCSD p-System or ROM BASIC
Expansion / I/O	Five 8-bit ISA slots, cassette, keyboard, display-card and peripheral interfaces
Keyboard	83-key Model F keyboard
Storage	Cassette and up to two 5.25-inch floppy drives; later hard-disk options
Sound	Programmable speaker
Colours	CGA: 16-colour palette; typical modes display 4 colours
Graphics	MDA text or CGA colour graphics
Display	External monochrome or colour monitor
ROM	8KB–64KB IBM PC BIOS depending on board revision
RAM	16KB–640KB
CPU Speed	4.77 MHz